However, this isn’t a real butcher but rather a social experiment run by the animal rights group Animal Liberation Malta to raise awareness about the plight of farm animals.

Activist Katerina Younes told Lovin Malta that she was inspired to open the page following a conversation she had with a local butcher and meat wholesaler.

Younes took issue with Kim’s Malta after it posted Facebook ads promoting its pork products, including photos of a piglet being cradled and a sow about to give birth pork and a statement that pork tastes better if pigs are treated well.

She sarcastically asked Kim’s if she can choose which pig will be slaughtered for her and the wholesaler responded that their methods are in line with EU regulations to minimise pain.

“It made me realise more disconnected we are when it comes to viewing particular animals,” Younes told Lovin Malta. “Why do we give certain animals names, take them home with us, love them and cry when they get sick and die, but then stick a number on the ears of other animals and treat them as commodities?”

Younes wanted to see how the public would react if she had to promote cat meat just as butchers promote meat sourced from more traditional livestock.

While many people recognised the stunt for what it was, others took it seriously, even going as far as to send the page threatening messages and report them to the animal authorities.

“There’s a huge double standard with animal lovers who defend animals they categorise as pets but have no problem with other animals being slaughtered,” Younes said. “Right now many charity dinners are taking place in Malta, where people are raising money to help cats and dogs, all while dining on the bodies of pigs and cows.”

“There’s a huge disconnect – the same group who claim to be animal lovers are oppressing other animals. We give cats and dogs names and take them home as pets but other animals have a beating heart and a right to live too.”

“You felt the same way about these cats as vegans feel about any other animals who are being bred and slaughtered solely for people’s taste buds.”

The activist also flagged a recent promotion by renowned Maltese restaurant Manouche about a suckling pig roast.

“I commented that a suckling pig is a few weeks’ old baby who was brutally slaughtered and that it is ironic that many people who will eat this piglet are parents themselves. However, they removed my comments and those of my friends who were [sarcastically] recommending roasted cat and dog and ended up blocking all comments.”

“The restaurant was uncomfortable when confronted with this fact but being an activist involves confronting people with inconvenient truths. I hope this will make us think about our double standards.”

Would you ever turn vegetarian or vegan?