Some 700 hundred cats that were kept in captivity in Shanxi Province, China were dramatically rescued by animal rights activists.

It is thought that most of these cats would have been killed and served as food.

In the video that you can check here, many cats are crammed into small cages as they desperately purr and whine in great agony and pain. Worse, activists explain that most of these cats were likely stolen and trafficked from all over China so they could be sold to restaurants for their meat.

The shocking footage was filmed by a local activist who only identified herself by her last name, Li. She said that the employees of a budget hotel reported the situation to them, which she visited with her fellow activists.

Li sounds shocked at the sight that was unfolding in front of her, estimating that there are hundreds and hundreds of cats in the room. She then asks for help, saying that all these cats will end up on dishes if people do not help the felines out.

Linfen Small Animal Rescue, who rushed to the scene, said that all the cats have been rescued and were being taken care by their volunteers. One member said that the cats are in appropriate pet cages where they are getting fed ample food and water so they can recover.

MailOnline says that the local authorities have begun their investigations on this issue. It is likely that this case will be investigated heavily as the Chinese government has announced it will regulate its animal rights violations with increased scrutiny after Covid-19.

This is especially true for wild animals, which have been cited as the original source of the global pandemic. Since February, the trade and consumption for wild animals have been put to a temporary halt after pangolins were initially identified as the initial host in Wuhan.

Despite its long and cultural roots, this increased protection of animal rights has been spreading to other animals as well. For example, in two cities, including Shenzhen, consumption of dogs and cats have been formally outlawed.

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Replaced!