The Increased Consumption of Cat Meat In China

Studies have shown that cat meat consumption is on the rise in China. According to reports, over 4 million cats are killed and eaten in China every year. The scariest part here is that the number keeps rising day after day.
One cannot help but ask what is so special in cat meat that attracts a lot of people to it? Is it its taste?

In most cultures the consumption of cat as meat is a very enjoyable delicacy. Some are nowadays even making the cat meat a regular menu item.
In some parts of China most especially the South, cat meat is considered a fantastic warming food during winter periods. And hence it is almost a regular menu item during that period.
There are several cat cooking techniques available today in China.

There are barbecues made mainly from cat flesh and also cat flesh meatballs. The normal edible parts of the cat are its stomach, intestines and the meat got from the thigh. The head of the cat and the other parts are usually not consumed.
There are several restaurants in China that specialize in the preparation and sales of purely cat meat dishes. And these range from cat flesh meatballs to cat meat stew and soup.
The interesting thing about this cat meat issue in China is the fact that it is illegal to trade in cat meat in China. But if it is an illegal commodity then why is cat meat consumption so rampant in several parts of China? The answer to this question is the organized cat-collectors who go about collecting cats that would be turned into meat for consumption. These cat-collectors operate an illegal business in China, going from one place to another, collecting cats and supplying them as meat to restaurants that serve cat meats.

In an attempt to control this growing consumption of cat meat in China, the government in 2010 came up with a policy that sought to jail people who engaged in the trade and consumption of cat meat. The jail-term for offenders ranges from 10 to 15 days in jail. The government hopes that this policy can somehow reduce the cat meat consumption menace in the country.
But supporters of the consumption of cat meat have protested against the law. According to them, cat meat is just like any other edible meat on earth and they don’t see why the government wants to ban it.
So far, the law hasn’t seemed to have any effect on the consumption of cat meat in certain parts of China.