Cat Torture Rings in China, and the Meat Trade - Analysing the Efficacy of Chinese Legislation in Protecting the Rights of Animals

Cat Torture Networks, and the Meat Trade

In China, there exist groups of anonymous individuals who circulate photos, videos and live streams of cats being abused on Telegram groups, and other social media platforms, such as the Chinese messaging platform QQ. There have also been reports of such individuals adopting cats and using them to create such material, purportedly for entertainment.

In 2020, a student at Shandong University of Technology was reportedly expelled for the abuse of over 80 cats, and selling the videos online. There was also a report of cats being abused on livestream, where viewers were given the option of paying money to livestreamers to “customise” the method through which the cats were abused. 

Outside of social media, abuse is also rampant within underground meat trade networks, in which cats and dogs were killed for human consumption. According to a report by Animal Equality, animals trafficked in meat trade networks are often confined without access to food and water, while many are killed in live animal wet markets after being sold. Individuals who engage in the meat trade also use fur from captive animals to make other products, such as children’s clothing, toys and bags. The report states that animals who form part of the meat trade are often raised in illegally run farms, and in some cases, kidnapped from pet owners.

Chinese Legislation on Animal Rights

China has two main pieces of legislation which deal with the rights of animals: the Wild Animal Protection Law, as well as the Animal Husbandry Law. The former provides legal measures for the conservation and protection of rare and endangered wild animals, while the latter regulates how livestock should be treated in the course of breeding, trade and transportation.  It is worth noting, however, that the Animal Husbandry Law seems to be primarily focused on quality assurance and the development of the poultry market, rather than protecting the rights of livestock animals. 

The local governments of Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao and Guangzhou have introduced regulations combating the abuse and abandonment of pet dogs, with Yang County addressing issues relating to the provision of proper food and living conditions for dogs in breeding facilities. However, as of now, there does not seem to be legislation directly combating the abuse of companion animals issued by the central government, nor are there legal measures ensuring their welfare.

What Is Being Done? - Actions by Volunteers and Corporations

Due to the lack of legislation penalising animal cruelty towards domestic animals, perpetrators of animal abuse often do not face legal consequences. A case in point involves a high school graduate by the name of Xu. Xu was rejected from Nanjing University due to his record of abusing cats. However, when the case was brought to the attention of the police, he was simply let off with a scolding, with no further punitive measures taken. 

Despite the inadequacy afforded to animal rights protection by Chinese legislation, activists and corporations have introduced initiatives to promote better animal welfare in the country. As there is no active legislation that provides for the welfare of stray animals in China, the Chinese technology company Hello has set up feeding stations around China, allowing individuals to feed and interact with street cats through a mobile application. Other corporations, such as Meituan, have also contributed towards fundraising for rescue shelters, while the renowned online shopping platform Taobao hosted a runway show, featuring stray animals living in shelters, to promote the adoption of rescue animals. 

Besides corporations, individuals who are keen on advocating for animal rights have also stepped up. Feline Guardians Without Borders is an organisation of animal rights activists which campaigns against the rampant abuse of cats in Chinese online spaces, as well as profiteering from the dissemination of abuse material. Feline Guardians operates across Asia, Europe and Latin America, in countries such as Japan, the UK, Czechia, South Korea, Mexico, Peru and Spain, organising peaceful protests to lobby for greater legislative action towards the protection of animal welfare, and the total ban of cat torture in China. In September 2024 and March 2025, Feline Guardians met with the representatives of the Chinese embassy in Lima, Peru, as well as Brussels, Belgium respectively to discuss these issues and reach a cooperation agreement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be argued that there is very limited protection afforded by Chinese legislation towards companion animals, such as pets, with most of the legal protections focusing on the regulation of livestock, as well as wildlife conservation. However, this does not prevent private individuals, such as corporations and volunteers from advocating for legislative change and taking up initiatives to ensure the welfare needs of such animals are met.

References and Further Reading

“A Man Said He’d Adopt Cats and Torture Them in a Livestream. Then Vigilantes Took Action” (Vice) 

“A new era for animal protection in China: are we finally seeing progress?” (Dao Insights) 

“China” (Animal Protection Index) 

“Feline Guardians Belgium meet the Chinese Embassy in Brussels” (Feline Guardians Without Borders)

“Feline Guardians Peru meet the Chinese Embassy in Lima” (Feline Guardians Without Borders) 

“‘Gifted’ China cat killer rejected by top university despite getting top marks in nuclear science entrance exam” (South China Morning Post) 

“How Long Will China’s Animal Cruelty Laws Have to Wait?” (Princeton Legal Journal)

“Stop Animal Cruelty: A Call for an Animal Welfare Law in China” (Lewis and Clark Law School, Center for Animal Law Studies) 

“Taobao calls for more animal adoption with a stray animal runway show” (Dao Insights)

“Undercover Investigations Expose Cruelty: China’s Cat and Dog Meat Trade” (Animal Equality) 

“Why China has become the hub of the international zoosadism” (Feline Guardians Without Borders)