An Animals Asia investigation, Report No.4,
Survey of public attitudes to
dog and cat eating in China
June 2015
1
Survey of public attitudes to
dog and cat eating in China
The health risk associated with consuming cat and dog meat is the biggest concern for respondents – and
nearly half believe that killing cats and dogs for their meat should be illegal.
Introducing the survey
In 2012, Animals Asia commissioned Horizon Research Consultancy Group (Guangzhou) to undertake a survey to
gauge attitudes to dog and cat eating among the Chinese public.
This report is the fourth of a series of four Animals Asia reports into the dog and cat meat industry in China. Our
groundbreaking research over four years has exposed the horrifying reality of a trade riddled with crime and
extreme cruelty.
Sadly the cat/dog meat issue is not a big priority in China, and little research or investigation has previously been
conducted into the industry. In 2011, we launched a full-scale, four-year study into all aspects of the cat and dog
meat trade. Our research included multiple secret investigations, market surveys and interviews with local NGOs,
community groups, the authorities and people in the trade. Compiling and analysing this information has taken
much time and many resources, and we are now in a position to release the reports.
We wanted to understand:
• The motives and behaviour behind the consumption of dog and cat meat;
• The characteristics of consumers, including gender, age and location;
• The difference between those who do and those who don’t eat cat and dog meat;
• How the public views the consumption of dogs and cats.
Nineteen cities
The survey covered 19 Chinese cities, which were
categorised as either A-class or B-class.
A-class cities
(where dog meat consumption is more common)
Yulin (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region),
Kaiping (Guangdong Province), Jinhua (Zhejiang
Province), Yanji (Jilin Province), Harbin (Heilongjiang
Province), Fushun (Liaoning Province)
B-class cities
(where dog meat consumption is rare):
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Guangdong
Province), Shenzhen (Guangdong Province), Fuzhou
(Fujian Province), Wuhan (Hubei Province), Chengdu
(Sichuan Province), Zhengzhou (Henan Province),
Xi’an (Shanxi Province), Baoding (Hebei Province),
Jiujiang (Jiangxi Province), Dali (Yunnan Province),
Baotou (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region)
We included more B-class cities than A-class cities in the survey because there are more B-class cities than
A-class cities in China and our aim was to gain a more representative picture of the true situation for dogs
throughout the country.
2
Respondents were local residents aged 18-65 who had lived in their city for at least two years. The male/female
ratio was close to 1:1.
Respondents were interviewed face to face and the interviewer recorded their answers in a formal questionnaire.
A total of 3,221 valid questionnaires were collected – 1,161 from A-class cities and 2,060 from B-class cities.
Notes on content
• Groups that eat cat and dog meat are defined as those that have eaten cat or dog meat in the past two years
(January 1, 2010 to January 3, 2012);
• Groups that don’t eat cat and dog meat are defined as those that haven’t eaten it in the past two years
(January 1, 2010 to January 3, 2012).
Who eats dog meat? (By gender)
Survey results show that far fewer women than men eat dog meat in both A and B-class cities. (Fig. 1)
A-class cities
B-class cities
39.0
59.6
70.0
87.1
Fig.1 Sex-specific
comparison (%)
61.0
40.4
Male
30.0
Female
Male
Don’t eat dog meat
Eat dog meat
12.9
Female
N
1
2
3
Don’t eat dog meat
Eat dog meat
Is it normal to eat dog and cat meat in China?
The survey shows that the consumption of cat and dog meat is not mainstream behaviour in China.
In B-class cities, where it is not common, less than a quarter (21.55%) of respondents had eaten dog meat in the
previous two years, and just 1.7% had eaten cat meat. Even in the A-class cities where the practice is common,
nearly half of respondents had not consumed cat or dog meat in the two-year period. (Fig. 2)
A-class cities
(N=1161)
B-class cities
(N=2060)
Groups
that eat
cat meat
1.70%
Groups
that eat
cat meat
6.55%
Groups that eat dog meat 50.65%
51.2%
Eaten dog meat only
44.62%
Groups that eat dog meat 21.12%
Eaten both
cat and dog
meat
6.03%
21.55%
Eaten dog meat only
19.85%
Eaten cat
meat only
0.44%
Eaten cat
meat only
0.52%
78.45%
48.8%
Not eaten dog meat
48.8%
Eaten both
cat and dog
meat
1.26%
Not eaten dog meat
78.45%
Fig. 2 Proportion of the public that have eaten cat meat or dog meat in the past two years
3
Why do people eat dog meat? (Fig. 3, 4)
The taste and a belief in its nutritional value are the primary reasons respondents gave for eating dog meat.
In A-class Cities, the Top 3 motivations are: Delicious taste, local tradition and food culture, and because
colleagues eat it.
In B-class Cities, the Top 3 are: Delicious taste, nutrition and nourishment, and because colleagues eat It.
Main reason why people in
A class cities eat dog meat
A-class cities
10.5
Common
Reason
12.1
12.6
16.2
B-class cities
7.1
Aphrodisiac
11.0
21.1
Influenced by
local culture
Unknow
6.7
13.6
They are the same as
livestock animals
21.9
33.3
Influenced
by family
To be sociable
25.2
For its good taste
For health reasons
16.8
To strengthen
body
Because my family does
31.5
Influenced by
colleagues
20.0
Because colleagues do
4.8
Chinese tradition
46.6
For taste
43.9
Main reason why people in
B class cities eat dog meat
Fig. 4 Common reasons for eating dog meat
Fig. 3 Motivation for eating dog meat (%) N=1023
How often is dog meat eaten?
In general, the Chinese public do not eat dog meat frequently. In B-class cities, over 70% respondents ate it only
once or twice a year, while in in A-class cities, the frequency was higher. (Fig 5)
A-class cities
B-class cities
0.6
7.8
1.6
15.1
20.7
21.4
8.0
28.7
Daily
Weekly
Every 3 months
24.7
Monthly
46.6
Fig. 5 Frequency
of eating dog meat
(%)
A-class cities
N=534,
B-class cities
N=490
Every 6 months
Yearly
24.8
4
On what occasion is dog meat eaten?
In both A-class cities and B-class cities, dog meat is most commonly eaten at dinners with friends (over 60%).
The percentage of home-cooked meals is low, which shows that dog meat is not a common family food. (Fig. 6)
Respondents could choose more than one option.
A-class cities
12.8
B-class cities
20.6
5.5
12.2
28.2
Business dinner
17.9
29.6
Home cooked
meals
23.6
Special season
(eg. summer,
autumn or
festivals
Fig. 6 When is dog
meat eaten? (%)
N=1023
Family dinner
64.1
63.8
Friend’s dinner
Understanding of cat and dog emotions
Over half of respondents agreed that cats and dogs had emotions and the capacity for feelings, including “fear”,
“hunger”, “pain”, “anger” and “thirst”. Most respondents (more than 60%) thought cats and dogs could feel “fear”.
In general, these respondents did not eat cats and dogs, and females were more likely than males to recognise
that cats and dogs had feelings. (Fig. 7)
A-class cities
B-class cities
Eat N=594; not eat N = 567
Eat N=444; not eat N = 1616
66.2
65.3
Fear
57.6
58.2
Hunger
56.7
51.9
Pain
53.7
51.0
Anger
52.2
50.8
Thirst
Happiness
48.7
48.5
Sadness
48.3
45.3
45.5
45.1
Discomfort
43.6
44.4
Affection
Hunger
50.9
64.9
Pain
45.3
63.9
37.6
52.7
Sadness
35.1
55.4
Excitement
38.9
42.5
Despair
41.4
52.4
36.5
48.4
21.6
37.9
Boredom
Unknown
Fig. 7 Public’s
understanding
of cat and dog
emotion
37.2
50.4
Affection
Despair
6.4
2.1
38.1
49.4
Discomfort
Happiness
Unknown
43.0
56.3
Thirst
42.9
42.7
29.8
30.7
44.1
57.4
Anger
Excitement
Boredom
61.0
75.1
Fear
6.5
2.8
eaten both dog and cat meat
eaten both dog and cat meat
Haven’t eaten dog or cat meat
Haven’t eaten dog or cat meat
5
Awareness of how cats and dogs are treated during transportation
Over 50% of respondents were aware that dogs and cats suffered ill-treatment during transportation – cramped
conditions, dehydration, malnutrition, injury and even death from being thrown from the trucks and fighting with
other dogs. (Fig. 8, 9)
A-class cities
Animals die due to diseaseHunger
64.1
64.9
Animals fight and kill/inflict wounds on each other
65.3
64.7
59.8
58.6
Animals suffer from dehydration and/or malnutrition
58.1
58.2
Animals are piled on top of each other with no room to move
46.1
50.4
Animals receive bone fractures and breaks from being thrown off trucks
Pregnant animals give birth to their young in the cage
36.9
32.3
Animals are provided with food and water during their journey
37.4
23.5
35.4
23.3
Animals are protected from the weather
18.7
13.8
Animals are provided with their own cages
Unknown
Fig. 8
Understanding
of the treatment
received by cats
and dogs during
transport
A-class cities
Eat N=594 Not eat
N=567
2.5
0.7
eaten both dog and cat meat
haven’t eaten dog or cat meat
B-class cities
53.6
65.2
Animals die due to diseaseHunger
60.6
66.7
Animals fight and kill/inflict wounds on each other
58.8
73.4
Animals suffer from dehydration and/or malnutrition
51.8
60.2
Animals are piled on top of each other with no room to move
45.7
54.0
Animals receive bone fractures and breaks from being thrown off trucks
32.9
43.8
Pregnant animals give birth to their young in the cage
42.1
39.5
Animals are provided with food and water during their journey
32.2
36.0
Animals are protected from the weather
12.8
22.0
Animals are provided with their own cages
Unknown
Fig. 9
Understanding
of the treatment
received by cats
and dogs during
transport
B-class cities
Eat N=444 Not eat
N=1616
2.5
1.2
eaten both dog and cat meat
haven’t eaten dog or cat meat
6
Attitudes to cat and dog eating
Results show that the public in both A-class and B-class cities have similar attitudes to dog and cat eating,
however there are some differences between those who eat cat and dog meat and those who don’t. (Fig. 10).
These questions are deliberately provocative in some cases – for example assessing whether respondents
feel that dogs and cats are different from other animals reared for food, and whether “meat” dogs and cats are
viewed differently from companion dogs and cats. This allows responses to be assessed in terms of future public
education and advertising campaigns.
Do not eat
cats and dogs
Eat cats
and dogs
Over 90%
Around 80%
It is unacceptable to eat dogs and cats if they are abused
or tortured during feeding and slaughtering.
Around 80%
Over 70%
Dogs and cats are companion animals and cannot
morally be eaten.
Around 90%
Over 60%
Chinese people are increasingly opposed to cat and dog
eating.
Over 80%
Over 60%
Eating cat and dog meat is different from eating pork,
beef and mutton.
Over 70%
Over 70%
Cats and dogs kept as pets are different from those that
are eaten.
Over 50%
Over 60%
There is nothing wrong with eating cat or dog meat.
Over 20%
Over 60%
Eating cat and dog meat is a part of Chinese food culture.
Over 20%
Nearly 60%
Percentage who agree with statements
Both companion dogs and cats and “meat” dogs and
cats should be protected by law.
Similar attitude,
mostly agree
Some dispute
Big dispute,
opposite attitude
Cats and dog
s kept as
pets are differ
ent from
those that are
eaten.
There is noth
ing
wrong with ea
ting cat
and dog mea
t.
Eating cat an
d dog
meat is a par
t of
Chinese food
culture.
Dogs and cats
are
companion an
imals and
cannot be ea
ten morally.
It is unaccepta
ble to eat dog
s and
cats if they ar
e abused or to
rtured
during feedin
g and slaught
ering.
Both compan
ion dogs and
cats and “mea
t” dogs and ca
ts
should be pro
tected by law
.
Eating cat an
d dog meat
is different fro
m eating
pork, beef an
d mutton.
Chinese peop
le are
increasingly o
pposed
to cat and do
g eating.
Fig. 10 Public’s views on eating cats and dogs
7
Reasons for not eating cat and dog meat
Among those who hadn’t eaten cat and dog in the past two years, more than 70% had never eaten it; nearly 30%
had eaten cat or dog before, but not in the past two years (Fig. 11). The reason respondents in both A and B-class
cities changed their minds was similar to those who had never eaten cat and dog. The top three reasons are: it’s
cruel, they are companion animals not food, and it’s unsanitary (Fig. 12).
A-class cities
B-class cities
74.2
71.8
28.2
Fig. 11 Previous eating habits
of those who do not eat cat
and dog meat
A-class cities N=567;
B-class cities N=1616
25.8
Never
Eaten previously, do not eat now
Never
Eaten previously, do not eat now
33.1
38.6
I think it is cruel
32.5
37.9
They are companion animals and not food animals
29.4
36.0
It is unsanitary
31.3
18.2
Other
Fig. 12 Reasons for stopping
cat and dog eating
13.8
14.1
It’s illegal to eat them as most are stolen animals
Colleagues or family advise against it
7.5
7.4
Charity organizations’ influence
4.4
7.0
A-class cities
6.3
3.6
Religious reasons
B-class cities
Concerns about cat and dog meat consumption
1. A vast majority of respondents had concerns about eating cat and dog meat. Respondents in B-class cities
were more worried that those in A-class cities, and those who ate cat and dog meat were more worried than
those who did not. (Fig. 13)
A-class cities
A-class cities
87.9
94.4
10.8
13.6
Eat cat and
dog meat
Don’t Eat
cat and dog
meat
5.6
Have no concerns
94.0
86.4
B-class cities
12.1
Have many concerns
94.0
B-class cities
92.0
8.0
6.0
Eat cat and
dog meat
Don’t Eat
cat and dog
meat
Have many concerns
Have many concerns
No concerns
No concerns
Fig. 13 How concern about cat and dog eating is influencing behavior (%)
8
2. The top 3 concerns of both A and B-class city respondents related to health and hygiene – the risk of
unquarantined meat carrying pathogens, the feeding environment and market not being hygienic, and cats
and dogs being poisoned before being put on the dining-table. (Fig. 14)
39.4
48.7
Meat does not go through any inspection and quarantine
11.8
19.2
Unsanitary conditions on farms and in markets
15.8
11.1
Some are poisoned animals
11.7
7.1
Many are stray animals with potential disease
5.6
5.3
Meat may contain antibiotics and other drugs hazardous to human health
The animals are slaughtered inhumanely
4.9
2.3
Many are stolen pets
Negative impact on national identity
Fig. 14 Common concerns
about consumption (%)
3.4
2.3
3.1
2.1
The animals are raised inhumanely
2.4
1.3
The animals are transported inhumanely
1.9
0.8
A-class cities
B-class cities
3. These concerns impact the attitude and behaviour of around 80% of respondents, and they have a great
impact on 50%. (Fig. 15)
52.2
46.4
Large influence
28.3
32.0
Some influence
7.2
9.9
Small influence
Fig. 15 Affect of concerns on
cat and dog consumption (%)
6.0
7.7
No influence
A-class cities
6.3
4.0
Not sure
B-class cities
Looking ahead
Respondents in B-class cities were 20% more likely not to eat cat and dog meat in the future than respondents
in A-class cities. More than 30% of respondents in A-class cities and more than 40% of respondents in B-class
cities, who had eaten cat and dog meat, were unwilling to eat it again. Very few respondents who did not eat cat
and dog meat intended to eat it in the future. (Fig. 16)
A-class cities
B-class cities
34.3
41.2
63.7
83.5
94.5
65.7
95.1
Fig. 16 Future consumption
patterns (%)
58.8
36.3
16.5
5.5
General
Eat cat and
dog meat
group
Don’t eat
cat and dog
meat group
No
Yes
General
4.9
Eat cat and
dog meat
group
Don’t eat
cat and dog
meat group
No
Yes
9
How consumers are viewed
Respondents in both A & B-class cities who did not eat cat and dog meat generally shared the same attitudes
towards others eating cat and dog meat. More than 50% disagreed with the practice, and more than 30% thought
it was none of their business. Only around 1% thought it was fine for others to eat dog and cat meat. (Fig. 17)
52.6
59.1
A-class cities
B-class cities
36.1
30.5
10.4
Fig. 17 Attitudes
of non-consumers
towards those who eat
cat and dog meat (%)
8.7
1.7
0.9
Agree
Disagree
None of my
business
Not sure
Should killing cats and dogs for food be illegal?
As a whole, more than 46% of respondents agreed that killing cats and dogs for meat should be illegal. A quarter
were neutral , while nearly 30% thought it should be legal. In the groups that ate cats and dogs, over 40% thought
it should remain legal, over 20% thought it should be illegal and more than 20% were neutral. But of the groups
that didn’t eat cats and dogs, nearly 60% thought it should be illegal, just over 10% disagreed, while more than
20% were neutral. (Fig 18)
A-class cities
24.7
B-class cities
22.8
26.6
25.9
25.1
28.6
11.8
16.5
22.7
28.9
45.1
65.4
58.4
51.4
46.4
28.3
General
Fig. 18 Should killing
cats and dogs for food
be illegal? (%)
45.3
26.1
Eat cat
and dog
meat
group
Not sure
General
Don’t eat
cat and
dog meat
group
No
Yes
Eat cat
and dog
meat
group
Not sure
Don’t eat
cat and
dog meat
group
No
Yes
Main conclusions of the research
1. Eating cat and dog meat is not a regular nationwide practice – and both the amount consumed and
frequency of these meals are low considering the population at large.
Eating cat and dog meat is not a universal behaviour nationwide. In general cities, only 20% of respondents
had eaten dog meat in the past two years, while just 1.7% had eaten cat meat; within this non-mainstream
minority, more than 70% had eaten cat or dog meat just once or twice a year. Even in cities with the habit of
eating cats and dogs, almost half of respondents had not eaten cats or dogs in the past two years, and of
those who had, half had eaten it only once or twice a year.
2. The taste and perceived nutritive value are the primary reasons for eating dog meat.
The taste of food and the generally believed nutritive value are the most primary reasons that attract the
general public to eat dog meat.
10
3. Dog and cat meat is not a common family food.
Over 60% of respondents ate cat or dog meat at gatherings with friends; respondents rarely ate a homecooked meal of dog or cat meat with their families and dog meat cannot be considered a staple diet or
common family meal.
4. Women are far less likely to eat dog and cat meat than men.
5. 90% of all respondents have concerns about eating dogs and cats.
The most common concerns were hygiene and health (meat without quarantine could carry pathogens,
markets were not hygienic, and the cats and dogs could have been poisoned). A total of 80% of the public
believed that these concerns influenced the public’s attitudes towards cat or dog consumption and 50%
thought they had a great impact on attitudes. Among respondents who ate cats and dogs, more than 30%
said they no longer would.
Of respondents who did not eat cat and dog meat, more than 70% had never eaten it, while nearly 30% had
eaten it in the past. Both gave similar responses, saying it was too cruel, it was unsanitary, and dogs and cats
were friends, not food.
6. Over 50% agree that cats and dogs have emotions and feelings, and that they suffer during
transportation.
Most respondents agreed that cats and dogs had emotions and feelings, including fear, hunger, pain, anger
and thirst. More than 60% thought cats and dogs could feel fear. Females and those who don’t eat cats and
dogs were more likely to know that cats and dogs had emotions and feelings. Over 50% were aware that
dogs and cats suffered ill-treatment during transportation (dehydration and malnutrition; illness; injury or death
through fighting; being crowded together without space; being dropped from the truck and injured, including
suffering fractures).
7. “Pet” dogs and cats and “meat” dogs and cats should be treated the same.
Most respondents agreed that all cats and dogs should be treated equally and protected by animal welfare
legislation; if cats and dogs are ill-treated during captivity, transportation or slaughter, consumption is
unacceptable; dogs and cats are companion animals, eating them is morally unacceptable;
Those who ate cats and dogs and those who didn’t, disagreed over the points “there is nothing wrong with
eating cats and dogs” and “eating cats and dogs is part of Chinese food culture”.
8. Nearly half of all respondents believe that killing dogs or cats for consumption should be illegal.
Nearly 30% thought that killing cats and dogs for their meat should remain legal and the rest were neutral.
On this point, those who eat cats or dogs and those who don’t have the opposite attitude, over 40% of those
who ate cat and dog meat said it should be legal, while over 20% thought it should be illegal, and more than
20% were neutral. Nearly 60% of those who didn’t eat dog and cat meat thought the practice should be
illegal, over 10% disagreed, and over 20% were neutral.
9. Among those who do not eat cat or dog meat, over half are against others eating it.
Over 30% of those who don’t consumed cat/dog meat thought it was none of their business if others ate it,
and just 1% said it was people’s right to eat cat and dog meat if they wished.
11