This is the moment hundreds of stolen pet cats are rescued from cramped cages inside a truck after animal volunteers intercept a suspected illegal transport operation linked to the cat meat trade.
Around 600 to 700 cats were found inside the vehicle, with many still wearing collars, in the rescue carried out in the city of Laizhou, Shandong Province, eastern China, on 22nd July.
Video shows rows of cages packed with cats inside the vehicle after volunteers stopped the truck and opened the container.
Volunteers said the animals appeared to be household pets rather than stray cats, and alleged they had been stolen from residential areas and rural villages across Shandong.
The truck was reportedly travelling south towards provinces including Guangdong, which animal protection groups have identified as a major destination for illegal cat meat networks.
Rescuers said the animals were believed to have been destined for slaughter and sale through the illegal cat meat trade.
One volunteer involved in the interception said: "We had been following this specific licence plate for hours.
"When we opened the back of the container, the smell and the crying were overwhelming.
"Seeing sweet household cats crammed inside filthy wire cages with their original collars still on their necks breaks your heart.
"They were being treated like inanimate cargo."
Animal protection groups said stolen pets and stray cats are often captured using wire traps before being transported long distances to slaughterhouses and restaurants.
Volunteers said documents found during the operation labelled the cats as poultry, allegedly in an attempt to avoid inspection requirements.
After the truck was stopped, local rescue groups rushed to the scene with food, medical supplies and equipment to move the animals from the cages.
Rescue coordinator Sister Yan said: "I brought some medical supplies and food to Laizhou today and coordinated directly with the team in charge of logistics.
"I will come back over the next few days to collect the cats that need immediate medical relocation and take them to a clean shelter to do my part.
"I just hope all living beings are healthy and well after this nightmare."
Laizhou police said they received a report about suspected cat theft at around 5am on 22nd July.
Officers arrived at the scene and detained two suspects identified as Pan, 42, and Sun, 48.
Police said the two men had been placed under criminal measures while investigators continued looking into other possible people involved.
The rescued cats were taken into care and safely housed by authorities and animal welfare groups.
While China has no national law specifically banning the consumption of cat and dog meat, the trade faces legal restrictions because the Ministry of Agriculture classifies cats and dogs as companion animals rather than livestock.
This means there is no approved commercial slaughter system for their meat, and authorities can target related activities under food safety, quarantine and theft laws.
Several major cities, including Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have also introduced local bans on the consumption of cat and dog meat.
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
