The abuse of cats, as of any other domestic animal, is all too common. In most parts of the country, regular stories of the neglect of dozens of animals by deranged individuals reach the local news. Sadly, many people take their aggressions out on those least able to defend themselves, and cats often bear the horrible brunt of such attacks.

Neglect can take many different forms. An owner may deny the cat adequate shelter or care, or fail to provide sufficient food and water. Lack of affection or stimulation may be harder to quantify, but all are acts of neglect.

The more pro-active harms are animal abuse, which broadly breaks down into two categories: psychological abuse and physical abuse. Psychological torments include yelling, taunting, willfully startling and the like. Physical harm includes every horror imaginable, from hanging a living animal to torturing a cat with a lighted cigarette.

If you suspect a neighbor of cat abuse, contact your local animal control agency immediately. They will send a trained investigator and will be able to intervene on behalf of animals at risk.

When adopting a rescue cat or attempting to make a feral cat part of your family, watch for signs of previous abuse. Such treatment may permanently impair a cat's ability to bond with people. Signs of abuse may include agoraphobia (fear of open places), feat of being alone, distrust, shirking from human contact, or hypervigilance. A veterinarian can help you to determine whether an animal can overcome the emotional remnants of harms caused by previous owners.

Cat Meat for Human Consumption

Cat meat has been considered a delicacy in many parts of the Far East for centuries, notably in China, where it is called ‘fragrant meat’. Today, many, particularly in light of increasing evidence that house pets are being abducted to supply local meat traders, are protesting this practice. Animal rights activists have their work cut out for them; some estimates put daily cat consumption in Guang Dong province at 10,000 cats per day. The Chinese Animal Protection Network has introduced legislation that would outlaw dog and cat meat for human consumption. The law also has provisions that would improve animal transport and medical care. This bill, which would be the first animal welfare act in China's history, will be presented in the Annual People's Conference in April 2010.