NAKHON PHANOM : Nakhon Phanom Animal Quarantine Centre is running out of space and money to take care of 92 cats seized from a man caught trying to smuggle them out of Thailand.
The centre is already caring for 1,432 dogs that were saved from the grisly fate of being butchered and sold to restaurants in Vietnam.
The high number of dogs leaves little space for the cats, Nakhon Phanom livestock officials said.
The officials said more funds would be required if the cats end up staying there for a long period.
Funds in the Nakhon Phanom dog rescue fund have sunk to three million baht, prompting a need for more fund-raising, the officials said.
The arrival of the cats at the centre followed the interception of Sodsai Amphawa, 26, who on July 11 was carrying the cats in a pickup truck from Maha Sarakham to Nakhon Phanom, where the animals were believed to be destined for restaurants in Vietnam.
The seizure of the felines is the first of its kind in Thailand.
Officials had not previously received reports of cats being smuggled out of the country, said Nakhon Phanom livestock Thanet Thawinwang.
But he said he was aware of the demand for dogs and cats by restaurants in Vietnam which use them as key ingredients in concoctions purported to have medicinal qualities.
The price of each dog has increased to between 5,000 and 7,000 baht while each cat fetches between 2,000 and 3,000 baht.
Officials said the potential for profit is drawing more people into animal smuggling.
"We have new homework to do," said Chusak Phongphanit, chief of the Nakhon Phanom Animal Quarantine Centre, who suspects gangsters are behind the smuggling operations.
To deal with overcrowding at the centre, officials there are trying to find new homes for the captive cats.
Mr Chusak encouraged people to save the animals by adopting them.
For those who want to donate money to the centre, transfers can be made to the bank account of Livestock Department's veterinarian foundation at Ayudhaya Bank's Rachathewi branch. The account number is 044-109-2282.