Stolen felines reunited with owners after Viet Nam cat-meat bust

More than 40 abducted cats have been reunited with owners after Viet Nam police busted a feline theft ring and rescued 400 pets destined to be slaughtered for food, an animal rights group said Tuesday.

Nine people were arrested last week in connection with the "criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats", according to the official newspaper of the Ho Chi Minh City police. Consumption of dogs and cats is legal in Viet Nam, where many restaurants openly advertise the meat, however vendors are required to obtain certificates showing the origin of the animals.

Police said they swooped on the gang after responding to rampant pet thefts in Ho Chin Minh City, and the suspects confessed to luring and trapping the cats over three years across southern Viet Nam.