2025年10月30日，中國廣東佛山發生一起引發全國關注的動物保護與餐飲安全事件。多名網友在社交平臺爆料，位於佛山市南海區九江鎮的一家名為「蝦記私房菜」的餐館，涉嫌現場宰殺活貓，並以貓肉、蛇肉、雞肉混合烹製所謂的「龍虎鳳」菜品。這道被一些地方視為「傳統食俗」的料理，其實暗藏嚴重的食品安全與道德爭議。

據瞭解，「龍虎鳳」一名源於以「龍」代表蛇、「虎」代表貓、「鳳」代表雞的說法，該菜肴據稱具有「滋補功效」與「強身壯體」之效。然而該店在朋友圈以「活貓現殺」為噱頭進行宣傳，引起民眾極大反感。爆料者稱曾目睹白貓被抱入後廚屠宰台，場面令人震驚。消息曝光後，網路輿論瞬間炸開，不少網友批評商家「泯滅人性」、「違背社會道德底線」，並要求嚴懲涉事店家。

10月31日晚，九江鎮宣傳部門回應稱，當地市場監管、公安及衛健部門已介入調查。執法人員在現場未發現涉事食材，但已對商家菜單及廣告進行全面核查，並責令其停業整頓。官方同時強調，事件仍在進一步核實中。

此事之所以引發強烈公憤，除了動物保護層面外，還涉及重大食品安全隱患。根據中國農業農村部於2020年5月29日發布的《國家畜禽遺傳資源目錄》，貓與狗明確被排除在可食用畜禽範圍之外，意味著貓肉並無合法的養殖、屠宰、檢疫制度，其來源無法追溯、衛生風險極高。全國人大代表早在數年前就曾指出，市面上流通的貓狗肉，九成以上來自偷竊、投毒、甚至虐殺的流浪動物或民眾飼養的寵物。這不僅觸犯動保與刑法，更侵犯養寵者的基本權益。

從社會層面而言，將貓狗等伴侶動物作為食材的行為，早已不符合現代文明的倫理標準。根據2024年統計，中國境內寵物貓狗總數已超過1.24億，寵物經濟與動物福利觀念的普及，使得「吃貓吃狗」在現代社會中愈發顯得殘酷與落伍。早在2020年，深圳市便通過《全面禁止食用野生動物條例》，明確將貓狗列為禁止食用的動物。該條例指出，貓狗作為與人類建立深厚情感連結的伴侶動物，其被禁止食用既是文明進步的象徵，也是國際通行做法。

然而，儘管法律與觀念逐步更新，仍有部分地區延續「吃貓」的陋習。2024年12月，佛山市三水區美南村就被揭發存在非法屠宰貓隻的黑場，數百隻貓被困於竹籠、浸泡水塘的畫面震驚全國，暴露出地方監管的漏洞與落後的飲食觀念。

「蝦記私房菜」事件無疑再次敲響警鐘——面對傳統與文明的碰撞，社會必須重新審視所謂「地方食俗」的合理性。當貓狗已成為人類的家庭成員，其生命理應被尊重。面對這樣的事件，唯有建立更嚴格的監管制度、提升民眾的動物保護意識，才能避免此類悲劇重演。

佛山當局的迅速行動固然值得肯定，但輿論普遍呼籲，應不僅止於「停業整頓」，而要追根究柢，查明肉源管道，並對涉嫌虐殺與非法經營者依法嚴懲。社會文明的進步，不僅體現在科技與經濟的發展，更應體現在對生命的尊重與對弱者的善意。

A shocking incident in Foshan, Guangdong Province, has sparked widespread outrage and debate over animal cruelty, food safety, and traditional eating customs. On October 30, multiple local residents reported that a private restaurant called “Xia Ji Private Kitchen” in Nanhai District, Jiujiang Town, was allegedly slaughtering live cats to prepare a dish known as “Dragon-Tiger-Phoenix.” The dish, according to local food lore, is made from snake (“dragon”), cat (“tiger”), and chicken (“phoenix”). What made the situation even more disturbing was that the restaurant reportedly promoted this dish through its social media posts, using it as a marketing gimmick to attract diners.

On the evening of October 31, the local publicity department confirmed that an investigation had been launched. Officials from market supervision, public security, and health departments inspected the restaurant, but no cat meat or related ingredients were found at the scene. The authorities stated that the restaurant’s advertisements and menu items were under review, and that the business had been ordered to suspend operations pending further investigation.

The so-called “Dragon-Tiger-Phoenix” stew—mixing snake, chicken, and cat meat—has long been controversial. Though some label it a “traditional local delicacy,” it is also a practice that raises questions about food safety and moral standards. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2020 explicitly removed cats and dogs from the official “National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Catalog,” meaning these animals are not recognized as edible livestock in China. As a result, cat meat has no regulated breeding, quarantine, or slaughtering standards, making its source and safety impossible to verify.

Lawmakers have also raised concerns that most cat and dog meat sold on the market—reportedly more than 90%—comes from stolen or poisoned pets and stray animals. This not only poses significant health risks to consumers but also infringes upon pet owners’ rights.

Beyond the legal and safety dimensions, the case also exposes a deeper cultural tension. In modern China, cats and dogs have become companions rather than food. Reports show that as of 2024, China’s pet population exceeded 124 million, reflecting how deeply these animals are integrated into family life. Consequently, eating them now clashes with contemporary values of empathy and civilized living.

Some regions, such as Shenzhen, have already taken concrete action. In 2020, the city passed the Regulations on the Comprehensive Ban of Wild Animal Consumption in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which explicitly prohibits the consumption of cats and dogs. Local officials emphasized that this ban aligns with international norms and reflects “the ethical and cultural progress of modern human society.”

While not everyone must be a pet lover, the reality remains that unregulated cat and dog meat often comes from stolen or poisoned pets, feeding into a cruel and illegal trade. As such, this practice is increasingly seen as incompatible with modern social values.

Foshan, notably, has faced similar scandals before. In December 2024, authorities uncovered an illegal cat slaughter site in Meinan Village, Sanshui District, where dozens of cats were found trapped in bamboo cages and submerged in ponds before being killed—an incident that drew national condemnation.

The latest controversy surrounding “Xia Ji Private Kitchen” once again highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of animal protection and food safety regulations. While the investigation continues, the broader question remains: in a society where compassion toward animals is seen as a marker of civilization, can such outdated and cruel culinary traditions still have a place?