Animal protectors warn of an increase in the hunting of cats for consumption in Cuba.

The intensification of the economic crisis in Cuba has led to unusual acts, such as the hunting of dogs and cats for consumption, alarming animal defenders who point out the lack of protection for pets in a country with weak laws against abuse.

The multimedia platform El Toque published an extensive journalistic work that shows how the consumption of cats has increased in the province of Guantánamo.

"The naturalization of these facts has raised concerns, especially among animal protection societies in the province and pet owners," the website noted, warning that some people fear for the lives of their animals and prefer to keep them at home to protect them.

This article addresses issues related to the mistreatment and consumption of domestic animals in Cuba. Some descriptions may be disturbing for certain readers, especially those sensitive to violence towards animals. Discretion is advised.

In this regard, he cited Mayte, a member of BAC (Bienestar Animal Cuba), who explained that she does not let her cats go out into the garden for fear that they will be stolen, and she prefers to keep them safe inside the house, a measure that, she claimed, is the only one that so far keeps pets safe in Guantánamo.

The promotion of cat meat sales on social media, along with the lack of action from legal and health authorities, has generated outrage and concern both within this shelter and among other residents of the province.

Moreover, the proliferation of people who hunt, steal, and consume pet meat in Cuba is alarming, reflecting the severity of the economic crisis facing the country, especially in vulnerable areas, noted El Toque.

The website reported that neighborhoods like "la Loma del Chivo," "el Bayamo," and "Polvo en el Viento" in Guantánamo are known as centers for the theft and sale of cats, as well as their consumption.

A young man who spent many years hunting and selling cat meat told the cited website that this practice has increased in Guantánamo due to "the economic impossibility of accessing other sources of protein."

From anonymity, he recounted that, over time, his neighbors found out about his practices and, sharing the same poverty, began to make requests of him.

He noted that cat meat is sold in Guantánamo also due to the popular belief that soup made with its head has healing properties for neurological diseases and arthritis, being a practice passed down through generations.

Until a few months ago, cat meat was sold secretly, but by the end of February 2024, explicit advertisements for its sale went viral on social media in Guantánamo, revealing the actual presence of this practice in the province.

"Cat meat and its consumers are a reflection of the food shortages suffered by the Cuban people and the alternatives they find in the face of hunger. However, this desperate measure, far from being a solution, generates significant problems," noted El Toque.

In addition to being a taboo food due to being companion animals, the consumption of cat meat poses health risks, as felines can carry toxoplasmosis, rabies, and parasitic diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

The issue raises great concern among animal advocates, who consider that Decree Law 31/2021 (Animal Welfare Law) is "dead letter" due to insufficient penalties and ineffective regulations, as evidenced by the constant reports of animal abuse on social media.

For example, the organization CEDA (Cubans in Defense of Animals) made a call this Wednesday on Facebook for people to report any advertising, commercial, or suspicious activities involving animals.

"Let's do everything in our power to stop the barbarism and ensure that it is not normalized in any way. Report it, let's use the mechanisms at our disposal tirelessly," he pointed out.

Last April, the regime could not hide an event of this nature that occurred in the province of Mayabeque.

The Cuban government spoke out about the posts that circulated on social media regarding the slaughter of dogs to sell their meat in some areas of the province.

An informative note signed by the Ministry of Agriculture referred to some incidents against animal welfare that occurred in the municipality of San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, which attracted the attention of the authorities due to their dissemination on social media.

Cubans who bought that meat and activists from the province of Mayabeque filed a formal complaint with the authorities in the territory against those involved in the slaughter of these animals for sale.