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Vietnam · Cat rescue

Cat Meat Trade in Vietnam

What the cat meat trade in Vietnam is, why it harms cats and public health, and how rescue support funds quarantine, treatment and shelter care.

By WARN Research & Conservation TeamLast updated

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Rescued cats held in stacked wire cages after police raids in southern Vietnam

In brief

The cat meat trade in Vietnam captures, transports and slaughters cats through high-stress trade routes; rescue support funds seizure response, quarantine, veterinary care and shelter placement.

Vietnam
Major cat trade focus
Quarantine
First rescue need
Rabies
Public health concern
Shelter
Placement bottleneck

Guide 1

What the Trade Involves

Cats may be stolen, collected from streets or moved through dealers before reaching holding sites and slaughterhouses. The trade creates severe welfare harm through confinement, transport stress, injury, fear and disease risk.

Guide 2

What Happens After Rescue

Cats removed from the trade need quarantine, rabies risk assessment, wound treatment, vaccination, parasite care and behaviour support. Some can be adopted locally; others need longer shelter or sanctuary placement.

Guide 3

Why Donor Support Matters

Rescue operations only work when there is somewhere safe for cats to go after seizure. Funding veterinary care and shelter capacity helps local teams say yes when enforcement or surrender opportunities arise.

Guide 4

The Vietnam Cat Meat Trade

An estimated millions of cats are consumed annually in parts of Vietnam, including stolen pets. Live transport and slaughter conditions breach welfare and public-health standards. Seizure rescue, quarantine and shelter recovery are the immediate welfare gap after police intercepts.

Guide 5

UK Donor Route

Donate at donate or read donate stop dog cat meat trade for the broader meat-trade path. The country guides describe welfare issues and places; they do not establish funded WARN operations.

Explore Related Rescue Work

Country programme

Vietnam

Vietnam’s forests, rivers and coasts face habitat and wildlife-trade pressures. Animal care after confiscation and longer-term habitat protection are related needs with different responsibilities.

Source Notes

WARN uses named intergovernmental, conservation and animal-welfare sources for numeric claims. These notes summarise the source basis for this page.

WHO rabies guidance

Moving unvaccinated animals through trade routes can undermine rabies control.

Regional animal welfare coalitions

Campaigns in Vietnam and neighbouring countries document welfare and public-health risks in the trade.

WOAH animal welfare guidance

Animal transport and slaughter welfare standards are relevant to severe informal trade risks.

Cat Meat Trade in Vietnam: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the cat meat trade legal in Vietnam?
Vietnam does not have a complete national ban on cat meat, though some local authorities and campaigns support phase-outs and enforcement action.
Can cats rescued from the meat trade be adopted?
Some can be adopted after quarantine, treatment and behaviour assessment. Others need longer recovery or specialist placement.
Can UK donors help cats in Vietnam?
Yes. UK donors can help fund partner-led quarantine, veterinary care, shelter and education for cats affected by the trade.
Is cat meat legal in Vietnam?
Regulations vary by locality and are evolving. Regardless of legal status, the trade involves stolen pets, disease risk and severe welfare breaches.
Can UK donors help stop the cat meat trade?
The linked appeal explains the proposed purpose and current recipient-selection status. An educational country guide does not establish a funded WARN programme.
What happens to rescued cats?
Veterinary triage, quarantine, disease screening, reunification attempts for microchipped pets and shelter placement for others.
How does this relate to dog meat trade work?
Same supply chains, transport methods and post-seizure care needs. See dog and cat meat trade appeal for the combined appeal.
How can I check whether WARN has paid a grant?
Read /about/where-your-money-goes/#grant-register for published recipient, approval and payment records. A reconciled financial summary and individual grant records have not yet been published here. This is a reporting status, not a statement that income, expenditure or grants are zero. Contact WARN for information about your gift.

Help Fund Frontline Rescue

World Animal Rescue Network CIC (Company no. 17298990) raises funds for established local partners. Your support helps build the rescue capacity these animals need.

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