‘Depths of evil’: BBC investigation uncovers global cat abuse network

An extensive global network dedicated to sharing videos and images of cats being tortured has been uncovered, with active members located in the UK, the BBC has found. The network reportedly consists of thousands who post, trade, and sell disturbing content showing cats being subjected to horrific abuse.

The BBC investigation discovered encrypted chat groups where some UK-based members openly discussed adopting kittens from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) with the intent to mutilate them. One group participant even posted adoption forms, encouraging others to obtain animals for abuse.

This disturbing revelation comes shortly after two teenagers pleaded guilty to torturing and killing kittens in a London park in May. The 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy admitted to inflicting brutal injuries, including cutting open the kittens and using knives, blowtorches, and scissors, shocking the local community. Police are now probing potential links between the suspects and the broader international network that circulates such violent footage.

Originating in China, where the first graphic cat torture videos went viral in 2023, the phenomenon has since spread worldwide. Animal rights group Feline Guardians, which has documented these online communities, reports that between May 2023 and May 2024, a new video depicting the torture or killing of a cat appeared every 14 hours on average. They have identified 24 active groups this year, some with over 1,000 members. One prolific torturer is believed to have abused and filmed more than 200 cats.

Lara, a volunteer with Feline Guardians who has gone undercover in these forums, described the cruelty as “the depths of evil.” She said, “Every day I feel heartbroken, there is not a day that goes past that I don’t feel like my heart is breaking.”

The videos and photos seen by the BBC include extreme acts such as drowning and electrocution of cats. Some torturers even use electrocution to revive cats and prolong their suffering.

Newcomers to the groups are pressured to torture animals and share videos to gain wider access. Disturbingly, evidence suggests children are involved; one member boasted, “I’m 10 years old and I like to torture cats.” The network even promoted a “100 cat kill” contest in September 2023, challenging members to see who could kill that many cats the fastest.

A notorious figure known as “Little Winnie,” whose profile mocks Chinese leader Xi Jinping with a Winnie the Pooh image, is reportedly an administrator on several of these encrypted forums. An activist from Feline Guardians managed to infiltrate the network by befriending the individual behind the account, eventually identifying him as a 27-year-old man living in Tokyo.

Feline Guardians urges governments and law enforcement agencies to act swiftly. Lara warned, “It will only continue to expand and get worse” without intervention. The group has protested outside the Chinese Embassy in London, calling on Beijing to introduce laws to stop the abuse.

“In mainland China, there are no laws stopping this. Abusers can do what they want and live out these very sadistic fantasies without consequence. These videos become a global problem accessible to everyone, including children.”

Ian Briggs, head of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, condemned the cruelty, “Treating animals in this way is absolutely not acceptable and has no place in a modern society made up of kind, compassionate animal lovers.”

Johanna Baxter MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cats, described the groups as “a deeply worrying trend, particularly among young men.” She warned, “Animal abuse often acts as a gateway, making future acts of violence easier to rationalize and commit.”