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It sounds like the stuff of nightmares: a child proudly declaring a love for torturing cats. But this isn’t fiction; it’s a message posted inside an encrypted online group, part of a horrifying international network of animal abusers exposed by a recent BBC investigation.
This underground community, spread across private messaging apps, has thousands of members from around the world, including some from the UK, who record, share, and even sell videos of cats being tortured and killed.
''We’re not just talking about animal abuse,” one investigator said. “We’re talking about the radicalization of young people into a world where torture is entertainment.”
And it’s growing.
According to animal rights group Feline Guardians, a new cat torture video is uploaded every 14 hours, many filmed by the abusers themselves in what appears to be an attempt to outdo one another in cruelty. Some even repeatedly revive the cats using electric shocks to extend their suffering.
One of the most shocking revelations? Children are involved. The BBC found multiple posts from users who appear to be minors, including the now-viral message, “I’m 10 years old, and I love torturing cats.”
“This is not just disturbing; this is organized cruelty,” said a Feline Guardians volunteer who infiltrated the groups undercover. “It’s a horror scroll that never ends.”
The network, which first gained traction in China, has now spread to Europe, with users in the UK openly discussing how to get cats for torture, including faking adoption requests to animal shelters like the RSPCA.
In one chat, someone shared a form from the RSPCA, while another posted a classified ad for kittens, writing, “I want to torture them a lot.”
Authorities are now investigating whether recent cat killings in the UK, including a grisly case in Ruislip where two teens tortured and dismembered cats, are tied to this larger, global abuse ring.
The BBC’s report highlights how platforms like Telegram and encrypted forums are being used to hide and promote animal cruelty. Some sites even market themselves as "animal rights communities" but only grant access if users prove their participation with videos of abuse.
One platform ran a “100 Cats in 100 Tortures” contest last year. Another group leader was found to be operating out of Tokyo, though he denied any involvement when contacted.
China has come under particular scrutiny for being the origin of many of these groups, yet legal action remains rare. One viral video creator was detained for only 15 days, and even he went on to inspire copycats.
“China has no legal protections against animal abuse,” said a Feline Guardians activist during a protest outside the Chinese embassy in London. “That means abusers there, and abroad, get away with it. No jail time. No consequences. And this poison is leaking into the rest of the world.”
Activists are calling for stronger international laws, tech company accountability, and serious criminal investigations into the growing network. But with videos still being posted daily and children getting pulled into the cruelty, the sense of urgency is mounting.
“We’re not just talking about animal abuse,” one investigator said. “We’re talking about the radicalization of young people into a world where torture is entertainment.”
Source: BBC
