Cat lovers protest over feline food slaughter

More than 40 animal-loving Beijing residents unfurled banners in a protest urging a southern Chinese province to stop the “cruel slaughter” of cats for food.

The protesters say as many as 5,000 cats across the country, mostly strays, have been caught in the past week by traders and transported to Guangdong province – to be killed for their meat.

Wang Hongyao, spokeswoman for the animal lovers made up mainly of women and pensioners, submitted a letter today to the Guangdong provincial office in Beijing calling on authorities there to crackdown on such practices.