Henan man arrested over alleged crypto-paid torture of 1,500 cats

Police in Pingdingshan, Henan, detained a man in his 60s surnamed Ma after local animal welfare volunteers presented evidence they say links him to the torture and killing of about 1,500 stray cats in exchange for cryptocurrency. Volunteers say Ma operated a private Telegram community that sold custom videos of the abuse.

A rescue group spent months tracking a Telegram account and compiling online and on-site evidence before notifying police. A member of the group reported, ‘On the morning of April 19, volunteers found a kitten with its eyes gouged out and its throat cut in a rubbish bin near Ma’s home.’ Investigators matched details in multiple videos to locations around Ma’s residence.

Volunteers identified a parking lot and a balcony near Ma’s home as filming sites and said one graphic clip showing a cat tied to a frying pan over a gas hob matched images of Ma’s kitchen. They monitored Ma’s movements and noted he often left home around midnight and returned in the early morning, which the group said suggested he chose times with fewer people nearby.

The rescue group reported Ma obtained cats through pet shops, online platforms and rescue organizations. The group said Ma told a neighbor he would help rehome more than 20 stray cats; the later discovery of a mutilated kitten led volunteers to investigate further. Members using an alias said the Telegram account posted about late-night outings to abuse and kill cats and about tricking people into adopting kittens.

Police placed Ma under administrative detention for 10 days and charged him with ‘disturbing public order on an especially large scale.’ Legal advisers warn prosecutors may face challenges bringing stronger criminal charges because Chinese law classifies stray cats as wild animals, leaving unclear legal protections for abuse that does not involve privately owned pets.

Telegram is officially banned in mainland China but can be accessed through circumvention tools. Volunteer investigators said they used online traces, photo and video comparisons and neighborhood interviews to build their case. Local police declined to provide further details, saying case information could not be disclosed.

The arrest comes amid increased scrutiny by Chinese authorities of cryptocurrency use in criminal activity, including cases of alleged money laundering and illegal payments. The rescue group has called for clearer legal recognition and stronger enforcement against abuse of stray animals to prevent similar incidents.