Rescued and Rehomed: FOUR PAWS Celebrates Cambodia’s Cats of Hope
This International Cat Day, South Africa joins global call to protect cats and end the dog and cat meat trade
Cape Town, 28 July 2025 — This International Cat Day, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS draws attention to the brutal realities of the dog and cat meat trade (DCMT) in Southeast Asia and celebrates the resilience of rescued cats through its DCMT FOCUS programme in Cambodia. Backed by reliable reports and on-the-ground rescue data, FOUR PAWS calls on South Africans and the international community to help build a world where cats are protected, not persecuted.
Extensive research publications on the trade by FOUR PAWS reveal that in Cambodia alone, over 1 million cats are slaughtered each year for human consumption. Many are stolen pets or strays, caught in cruel traps or poisoned before being transported long distances in overcrowded cages, before being slaughtered in unregulated and inhumane facilities. In collaboration with local partners, FOUR PAWS has shut down slaughterhouses, intercepted illegal traders, and rescued cats destined for the meat market.
A powerful example of rescue success in the campaign occurred in June 2021, when five cats, Cody, George, Binh, Lion, and Tiger, were rescued from a Cambodian slaughterhouse and were successfully rehomed in the United States. These cats, once destined for a cruel death, now live peacefully and safely in loving homes. Their journey reflects the power of international cooperation and public support in ending the cat meat trade.
FOUR PAWS encourages the public to take meaningful action:
- Read the latest in-depth research and reports:
Publications on the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Southeast Asia - Support reliable rescue missions through donations and awareness
- Adopt, don’t shop, and advocate for responsible pet guardianship
- Share stories on social media with hashtags #EndDCMT #LiveKinder
To learn more or to support ongoing work, please visit www.four-paws.org.za
/ENDS
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za