Cat Food
One cat
Crates full of cats
LisB and I were chatting about cat food last night, but this is something else altogether:
At 3:37 on December 10th, the K25 train arrived at Dongguan East Station. About 1,500 cats had been sent on the train from Nanjing. Eight men wearing camouflage got on the train and started to move off the cages crammed with cats. Every time a cage landed on the ground, cats screeched in pain.
The invoice showed that this shipment contained 1,500 cats, and included a sterilization certificate and an animal quarantine certificate issued by official veterinarians.
Following a man who bought some cats, the reporter arrived at a Cantonese food restaurant where cat is priced for 36 yuan per kilo. In the restaurant, customers ordered a dish called “braised cat,” which cost 147 yuan. Describing the dish, the waitress said that cat meat has the medicinal property of “nourishing yin and boosting yang.” The customers said that they wanted to try it because they were curious.
Cats are packed in cages (from Nalan Jingmeng’s blog)The reporter traced the source of the cats to suburban counties of Nanjing, where some people make a living catching cats and selling them for about 10 to 20 yuan each to wholesalers. These cat thieves are called “cat fishermen.” A fisherman can catch about 20 cats in one night. A Nanjing-based organization which is committed to helping stray cats confirmed to the newspaper that there are far fewer stray cats in the city this year than normal.
As much as it hurts to read your post and the article, it's important so I'm rec'ing.
The frustrating thing for me is that I don't think there is anything we can do about it.
December 31, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a sad story, (your gonna get a rep Donal ;), but a fact of life with over population of feral animals. I was visiting the Greek island of Idra, (Hydra), in the early nineties and had 10 feral cats circling our table and jumping up on it at the outdoor estiatoria as we tried to eat. A local told me that the islanders had rounded up the wild cats three years before and had drowned all they could capture. I suppose the upside is that the Cantonese cats are at least providing some nourishment, (creepy as that seems), to the Chinese.
December 31, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Food or compost, one way or another, they're in the chain.
Another question: What is the population of rats on the city now?
January 1, 2009 3:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
My first reaction was PUSSY GALORE.
But this is disgusting. Like Lis, I do not see what can be done about it either. I assume there is some UN agency like ASPCA.
December 31, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is very frustrating, isn't it? And a little bit sickening on more than one level. I find myself wanting to rail against this, but I don't know where to start and doubt if I'd know when to stop, either.
December 31, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know that people eat dogs, cats and even monkey brains, and I suppose we don't treat our poultry much better than these cats, but it still seems somewhat desperate.
December 31, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
But we do have something in our genes known as mammalian affection. Although beef and pork and venison...ah forget it.
December 31, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anytime you eat your pets, I think desperation is a factor.
December 31, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now Miguel, these were just examples, I never eat pork. I stick to hamburger and ham.
But we are dealing with cultural attitudes that are thousands of years old and unless you are a vegan, there is little consistency in all of this.
The Chinese have been eating cats for three or four thousand years, maybe much longer.
December 31, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt very many of these cats were pets. Been to China and in some areas they pride themselves on their ability to eat anything.
January 1, 2009 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
'pets' used as a euphemism for domesticated species.
January 1, 2009 5:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe not so much desperate as inhumane? That's the part that gets to me. I know various cultures eat a variety of critters most of us here would find repugnant. But the unethical treatment of the cats seems extreme, to my way of thinking. I am not a vegan and I don't want to wait for a cow to die of old age before I eat a hamburger, but for cryin' out loud. Is it too much to ask that the beasts we utilize for our daily ration of protein be treated humanely?
December 31, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I stick to hamburger and ham."
Hmmm...
December 31, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am vegetarian (not vegan, although I try as best I can) not for health purposes, but because I made the mental translation between my dog who was one of the great loves of my life and MEAT. There's no reason why an animal has to die for me to stuff my face.
There are programs in the U.S. for capturing feral cats, spaying/neutering them and releasing them, but it is very expensive. Given that life for humans in these countries is so precarious, I doubt that there will be a move anytime soon to do anything about it.
We had a family gathering at Christmas that included meat eaters. Normally we just don't serve meat, but for reasons I won't go into on this thread (loooong story) we decided to purchase a pre-cooked ham for the meat eaters to serve alongside our vegan roast. My 4 year old granddaughter (who is also vegetarian) looked up at me with sad eyes and said "Gaga, are you going to kill a pig, 'cuz ham is a pawt of a pig." Through my tears I tried to explain...but I don't even understand. We don't NEED to eat meat.
If you eat cows, how is that any different than eating feral cats? The whole thing is disgusting...
December 31, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are a lot of pigs that I have thought of killing. Mostly capitalists. And I have always thought of myself as feral.
December 31, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's just no way of having a serious discussion with you around, is there? :-)
December 31, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stilli, until age 16 or so I was a Roman Catholic. I even served mass. I was even guilty and shameful about my netherparts.
That means I was a cannibal because I ate the flesh of my dear lord.
The Greeks and the Hebrews at least stuck to mammals in their sacrifices.
Except:
God said to Abraham
"Kill me a son"
Abe said "God, you must be putin me on"
God said "Whoa"
Abe said "What"
God said "You can do what you want to but
the next time you see me comin' you better run"
Abe said" Where do you want this killin' done"
God said" Down on Highway 61"
December 31, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you say you're vegetarian, I make the assumption you are a Lacto-ovo vegetarian, because that is the predominant variant of vegetarianism in America.
Do you eat eggs? There are some Polynesian cultures, which have no problem eating poultry, that consider eating eggs to be disgusting. An egg is, after all, the fetus of a bird. Do you ingest milk or any products manufactured from milk? If yes, does it bother you that your food is obtained from interfering in the natural reproductive process of mammals, and that the demand for dairy products creates strong financial incentives for the abattoirs' continued existence? A diary products market assures there will be an oversupply of offspring in dairy herds.
Do you purchase products that use animal hides in their production? If yes, then again, you may not actually eat flesh, but you are accessory to it, by providing the industry with strong financial incentives.
If you do not eat eggs or any dairy products, you need be very diligent about your nutrition, because, even though humans can survive without actually eating animal flesh, it is difficult to live healthily without ingesting any animal product whatsoever. An essential amino acid can only be metabolised from a pure vegetarian diet through a small number of specific food combinations eaten together.
Do you eat Jello® or any gelatin products? If yes, are you certain that you are not eating mammal hooves? Think carefully about this, as gelatin can turn up as an ingredient unexpectedly in store bought foods.
Where do you draw the line between animal and plant? Do you eat leavened foods, drink any brewed beverages, or ingest any other product that contains yeast? Leavening is resultant from the waste product of a many generational yeast population that has been allowed to die within the food. The same for alcoholic brew. Is yeast animal or vegetable?
I do not eat much animal flesh, and what little I do eat is derived from grass-eating mammals, grain-eating birds, and non-bottom feeding fish. (no catfish or any variety of sea bug is part of this) This is a personal choice. It is foolish to believe that just because you do not eat animal flesh, you are not complicit in its continued existence.
December 31, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very good comment ant! I'm as careful as I can be given the state of the food supply in America.
I eat as few eggs and dairy as I can, even though cheese is one of the biggest downfalls in my life. I substitute soy most of the time. I eat eggs very sparingly, and when I do they are from free range, vegetarian fed chickens. Whenever possible I use an egg substitute. I do not eat gelatin, except once a year when I make fudge (marshmallow) and then I use ones that are made from fish not cows. If I could find a vegan source I would pay a lot for it. Didn't know about yeast...I'll have to do some reading about that. I cook mostly from scratch, and don't use much in the way of packaged food. When I do, I read carefully to avoid casein and whey, which are dairy products slipped in w/o most people knowing what they are. When I eat cheese, I make sure it is made w/ vegetable or microbial rennet (who knew most cheese is made w/ animal stomach lining!) Whenever there is a non-animal choice for footwear, I use that. On those few occasions I buy leather shoes, I try to convince myself they came from very old cows that died of old age. I don't own leather chairs or belts.
It's very hard in this country to live completely free from products derived from dead animal sources, but we try REALLY hard, and I would venture to guess we are in the top few % of people in the country in our success.
If you need yet another reason to be vegetarian, read "Diet For New America." The cost to our country in supporting meat-eating is huge.
December 31, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm impressed. Few persons who claim they are vegetarian for moral reasons have actually contemplated how far the implications reach. There are very strong and compelling environmental reasons to avoid eating meat, but they are invalid when opposing the ingestion of feral cats culled from an urban area. Most Americans have never experienced an urban area where feral cat and dog populations are not controlled. It causes a very unhealthy environment. I would have to be facing starvation before I'd even consider eating one though, but that is still a cultural bias. Having spent some time around goats, I would prefer not eating them either.
Don't fret about yeast. It is a microorganism that doesn't fit well in an animal/vegetable/mineral classification scheme, and if you start worrying about ingesting microorganisms in your food, you are going to be in a world of hurt. I mentioned it to help highlight that almost all of our food is derived from former living matter. Besides, many foods that contain yeast are very healthy.
Coming from California, you might understand when I tell you that I grew up in a 7th Day Adventist family with a mother who was a vegetarian for her whole life. It was very uncommon for meat to be prepared in our kitchen. This vegetarianism was not based upon morality, it was based upon a concept of healthier living through dietary practises. 7th Day Adventists follow the clean/unclean rules found in Leviticus, which is why I am adverse to eating bottom feeder fish and non-ruminant mammals. It seems logical for health reasons not to eat something that feeds in the bottom of an aquatic ecosystem, and to only eat land animals that are mot predators.
I do eat eggs infrequently, and cheese fairly often, but seldom prepare meat at my house. I prefer vegetables, nuts and legumes(lentils-yum). There are a few brands of Loma Linda foods that I am very fond of and usually have a few in my cupboard.
Even if you do not believe in evolution, this recent Scientific American article presents an interesting perspective on comparative intelligence between mammals, fish, birds and reptiles. The nervous systems are different, and its not proper to claim one is a higher form over another.
December 31, 2008 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was a really good article. I had heard of the experiments with Alex, the parrot, but not the one w/ the octopus.
Anyway, I've been a veg for about 16 years and it will be for life. I wish I could say I had been my whole life. We have a few friends who have never tasted meat their whole lives and I envy them. Many of the recipes I prepare come from a class my sister in law took at a 7th Day Adventist church...they sure know how to cook!
January 1, 2009 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey stilli :)
Here is a little something to share with veg friends. LOL.
Carrot Juice is Murder
You know it's true ;)
January 1, 2009 7:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know Mage, I missed your little red word.
GIVE PEAS A CHANCE?
January 1, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was flippin' hysterical, Mage!
January 1, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought you'd enjoy it :) LOL
January 1, 2009 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
A disease will come along and end this, I HOPE. I am an animal lover and nothing gets under my skin more than cruelty to those that provide the ONLY true form of unconditional love.
At one point my wife and I had 3 indoor cats and 2 ferrets. Both ferrets were litter box trained and everyone got along fine.
By the way if anyone needs a mouser get a ferret they are a lot more productive than cats and don't use the mice as toys.
Donal I will rec. but I won't look at the stories and photos it will break my heart.
December 31, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your perspective is strongly biased culturally. You think that using cats as food is reprehensible, because you think that cats are pets. The treatment these cats are subjected too on their way to being butchered is inhumane, but it is wrong to assess blame just because of the species. Do you eat factory farm chicken?
My current pet is a runt pigeon with cognitive impairment that I rescued from the fate of being pecked to death where I often feed birds. I've had her for over four years now, and she cycles in and out of some sort of affliction causing her problems properly perceiving the environment. Once I figured out how to keep her from going into egg laying cycles, she has been a good pet. Before that, egg laying caused her much physical discomfort, and her eggs came out very strange looking, one even looked like a cube. She is not an imbecile, instead exhibits a very high bird-like intelligence, but when sick, she is easily confused and frightened, exhibiting symptoms reminiscent of human psychosis. The vet and I have surmised there is a good chance that her nervous system problems were caused from ingesting a small non-lethal dose of pigeon poison, most-often, poison coated corn, which most American cities use to control pigeon populations. Have you ever witnessed a pigeon convulsing to death from ingesting poison corn? This is an exceedingly inhumane method of controlling a bird population.
Do you eat squab, and if so, is it moral for me to wish that you be afflicted with some horrible deadly disease because of this?
December 31, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are an animal lover, but only on condition, maybe? Because, aren't mice animals, too? Yet you condone using ferrets as mouse killers because they don't use the mice as toys? Do the ferrets eat the mice? Cats will. I'm finding it difficult to reconcile this.
December 31, 2008 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone who would eat dog or cat is beyond contempt.
January 1, 2009 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
are you going to kill a pig
As a very uneasy non-vegetarian I recall a brochure showing a soulful pair or porcine eyes staring out with a caption:
"That which has eyes a conscious being should not eat."
I think they are right.
January 1, 2009 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Out of the mouths of babes...
So, Jolly, is that something you are going to work on? It really isn't hard to get started...you'll love yourself for it.
January 1, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
going to work on
Can we compromise on fish with eyes? (I guess this rule would allow molluscs but not shrimp and lobsters, only they have eyes-on-a-stalk, what's up with that?)
January 1, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you are suggesting giving up all animals except fish, it's a good place to start.
January 1, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
fish
Well, at least you only have to look them in one eye at a time before you eat them...
January 1, 2009 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
What?
January 1, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
what?
I must hasten to add, that with regard to poultry I eat only the "nuggets", which I am assured are a completely vestigial growth, not unlike our appendices, only external, found along the back of the chicken, which are "harvested" while the chickens sleep, with no discomfort or agitation whatever to the *beautiful bird.
*Why, you are very welcome.
January 1, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, similar to our fingers. They are, however, always the "middle" fingers.
Happy 2009
=D
January 1, 2009 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Happy 2009
Toot....Toooooot
January 2, 2009 1:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
unless it's flounder or sole.
January 1, 2009 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
flounder
Well (thanks, wikipedia...) you learn something new everyday.
In such case, we'll just turn that bad boy over and there will be no more fuss about the eyes...
January 1, 2009 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
(fixing one beady eye on jolly roger)
January 1, 2009 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
one beady eye
And let's be glad it's one eye only...according to the wikipedia, were you to emulate the flounder one of your currently opposing eyes would have migrated after your birth.(WTF?!!)
January 1, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Donal...your serious post has devolved (as they often do around here) into frivolity. At least DD didn't lead the charge this time. Chicken, pig, pirate...shame on you! :-) (followed by a teeny hee hee...)
January 2, 2009 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
As for the general edibility of cats, I have yet to convince mine that in my estimation he's likely too tough and stringy. He seems to have the opinion that if he doesn't continuously cause mischief he'll somehow upset the karmic balance and become delicious.
January 2, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like my kinda cat! All attitude!
January 2, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink