Police in Ho Chi Minh City rescued more than 400 cats in a raid tied to a cat meat crime ring, detaining nine individuals and seizing animals that welfare groups say were bound for slaughter as cat meat.
Ho Chi Minh City Operation
Police in Vietnam carried out a multiday operation last week after an investigation into a spate of pet thefts led officers to premises in Ho Chi Minh City. Officers discovered 45 cages containing about 400 live cats and four ice-filled foam containers holding about 80 dead cats, and found 21 cats alive at a separate location; local media reported that more than 500 cats were seized in the operation.
Humane World for Animals Response
Humane World for Animals campaign lead Karanvir Kukreja called the seizure "a sobering reminder of the enormous scale of Vietnam’s cat meat trade." Phuong Pham, director of Humane World for Animals in Vietnam, said: "The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat across the country. Thankfully, these survivors escaped." Phuong Pham added that several of the rescued cats were pregnant and that kittens were born in police custody this week.
Legal Context in Vietnam
Police in Vietnam said suspects admitted to trapping and collecting cats across south Vietnam over the past three years in Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh and An Giang. Consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, and vendors in Vietnam must have permits to validate the animals' origins; Vietnamese officials have said changes to the legal system are planned to better protect pets and owners.
Police detained nine individuals in connection with the ring, and more than 40 cats were reunited with their owners after the operation. Several dozen cats rescued from the premises died because of the harsh conditions in which they were found. Vietnam Cat Welfare worker Chris Gindelhumer, who helped care for the animals at the site, said he "saw quite a lot of tears in the last few days" and that "It’s really beautiful to see how many Vietnamese families are coming, looking for their cats." He added: "But it’s also heartbreaking because many families were looking for their cats and didn’t find them."
Math from the seizure details shows why welfare groups described the case as one of the largest in recent years: about 400 live cats in 45 cages plus 21 live cats at a separate location equals roughly 421 live animals discovered, and the four foam containers holding about 80 dead cats bring the seizure total to slightly more than 500 animals, matching local media accounts. With more than 40 cats reunited with owners and several dozen animals dying after rescue, roughly 380 live cats remained under police or welfare care following the operation.
Student An Pham in Ho Chi Minh City reacted to the raid by saying, "This event surprised a lot of people and has raised awareness among many to stop consuming cat meat." Phuong Pham’s estimate that "thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat across the country" framed why welfare groups and police prioritized the investigation.
Police in Ho Chi Minh City launched the operation after linking a surge in pet theft complaints to the network that allegedly collected animals across multiple southern provinces over three years. Kittens born in police custody this week underline the immediate care challenges facing Police in Vietnam and Vietnam Cat Welfare teams treating pregnant and nursing animals.
What happened to the surviving cats after they were reunited with owners or kept in police custody is not fully explained.
