The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that claims that a local restaurant was serving catmeat was just a misunderstanding.
According to the statement, the bureau had recently received a complaint that a restaurant was suspected of selling catmeat.
IAM officials, accompanied by Public Security Police (PSP) officers, visited the restaurant in the northern district yesterday where they met the owner who told them that he was temporarily keeping his three pet cats there because his home is being renovated.
The bureau’s animal welfare and food safety officials and police officers carried out a joint inspection of the premises yesterday afternoon.
According to the statement, three kittens – two Maine Coon cats and one Persian cat – were found in the kitchen of the restaurant, as well as fenced-in cat food bowls and litter boxes. A large wooden cat cage was placed outside the kitchen.
The statement stressed that no feline carcasses nor any suspected cat meat were found at the restaurant.
According to the statement, the owner of the restaurant said that he kept his cats temporarily in the restaurant as his home is currently under renovation, so that he can take proper care of the three cats.
However, the statement said that according to the government’s food safety and hygiene guidelines, pets are not allowed to be kept in food processing and handling areas.
The statement said that the owner was requested to remove the animals from the premises as the keeping of animals in the restaurant kitchen posed a food safety and hygiene risk.
According to the statement, the owner has cooperated with the officials in removing the three kittens from the restaurant to a suitable location. The statement did not elaborate.
According to Macau’s Animal Protection Law, killing of dogs and cats is prohibited unless carried out in special situations, such as authorised scientific research, to relieve the pain and suffering of injured or sick dogs or cats, or to eliminate any imminent danger to the life or health of people or their property, as well as to ensure public safety in general.
The consumption of dog and catmeat is prohibited in Macau.
This IAM handout photo taken and distributed yesterday shows a cat litter box, cat carrier, cat food bowl and a cat bed in the restaurant’s kitchen.
These handout photos taken and provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the restaurant owners’ three kittens.
