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In February 2016, an image purportedly showing a group of cats undergoing cosmetic testing started circulating on Twitter. The same photograph, which is actually of a mass spaying and neutering event, has been circulating with similar claims for several years. For instance, the web site Before It's News used it to condemn several cosmetic companies in April 2013: While the image is real, it is not related to animal testing or cosmetic companies. The photo was actually taken at a mass spay and neuter event at the University of Florida dubbed Operation Cat Nip in August 2011. A news report published by the Gainesville Sun at the time noted that University of Florida vet school students and veterinarians spayed or neutered nearly 700 cats (which had been rescued several weeks prior from cat hoarders) in preparation for an adoption event: The photo does look shocking if taken out of context, but anesthetized cats are sometimes tied to boards in order to facilitate the process of spaying and keep the animals immobilized. Many popular cosmetics brands do routinely test their products on animals, however; MAC was recently slammed for allowing its products to be tested on animals in China (where the practice was mandatory until June 2014). The Humane Society of the United States offers tips on finding cosmetics that are not tested on animals, and the organization is pushing to end the practice of animal testing permanently.
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