Cat-lovers all over the world will be delighted to hear that Chinese legal experts are proposing to ban the eating of cats, “because it is causing many social problems”. Recent thefts and even murders over the animal meat trade support the claim that eating cat meat is causing more harm than good to humans, as well as animals. Although the movement will end thousands of years of tradition, the proposal will be submitted in April, as part as a movement to tackle animal abuse in China.

The internet is, without a doubt, partly responsible for the massive support these legal experts are receiving from people all across the country. Online videos showing the maltreatment of animals have sparked protests at meat markets and online petitions against eating cats have tens of thousands of signatures already!

Animal welfare activists, pet insurance companies and care shelters have joined in the support for this movenment. Founder of Beijing’s Lucky Cats shelter, Zeng Li, summarised their position well; “Whether you judge this as a question of food security or emotions, there is absolutely no necessity in China for people to eat dogs and cats…Beijing’s dog restaurants get their meat mainly from vagrant and stolen dogs. In the suburbs, dogs are hung and slaughtered in front of buyers.”

Whether the proposal is accepted or not, this is a landmark step in changing public opinion about animal cruelty.