Anyone with even an iota of compassion would be able to tell that these proceedings are exceedingly ruthless and uneccessary. I am ethnic Chinese and am absolutely revolted by these atrocities, though not surprised. Last year they launched a dog-killing campaign in Beijing, forcibly confiscating pets and bludgeoning them to death in front of their owners. These people neglect even the most basic of civil rights; why do you westerners insist on making excuses for them?

N, SG, Singapore

HELP CATS!

Sladjana, novi sad, Srbija

All of our nations have a black mark for one atrocity or another, but when it is done so blatantly, with pride, for a two-week event that includes individuals of other countries who have compassion for animals, and done in such an inhumane manner (if there is no way to stop them, at the very least, these cats should be humanely euthanised), it hits you like a tin of bricks that China has absolutely NO respect for its visitors, its people or any other living being within its walls (pet food recalls, children's toys recalls, Darfur, and on and on. I feel bad for its poor, misguided and brainwashed citizens. We all remember the control Hitler had over "his people." We don't want to go there again. Why support this regime?

C. Allen, Winnipeg, Canada

totalitarian regimes have always done these kind of things "to save face " and to show a more perfect society that in reality does not exsist.Hitler cleared Berlin of Jews prior to the Olympics.

Rick, Little Silver, nj

The only people that can make any difference to this slaughter of innocents would be the Olympic Committee and the participating athletes. I am sure these people would not be offended by encountering any stray cats in the city whereas now that Beijing has stupidly highlighted to the media what their intentions are, the stigma of this bad publicity can only marr this international event.
The Chinese culture does not evidently recognise that they are offending Western sensitivities in the extreme by practices such as this. Write in numbers to the Olympic Comittee Members to express revulsion, now.....

Eileen Trevallion Mrs., Marlborough, England

What can one say. China is China, and although advanced in many ways, very primitive in compassion. What will they care about animals when you see what they have done and continue to do to Tibet.

What a place to choose for the Olympics.

Steven Spielberg had the right idea by withdrawing his services to the Chinese Olympics.

Anyone with a remote touch of compassion and care for their fellow sentient beings (both human and non human) should withdraw from the Olympics. However I think I demand too much from the general population of the planet.

Ela Josephs-Kniaz, Bognor Regis, United Kingdom

All living beings have an equal right to live .Homo sapiens is just one animal species on Planet Earth, but the most danger species who made global warming and who destry many forestes and many other animal species . It is need some of this species move out from this Planet - that is the right way for save Earth .

Slavica Mazak Beslic, Subotica, Serbia

I am disgusted at the low-level comments some have given here - making fun of something that means intense cruelty and death to some 200,000 living beings - whose only crime is their existence.
If we were to apply the same logic to Humans - how would that be ?
Does any of the ones here defending this massacre want to die ?
No.
Live and let live, my dears.

My God - look at what you are saying here - you advocate large-scale murder.
What have these animals done to us ?
Let us please not forget - all those who think such animals are pests and should be done way with (for whatver stupid and ignorant reason) - the single largest threat to ALL LIFE on this planet is man !
We all know that. Does that mean we now embark on mass culls of Humans ?
Animals DO matter, despite the fact that Human misery exists. Man makes this world a hell for his own kind, and all others of course - and you adovate that animals be struck from the equation as non-consequential ? How arrogant is that ??

Diana Hartig, Oberstenfeld, Germany

I will write to my MP and ask him to write to the Prime Minister expressing my belief that Britain and the Athletics Association should tell Beijing that they will boycott the Olympic Games if the cruelty to the cats does not stop immediately. Various animal organisations are now concerned about the torture of the cats and I hope that in all our various countries we will ask our Governments to intervene and make it clear to Beijing City Authority that the Olympic Games must not be associated with such immense cruelty to the cats and that animal lovers the world over are horrified that the cats are being trapped and tortured and want it to stop immediately.

Fiona MacMillan, Aberdeen, Great Britain

China. leader of the Fur trade. This country has NO regard for animal welfare. www.furkills.org. China skins animals ALIVE (dogs and cats), for their fur! This is so cruel and evil. They also eat cats and dogs! Throwing them alive into boiling water. Torturing them first as this improves the taste (apparentely), This is the most vile Truth I have come upon. If you don't believe me, search the fur trade on the internet. Be aware, its graphic and will upset anyone with a heart.

Fiona Dobbie, TE AROHA, New Zealand

For the one who are so passionately defending China, I suggest them to watch the DVD documentary "The cry of the Snow Lion".
I am not surprised of the massacre of animals: this country has not spiritual or planetary Consciousness and it is able to allure just the ones that look at thing very superficially.
What is to like about contemporary China: a bunch of skyscrapers , freeways and lights? An Eastern Las Vegas!
They destroyed the only culturally and artistically valuable richness they had, but this is what Communism is all about.

Vanda Bruni, Paris, France

It's so hypocritical of the West to criticize China's human rights abuses. What about the millions of natives who were abused & killed by the western colonizers? Look into your own history honestly, not the censored schoolbooks that glorify the heroic deeds of your adventurer colonizers who massacred whole peoples. Those crimes would now be called Genocide. If you criticize china, then at least begin with "Do NOT do as WE did murdering innocents, but please respect the UN human rights bill". The present hype against the Peking games have all the hallmarks of hysteria & discrimination. So unabashedly Shameful !

tarcis, the hague, Holland

I love cats but feral cats are vicious and there is no place in our towns for stray cats. People should look after their animals.

To suggest that this cleansing is in any way indicative of a bad regime as Alan suggests is pointless and inaccurate.

The Beijing Olympics will be a huge success which will allow the world to see a different China.

For all those who think that China is a third world country please go visit it and you will be amazed at how capitalistic it is.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

I am currenlty studying in Beijing and after living here for 7 months, I am outraged at how the media trashes China so much. In just 7 months, Beijing had transformed, and the policies implemented by the Chinese government have really helped clean up the city. I think the Olympics are a great thing for China, because, they are forcing the changes the country needed for so long.

Mariana, Miami , FL

From the country that slaughtered it's domestic cattle and sheep only five years ago, to Australia which massacred it's rabbit population, to America which wiped out their buffalo herds, through Canada with their seal culls, no-one emerges squeaky clean in the animal rights/Olympics argument.

I hear there's a proposal for a badger cull in the UK..........

Felix, Guangxi, China

Ah well at least the kebab vans will be well stocked for the games

Simon, Soton,

I tend to feel that how a country handles its cat population is a real indicator of how they treat people. In Jordan, Croatia, India, Viet Nam and Cambodia the local cats that we saw were well looked after and came up to us to be stroked and spoken to.
I have been to Beijing, but i have to say I do not remember seeing any cats: we did see some pet dogs who were well looked after. Also all our guides had little (and not so little) girls and these children were very clearly loved.
I think one has to travel with an open mind, especially when it comes to animals. The animals are usually the people's economic safeguards and are treated well, without being mollycoddled. Sometimes one gets real insights as to how the culture treats women, girls and animals. keep your eyes and ears open and you learn a lot!

Carlyle Braden, Croydon, U.K.

I am saddened by the extraordinary cruelty that the Chineese regime consistently engages in. Why would the Olympic committee award such an honor on a nation that does not respect human or animal life?

Celeste , Royal oak, Michigan

Another utterly ridiculous backfiring shot in the foot for the organisers. A short taxi ride several miles in any chosen direction from the squeaky clean epicentre of these tiring Games would reveal to the casual observer that the Olympic campus is indeed NOT indicative of the general environment in the People's Republic.

I'm exhausted with the dull Beijing perception that the Games are somehow a magnificent showcase for the country. Sadly China isn't ready for them. It needed to wait another two or three turns in my view. The tragedy is that such imaginatively stupid ideas such as feline pogroms are woefully redolent of former lessons that should have been learned 40 years ago.

This is all massively entertaining for the wrong reasons.

Richard Turner, Shanghai, China

If anyone is still wondering "how wise it was to award the Games to such a regime", perhaps they should wonder if Australia who keep some of their population in hovels should have had the Games or if the UK who created Australia should be hosting the Games in 2012.

Frank, Halifax, UK

I agree with Alan (Spalding). The games are already tainted merely by being held in China. Their human and animal rights are virtually non existent. A backward nation when it comes to belief in potions which involve dreadful cruelty to animals and which have no scientific proof whatsoever. I lusually look forward to watching the Olympics on the TV but it will be difficult to focus on the athletes without images of animal cruelty coming to mind. So much could have been demanded of China before they were awarded the games. Instead their barbarism is ignored.

sophie, london,

maybe they should do the same in NY but with rats....

Nat, Kent, UK

Err... who cares about the cats when a similar thing is happening to the poor and homeless. All the beggers in Beijing are being removed to make it 'cleaner' and one can assume that there are a great many of them. But all we hear about is cats. It is their problem and it will be amusing to watch as the games get overrun by rats!

rob, Singapore,

Always remembering cats both feral and domestic
as predators are the greatest risk for song birds .

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA

I do wonder how wise it was to award the Games to a country with such a regime in power.....

Alan, Spalding, UK