“Nope, You Cannot Do That”: KZN Kitten Gets Saved From Almost Getting Eaten in Roadside Rescue

• A KZN animal rescuer and her husband stepped in after spotting a roadside worker carrying a tiny kitten he planned to take home for food
• The kitten was handed over after R50 changed hands, and is now safe and recovering in the care of the Monkey Helpline team
• People were emotional about the rescue, with some praising the couple's quick thinking and others raising questions about hunger and poverty in South Africa
• Briefly News spoke to health expert Jayshri Rangasamy on why people should avoid eating animals found on the streets

A tiny kitten in KwaZulu-Natal came very close to a grim fate before a chance encounter on the roadside changed everything. Monkey Helpline co-founder Carol shared the story on 8 May 2026. She showed several photos of the little striped kitten, small enough to sit comfortably in the palm of a hand, with what looked like tears in one eye.

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Carol explained that she and her husband Steve were on their way to fill up the rescue vehicle when Steve noticed a worker on the roadside holding a small creature. He turned the car around immediately. When he reached out and took the kitten, he asked the man where he was taking it. The man's response was one word:

"Nyama."

He was taking it home to eat.

Steve told him he couldn't do that and that he was confiscating the kitten. The man held on. Steve held on too. Eventually, Carol reached into her bag and offered R50 to the man to buy food instead. He let go of the cat, took the money and walked away.

The Monkey Helpline, based in KwaZulu-Natal, relies on donor support to keep its rescue vehicle on the road. Without those donations, Carol says rescues like this one simply wouldn't happen.

Eating cats and dogs in South Africa?

While eating cats is not common in South Africa, it does happen in some communities. This is especially true for people experiencing severe food insecurity. According to Four Paws, the eating of domestic animals happens more in certain parts of Asia. In South Africa, cases are more isolated and are linked to extreme hunger.

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Speaking to Briefly News writer Nerissa Naidoo, health expert Jayshri Rangasamy explained why people should avoid eating animals found on the streets:

“People should never eat animals found on the street because there is no way of knowing if the animal is sick, injured, poisoned, or carrying diseases. Stray or abandoned animals may have infections, parasites, or have been exposed to harmful substances, which can pose serious health risks to humans if consumed.”

When asked what health risks people may face from eating animals that are not properly sourced or prepared, she said:

“Eating animals that are not properly sourced or handled can expose people to dangerous bacteria, viruses, and food poisoning. In some cases, diseases can spread from animals to humans, especially if the meat is contaminated or not cooked properly. This is why food safety and proper sourcing are extremely important.”

Briefly News also asked about what support people facing extreme hunger should seek instead of turning to unsafe food sources. Jayshri went on to say:

“Community feeding schemes, shelters, food banks or local organisations can assist vulnerable families where possible. No one should feel forced to risk their health by eating unsafe food, and communities should work together to support those in need.”

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See the Facebook post below:

People spooked by the KZN kitten rescue

People responded with a mix of relief, heartbreak and debate on @carol.booth.1884's Facebook page:

@faiza.ismail.792 said:

"God definitely sent you. They were going to eat him. So grateful to you both."

@ninavilapouca wrote:

"So glad you came along when you did. On the other side, it's heartbreaking that people are so hungry they're reduced to eating domestic animals."

@shaz.anderson.140 said:

"Oh my, to think that cute kitten was going to be eaten. I would rather starve than harm an animal. Thank you for giving this cat a chance at life."

@priscilla.shovlin added:

"Scary to think cats are being eaten now. Keep your pets safe, people."

@diana.dreboldt wrote:

"Yet people carry on having babies even though they cannot feed them. A very sad state the country is in."

More animals that got SA interested

• Briefly News reported on a festival in India that turned tragic after an elephant broke free and fatally attacked a man.
• A crocodile turned up in a dam in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, and nobody could work out how long it had been there or where it came from.
• A man came face-to-face with two lions in the wild and walked away without the incident turning ugly.

Source: Briefly News