'It's Sweeter And Tenderer Than Dog Meat': Vietnam's Taste For Cat ...

AdvertisementAsia‘It’s sweeter and tenderer than dog meat’: Vietnam’s taste for cat leaves pets in peril

Hanoi restaurants keep ‘little tiger’ on the menu in defiance of official ban

Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP
A cat sells for between US$50 and US$70 depending on how large it is and how it is prepared. Photo: EPA
Agence France-PressePublished: 11:50am, 28 Jul 2014Updated: 2:03pm, 28 Jul 2014

The enduring popularity of “little tiger” as a snack to accompany a beer in Vietnam means that cat owners live in constant fear of animal snatchers, despite an official ban.

At an unassuming restaurant next to a carwash in central Hanoi, a cat is prepared for hungry clients: drowned, shaved and burned to remove all fur before being cut up and fried with garlic.

“A lot of people eat cat meat. It’s a novelty. They want to try it,” said the establishment’s manager To Van Dung, 35.

Advertisement

Watch: Cats on the menu despite being illegal (Warning: contains graphic content)

Advertisement

Vietnam has forbidden the consumption of cats in an effort to encourage their ownership and keep the capital’s rat population under control.

AdvertisementSelect VoiceChoose your listening speedGet through articles 2x faster1.25x250 WPMSlowAverageFast00:0000:001.25x

Tag » What Does Cat Meat Taste Like