These heartbreaking images show the rescue of seven hundred cats that had been crammed into tiny cages as they were being prepared to be 'served as food'.
Footage released by animal rescuers show the distressed animals kept in a dozen rusty cages in Linfen, in China's Shanxi province.
It is believed that the felines had been stolen by traffickers and were about to be slaughtered and sold as meat to restaurants before activists stepped in.
The horrific scenes were captured by an animal lover known only as Li who uploaded the footage to Chinese social media website Weibo.
Ms Li can be heard in the footage saying: "Hundreds of cats here, hundreds.
"They are waiting to be served as food on the table. Help them."
Local welfare group Linfen Small Animal Rescue says it is now attempting to rehome the cats saved from the appalling conditions.
"We have moved pretty much all of them into pet cages. We are giving them water and food," a spokesperson said.
"Vets are checking if there are any injured or ill cats."
Local authorities are said to be investigating the matter.
China has come under fire for its animal welfare practices following the coronavirus crisis
It is believed that the outbreak may have started in one of the country's notorious wet markets after the virus jump to humans from either a bat or pangolin.
The country's central government temporarily blocked the sale and of wild animals in response to the crisis and two cities have banned the eating of cats and dogs.
