The Truth Behind Claims of Migrants Harming Cats in Ceuta

Recent accusations against migrants in Ceuta have sparked a wave of concern, particularly allegations involving the mistreatment of cats. This article examines the origins of these claims, scrutinizes the accompanying evidence, and highlights the response from local organizations dedicated to animal welfare.

Rumors Emerge on Social Media

On August 20, Nicolas Conquer, a supporter of Donald Trump from France, took to X to express his dismay over the migration crisis in Ceuta. In a post echoing Trump’s controversial remarks about Haitians, he claimed, “In Ceuta, they’re eating the cats.” His comments referenced a surge of 70,000 migrants crossing from Morocco in late July. The concern about migrants supposedly harming cats quickly gathered traction on various social media platforms, particularly within French and Spanish communities.

Media Coverage Amplifies the Claims

Spanish media outlets, including the conservative publication La Gaceta, published articles bolstering these allegations. One article, released on August 19, suggested that numerous cats had been killed and that pigeons and seagulls were consumed amid an “invasion” by migrants. The piece featured a distressing image of a deceased white kitten near a trash bin.

Unverified Images Spread

These images rapidly circulated online, with local outlets like Ceuta Ahora—holding a substantial follower base—promoting them further. Another publication, La Verdad de Ceuta, showcased a photo of a deceased orange-and-white cat.

Fact-Checking Reveals the Truth

However, investigations by Spanish fact-checkers at Maldita revealed that the images did not originate from Ceuta. The photo of the white kitten was actually taken in the Canary Islands a year earlier. A reverse image search confirmed this, revealing the source article from a local media outlet discussing cat deaths under suspicious circumstances. Similarly, the orange-and-white cat image was traced back to Balaguer in Catalonia from October 2025.

Local Animal Welfare Groups Take Action

In response to the rising panic, Agrevice Ceuta, an organization devoted to feral cat populations, issued several posts on Facebook, denouncing the “alarmist and unverified news” surrounding migrant violence against animals. They noted that none of the 500 cats under their care had disappeared.

Testimonies from Local Leaders

Eduardo Sanchez, president of the charity, stated, “Since the start of the crisis, we’ve been monitoring the feral cats closely and providing food and water.” He mentioned that there had been no reports of violence or missing cats, expressing his commitment to their welfare.

More False Claims and AI-Generated Images

The local branch of the Unified Association of the Civil Guard also dismissed the rumors as “false,” noting that no verifiable evidence of mistreated animals had surfaced. Additionally, the La Gaceta outlet later modified its article to replace the initial kitten image with photographs of deceased birds, which it claimed were found due to the hunger experienced by some migrants.

The Role of AI in Misinformation

In another twist, a recently circulated image that purportedly showed a migrant abusing a cat was found to be AI-generated. Fact-checkers identified its origin as a video produced by El Pais, revealing that the image was manipulated to replace a stick with a cat.

Conclusion

The arrival of thousands of migrants in Ceuta has raised pressing concerns regarding the local environment, including its feral cat populations. However, reliable sources have not established a connection between these newcomers and harm to animals. As the situation develops, local organizations continue to advocate for the responsible treatment of animals amidst the unfolding crisis.

• Rumors about migrants harming cats in Ceuta have been widely circulated but are largely unfounded.
• Fact-checkers confirmed that circulated images of deceased cats were misrepresented and not taken in Ceuta.
• Local animal welfare organizations report no incidents of violence against cats despite the migrant influx.
• The role of AI in spreading misinformation is becoming increasingly significant in these discussions.