Black cats are hit on the head and boiled alive in Hanoi, and their bones sold as health tonic medicine to be drunk with alcohol. One of the companies shamelessly guarantees cures for serious illnesses and targets elderly people who are weak or in pain. Black cat bones are churned into a black paste and commercially marketed as medicine which they say rivals western and oriental medicines.

Cat slaughterhouses employee teams of workers to slaughter and cook black cats to produce the paste. They also cook cat meat to order and they’re categorized as ‘Health and Beauty’ and recommend their product as birthday gifts.

In all my years writing about dog and cat meat I have never come across butcher’s statements as outlandish as the following statements from one of the Vietnamese black cat bone business’s public advertisements:

‘The cat’s scalp is burned to ashes and 12 grams is drunk with alcohol to combat mucus coughing. Eating black cat’s bones improves deafness, relaxes tendons, restores kidneys and cures back pain and rheumatism. It supplements calcium deficiency in the blood and cures asthma, gout and hernias.’

‘Eating black cat’s bones settles a woman’s menstruation and rejuvenates a woman after giving birth. It stops hair from going grey and halts baldness.’

‘Eating black cat’s bones are recognized in Eastern and Western medicine as effective in treating bone disorders. The sweetness of the bones of a black cat is a remedy for people aged 60 years or older.’

‘Eating black cat’s bones is the main medicine for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis because it promotes red blood cells. It is suitable for neurologists.’

‘Eating black cat’s bones treats spina bifita, paralysis, chronic asthma, osteoporosis, sciatica, low pituitary and weak body. It is a sleep aid and will prolong the life of elderly people. It cures damaged tendons, joint inflammation, joint degeneration and degenerative spine diseases.’

‘Diseases will cease from an unknown time. Many people with mild disease only use a small amount of our black cat’s bones and they’re cured!’

‘Western medicine uses antibiotics which affect the stomach and cause many other very painful problems. Oriental medicine prescribes herbs which are safe, but ineffective. Our black cat bones are safe, good for your health and very effective. 70% of all customers responded well after 2-3 weeks of use. Results are the same as cosmetics! The level of effectiveness depends on the type of skin of each person, and the location of each user.’

‘Obese people often have degenerative arthritis, so they need to lose weight with a balanced diet and eat black cat’s bones to help their joints.’

‘Medical Dosage of eating black cat’s bones: soaked black cats: 100g of soaked cat bones with 700ml of alcohol. Soak the bones for a month or two. Dosage twice a day; for breakfast and dinner (2 to 3 glasses each). Take a high dose for 10 days (twice a day before lunch and dinner.)’

‘For people who cannot consume alcohol: drink 100g black cat’s bones over15 to 20 days. Every day cut a small piece into the bowl, add some boiling water and a little honey, just enough in the rice cooker to use. Do not over use too much because it will be excreted out as waste. It should be kept in a refrigerator cooler.’

‘For people who want to make their own paste at home: select a live black cat by it’s weight and health and slaughter it. Cut the cat into short sections to cook for several hours so the bones are totally exposed. Keep adding boiling water for several more hours until the bones begin to break down. This food source is high in nutrients, minerals and calcium. It is a drug that treats diseases’ [End of report.]

Fight Dog Meat: There is no scientific evidence to back up any of these outlandish claims!

Fight Dog Meat works with animal rescue teams in Vietnam and many local animal lovers. Many Vietnamese rescuers do amazing work with next to nothing. They’re exhausted, broke and many end up suffering depression because of the never ending animal cruelty surrounding them every day. We’re helping them have a voice to bring in animal protection laws in their country.

READ MORE: Inside A Vietnamese Cat Meat Market, With Quyen.

Fight Dog Meat will continue to bring you reports from dog and cat meat countries and the wonderful work their rescuers are doing despite no animal protection laws. Turning away or sitting quietly does not end the trade. We’ll keep exposing what is taking place to these animals. We’re helping local volunteers have a louder voice on a world platform. Ultimately it’s the voice of the country’s own people whom their government will eventually be forced to listen to, for positive change for animals.

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown
Founder,
Fight Dog Meat.