Vietnam police seize more than 400 cats in one of the largest busts against the country's cat meat trade

The raid

Police in Ho Chi Minh City carried out a series of raids last week that led to the seizure of more than 400 live cats and approximately 80 dead cats packed in ice-filled polystyrene containers. Another 21 live cats were found at a separate location. Nine suspects were arrested and described by authorities as a "criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats."

The operation followed a wave of pet-theft reports in the city. Investigators traced the complaints to a network that had been capturing cats from homes and streets across several southern provinces, including Tay Ninh and An Giang, over the past three years. The animals were held in stacked wire cages at collection points and sold onward to meat traders every two to three days, at a price of around 70,000 Vietnamese dong (about $2.60) per kilogram.

The animals' condition

Many of the rescued cats were found thin, weak, and in poor health from transport and neglect. Humane World for Animals staff brought food and fans to the police station where the animals are being held. Among the survivors were pregnant cats, and kittens were born overnight while in police custody.

It was quite an overwhelming sight to see so many cats seized from just a single transport in Vietnam's illicit cat meat trade. Many of the cats looked thin and weak, and it was clear to see they had been through a physical and mental ordeal from which now thankfully they have a chance to recover.

Swiss outlet watson.ch reported that around 100 of the rescued animals have since died from the effects of their ordeal. La Vanguardia noted that several dozen died due to the harsh conditions in which they were found.

Reunions and the search for owners

About 40 cats have already been reunited with their owners. Humane World for Animals said that over 260 cats remain in police custody, serving as evidence in the case or awaiting identification. Police have urged residents who believe their pets were stolen to come forward and help identify the recovered animals.

I have seen a lot of tears over the past few days. It is really beautiful to see so many Vietnamese families coming to look for their cats.

A local veterinarian who went to the facility hoping to find his own cat ended up staying to help officers care for the rescued animals, even though his pet was not among them.

The wider trade

Cat and dog meat consumption remains legal in Vietnam, though sellers must provide certificates proving the animals' origin. Cities, together with animal-welfare groups, are trying to reduce consumption. Humane World for Animals estimates that roughly five million dogs and one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered annually for meat in the country.

The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat across the country, and the fate of most is to end up at a slaughterhouse or restaurant to be killed and eaten. Fortunately, these cats have escaped that fate.

The operation was part of a 45-day anti-crime campaign launched by Ho Chi Minh City police. Local media have called it one of the largest cat-welfare cases recorded in Vietnam in recent years.