TWELVE men have been arrested in Vietnam after allegedly admitting to stealing and selling around 2,700 cats, according to police in Ho Chi Minh City.
Authorities said the suspects allegedly targeted cats in residential neighbourhoods, moving around in small groups on motorbikes under the cover of darkness.
Their alleged method was simple but calculated. Pieces of fish were reportedly used as bait, with traps placed outside homes where the men knew cats were being kept.
Police said the animals were believed to have been stolen for slaughter and consumption.
The investigation led authorities to seize a haul of equipment allegedly linked to the operation, including 55 cat traps, two weighing scales and two machines used to remove fur. Seven motorbikes, 14 bags and 13 mobile phones were also confiscated, along with 6.7 mil Vietnamese dong (about RM257).
A total of 50 cats were rescued during the operation on July 8. Thirteen have since been reunited with their owners, while the remaining animals have been placed under the care of animal welfare centre HavePaws.
According to a police statement published by the Ho Chi Minh City police department’s official newspaper, each group allegedly stole between four and 10 cats a night.
The arrests have highlighted the scale of the cat meat trade in Vietnam. Humane World for Animals estimates that around one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat in the country every year, alongside an estimated five million dogs.
Eating dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam, although vendors are required to obtain permits indicating the origin of the animals.
However, attitudes towards the practice appear to be shifting. A 2023 survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals found that 71% of respondents supported banning the consumption and trade of cat meat, with opposition particularly strong among younger people and pet owners.
The latest arrests also follow another major rescue in June, when more than 400 cats reportedly destined for slaughter were saved after authorities dismantled another suspected cat theft network.
The cases have renewed attention on efforts to curb the theft and trafficking of household pets for the meat trade.—Oct 6, 2026
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