Why are black cats considered more valuable in this trade?

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Black Cats Command Higher Prices Due to Superstitious Beliefs

Black cats are sold at a premium within the cat meat trade in Indochina, specifically Vietnam, due to deeply ingrained superstitions. These beliefs attribute special luck-bringing or medicinal properties to black felines, driving up their perceived value. Investigations in Vietnam in 2020 revealed that while live cats fetched between US$6 to US$8 per kilogramme, cat meat itself was sold for US$10 to US$12 per kilogramme, with black cats commanding even higher prices.
Beliefs in Luck and Medicinal Benefits Drive Demand

The consumption of cat meat is largely driven by cultural, traditional, or social reasons rather than being a dietary staple. In parts of Southeast Asia, cat meat has historically been associated with beliefs surrounding luck and fortune. Specifically in Vietnam, some individuals consume cat meat at certain points in the lunar month, believing it can bring good luck or counteract periods of bad fortune. Furthermore, a segment of consumers holds the conviction that cat meat possesses health or medicinal benefits.
Underground Trade Involves Theft and Trafficking

The demand for cat meat fuels a brutal underground trade where cats are stolen from homes and streets. Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws estimates that around one million cats are slaughtered annually in Vietnam alone, with smaller numbers also killed in Cambodia and Laos. This trade persists despite decades of awareness campaigns by governments and activists. The recent exposure of a gang in Ho Chi Minh City, involved in inter-provincial smuggling and the rescue of approximately 500 cats, highlights the ongoing nature of this illicit activity, with nine members detained for allegedly stealing and selling cats over three years.
Public Health Concerns Accompany the Trade

Beyond the immense suffering inflicted upon the animals, the trade in felines, often referred to as "little tigers" in Vietnam, raises significant public health concerns. The mass, undocumented movement of animals across borders poses a serious threat, with the potential for the spread of rabies and other zoonotic diseases. This issue is compounded by the fact that there is no nationwide ban on the slaughter, sale, or consumption of cat meat in Vietnam, although investigations suggest a majority of the population, nearly 90 per cent, would support a ban on the dog and cat meat trade and do not consider it a part of Vietnamese culture.

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Why are black cats considered more valuable in this trade?

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