Chinese police have reportedly uncovered an illicit cat meat trade and rescued over 1,000 felines from slaughter.

A BBC News report, quoting state-affiliated media, said police made the find in Zhangjiagang while acting on a tip-off from animal welfare activists.

The activists were on alert after seeing a number of cats being held in nailed-up wooden boxes in cemetery.

According to reports, the cat meat would have been sold as pork or mutton.

The report also stated that the rescue raised fresh concerns about food safety.