Cat meat

Lore & Background

In some cultures of Cameroon, there is a special ceremony featuring cat-eating that is thought to bring good luck. In Madagascar, residents trap and eat invasive feral forest cats, though another morph, the fitoaty, is considered taboo to eat. The most prevalent source of cat meat in Madagascar is from domestic cats, and consumption is not generally linked with food insecurity, varying geographically due to taboos. In China, cat meat is not widely eaten, but in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, some older people consider it a warming food during winter. Cat meat is a main ingredient in the traditional dish 'dragon, tiger, phoenix' (snake, cat, chicken).

Reader's Guide

Cat meat has been consumed across multiple continents and historical periods, often as a famine food or traditional protein source. In Europe, accounts from the 18th century show domestic cats used in meat production in France, with published recipes from 1740. During both World Wars, cat meat was widely used as famine food. In Asia, consumption persists in parts of China, Vietnam, South Korea, and Indonesia, though it is often stigmatized or legally restricted. In South Korea, cat meat is brewed into a tonic for neuralgia and arthritis, and cat soju is produced from feral and stray cats. Legal responses vary: Taiwan banned sale and consumption of cat meat in 2001 and strengthened the ban in 2017; Hong Kong prohibited slaughter of cats for food since 1950; Germany and Austria prohibit production and trade of cat meat. The practice raises ethical and public health concerns, as noted in Hanoi's 2018 exhortation to stop consumption due to cruel slaughter methods and disease risks.

Did You Know?

• Prehistoric human feces have been found to contain bones from the wild cats of Africa.
• In South Korea, cat meat is brewed into a tonic as a folk remedy for neuralgia and arthritis.
• In Vietnam, cat meat is euphemistically called 'tiểu hổ' (little tiger) on menus.
• Taiwan became the first Asian country to ban the consumption of cat and dog meat in 2017.

Ancient Origins and Wartime Necessity

The consumption of cat meat stretches back remarkably far in human history. Archaeological evidence from prehistoric periods reveals that human feces in Africa contained bones from wild cats, suggesting that early peoples incorporated feline flesh into their diets long before domestication. In the ancient world, records indicate that cats were consumed in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis, located in what is now southern France. The practice persisted into more recent centuries: during the seventeenth century, cats were eaten in Spain, and by the eighteenth century, domestic cats had become part of meat production in France, with published recipes surviving from as early as 1740. Beyond these cultural traditions, cat meat found its most widespread use as a desperate famine food during wartime. Both World Wars saw significant reliance on cat flesh when conventional food supplies collapsed, turning an otherwise niche or regional practice into a matter of survival for many communities caught in the devastation of total war.

Regional Culinary Traditions Across Africa and Asia

Cat meat occupies a varied and culturally specific place across Africa and Asia. In parts of Cameroon, a special ceremony centered on eating cat is believed to confer good luck. In Madagascar, the practice is layered: residents trap invasive feral forest cats for consumption, while a particular morph called the fitoaty is considered taboo, with some locals believing its flesh to be poisonous. Domestic cats remain the most common source, and consumption there is not generally tied to food insecurity but varies geographically based on local taboos. In southern China's Lingnan region, particularly Guangdong and Guangxi, some older residents regard cat meat as a warming winter food, and it features as a key ingredient in the traditional dish "dragon, tiger, phoenix," which pairs snake, cat, and chicken and is said to fortify the body. In South Korea, cats are historically brewed into a tonic called goyangi soju for neuralgia and arthritis, with roughly ten cats needed per small bottle. In Vietnam, cat meat appears on menus under the euphemism "tiểu hổ," meaning little tiger, while in southern India it remains a traditional protein for the Irula people.

Legal Prohibitions and Regulatory Responses

Over the decades, numerous jurisdictions have moved to restrict or outright ban the consumption of cat meat through legislation. In Hong Kong, the British colonial government introduced the Dogs and Cats Ordinance on January 6, 1950, which prohibits the slaughter of any dog or cat for food use, punishable by fine and imprisonment. In mainland China, a draft animal protection proposal launched on January 26, 2010, included a measure to jail individuals for up to fifteen days for eating cat or dog meat. Austria enacted a provision in its 2004 animal protection law, Section 6 Paragraph 2, that explicitly prohibits killing cats and dogs for consumption or other product use. Perhaps most notably, Taiwan first banned the sale of cat and dog meat in 2001, then in October 2017 its Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Animal Protection Act that prohibit not only the sale but also the consumption of dog and cat meat and any food products containing their meat or other parts, making Taiwan the first Asian country to enact such a comprehensive ban.

Modern Controversies and the Fight Against the Trade

The cat meat trade has become a focal point for animal welfare advocates. In January 2006, the Chinese Animal Protection Network began organizing protests against cat and dog consumption, starting in Guangzhou and expanding to more than ten other cities. In 2014 and 2015, authorities in Beijing and Tianjin discovered feral and stray cats being used in the trade, drawing outrage from Chinese netizens. A 2015 Animals Asia survey found that more than 70 to 80 percent of Chinese respondents agreed it was unacceptable to eat cats if they had been abused or tortured during feeding and slaughter. In South Korea, In Defense of Animals estimates 100,000 cats are killed yearly for cat soju, the trade relying on ferals and strays since cats are not farmed. In Hanoi, officials in 2018 urged citizens to stop consuming cat meat, citing cruel slaughter methods, disease risks including rabies and leptospirosis, and concerns that stolen household pets tarnished the city's image. A Four Paws study found approximately 8 percent of Hanoi residents had consumed cat meat. In 2020, The Independent reported that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased cat meat sales in Vietnam and Cambodia due to perceived health benefits against the virus.