Civits are dying on your coffee. Today is World Civet Day—a day most individuals have never heard of but one which desperately must be on every traveler’s radar. Because behind that $50 cup of “cat-poo-chino” lies a world industry built on animal cruelty, misinformation, and our obsession with so-called luxury experiences.
If you’re a traveler, influencer, or coffee lover, it’s time to face an uncomfortable truth: Civet coffee isn’t rare. It’s farmed. It’s cruel. And it’s trending for all of the unsuitable reasons.
Civet Coffee: The Brew That Shouldn’t Exist
Civet coffee—also called kopi luwak or “weasel coffee” is made out of beans which have passed through the digestive system of civets, small nocturnal animals native to Asia. While it began as a unusual discovery of beans collected from the forest floor, demand quickly turned it into an industrialized nightmare.
Today, most civet coffee comes from civets kept in cramped, filthy cages. Many are illegally trafficked from the wild. The animals are force-fed coffee cherries until they suffer from caffeine toxicity, malnutrition, and stress. All so someone can say they’ve tried “the rarest coffee on Earth.”
Spoiler alert: It’s not rare anymore. It’s mass-produced, and civets are paying the value.
The Social Media Problem: #CivetSelfie Culture
Let’s talk Instagram. Those lovely civet selfies? They’re not cute. They’re evidence of an animal suffering in silence.
Captive civets are sometimes used as tourist photo props in Southeast Asia, particularly in Bali and Vietnam. Tourists snap pics, share them, and boom—one other follower wants the identical experience. But these selfies fuel a brutal supply chain where wild civets are captured, caged, and commercialized for our entertainment.
If your travel pics involve a wild animal in a cage, you’re not promoting wanderlust—you’re promoting wildlife abuse.
How Travel Fuels Cruelty
Travelers unknowingly support civet exploitation daily by:
- Buying civet coffee at cafés or airport gift shops
- Visiting civet coffee plantations listed on TripAdvisor
- Posing with civets for social media clout
- Not asking tour firms about their animal welfare policies
It’s time to shift the narrative. Ethical travel isn’t about “doing no harm” anymore—it’s about actively doing good. And that starts with being informed.
What You Can Do Today—World Civet Day and Beyond
1. Say NO to Cat-Poo-Chino
Boycott civet coffee. It’s not exotic—it’s exploitative. Try local teas, fresh tropical juices, and even sustainably-grown coffee as an alternative. You don’t need cruelty in your cup to have a memorable experience.
2. Pose with People, Not Wildlife
Civet selfies are contributing to the illegal wildlife trade. Choose human connections over hashtags. Trust us, your conscience will thanks.
3. Research Before You Book
Ask tour firms: What’s your animal welfare policy? If they’ll’t answer, that’s your answer.
4. Speak Up
Use your voice. Leave reviews, send emails, and urge platforms like TripAdvisor to stop promoting civet coffee experiences. Demand higher.
Civility Isn’t Just Politeness—It’s Action
On World Civet Day, civility means protecting the voiceless. It means recognizing that our travel selections matter. It means taking a stand—even when it’s inconvenient or unpopular.
In a world where cruelty is commonly rebranded as culture and exploitation is disguised as experience, let’s be the travelers who ask higher questions and expect higher answers.
Because being kind isn’t soft—it’s revolutionary.
Want to Help Right Now?
Sadly, tourists are supporting Civet Coffee production without knowing what is occurring. It doesn’t help that TripAdvisor has attractions that encourage visitors to go to Civet Farms. That is why Jess Hooper, founding father of the Civet Project, has began a petition to encourage TripAdvisor to issue animal welfare warnings on all Civet Coffee attractions.
Sign the petition here. They should not following their very own animal welfare policies. And just as all of us got here together to work towards ending elephant rides and swimming with dolphins, it’s time to put an end to Civet coffee production. Visit www.thecivetproject.com to learn more and support campaigns to finish civet coffee cruelty worldwide.
What are Civets?
Civets are cute, shy and solitary. We have had the privilege of seeing them on night safaris in places corresponding to Southeast Asia and Africa have seen first-hand just how elusive they’re. They have beautiful, spotted fur and large ears that pop up with curiosity when a light-weight shines their way.
Civets lead lives that play an important part of their ecosystem. Their weight-reduction plan is omnivorous, consisting of fruits, berries, insects, and small vertebrates, which makes them vital for seed dispersal and controlling insect populations.
Unfortunately, the demand for civet coffee has significantly disrupted the civets’ natural behaviors and habitats. Wild civets are captured with cruel methods corresponding to snaring and trapping. They are then caged and displayed for tourists to take photos with. It is time to place an end to this.
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About Civet Coffee and World Civet Day
Civet coffee, also referred to as kopi luwak, is made out of coffee beans which were eaten, digested, and excreted by civets—small, cat-like mammals present in Asia. The beans are collected from their feces, cleaned, and roasted. It’s often marketed as a rare delicacy, but the reality behind it is way darker.
Don’t buy or drink civet coffee
Don’t take selfies with wild animals
Support ethical tourism operators
Share awareness on days like World Civet Day
Donate or follow campaigns like The Civet Project
No. While some firms claim their coffee comes from “wild” civets, most are caged, force-fed coffee cherries, and live in cruel, cramped conditions. Even so-called ethical farms often fail basic welfare standards. If it’s being sold to tourists, chances are high it’s not ethical.
Because it profits off animal suffering. Civets in captivity often develop stress-related illnesses, suffer from malnutrition, and die prematurely. This industry also fuels wildlife trafficking and threatens already vulnerable civet populations.
Technically, yes—nevertheless it’s rare and nearly not possible to confirm. Most so-called “wild-sourced” kopi luwak is greenwashing. Unless you personally know the farmer and the civets roam free within the wild (not “free-range” in a fenced backyard), it’s best to steer clear.
Simple test: in the event that they allow you to see, touch, or pose with a civet—it’s unethical. Responsible wildlife tourism doesn’t involve selfies with stressed-out nocturnal animals in sunlight hours.
Say no—and speak up. Leave a respectful review, ask the business why they serve it, and report the listing if it’s on TripAdvisor, Airbnb Experiences, or Google Maps. Your voice makes a difference.
Share this text today and help make #WorldCivetDay trend for all the correct reasons. Pin below to Pinterest to assist spread the word
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources which can be tried and tested by yours truly.
Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the perfect flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they’ve the perfect flight deals.
Book your Hotel: Find the perfect prices on hotels with these two providers. If you’re situated in Europe use Booking.com and when you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.
Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the most affordable prices on apartment rentals with VRBO.
Learn a Language: We recommend and love each Rosetta Stone and Babbel.
Travel Insurance: Don’t leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:
- Safety Wing – Occasional Travelers.
- Medjet – Global air medical transport and travel security.
Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.
Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to envision out our Resources Page where we highlight all the nice firms that we trust once we are traveling.
