Hundreds of cats rescued from being eaten in Vietnam

By euronews

Published on 17/06/2026 - 12:42 GMT+2

Vietnamese police have rescued hundreds of cats after dismantling an cat meat trafficking ring in Ho Chi Minh City.

The operation followed an investigation into a series of pet thefts and led officers to locations where cats were being held in cages.

Authorities discovered around 400 live cats, additional animals at a separate site and dozens of dead cats. More than 500 cats were seized in total.

Animal welfare group Humane World for Animals said more than 40 rescued cats have already been reunited with their owners, although several animals later died due to the poor conditions in which they were found.

Police reportedly detained nine people during the operation. Campaigners described the raid as one of Vietnam's largest recent cat welfare cases and said it highlights the scale of the country's cat meat trade, which animal welfare groups have long sought to end.