Does this photo show MAC Cosmetics testing on cats?

A photo that is spreading on the Internet purports to show employees of MAC Cosmetics testing their products on cats.

The photo, below, is spreading primarily on Facebook and Twitter and has a variety of captions attributed to it and often appears in blogs criticising MAC Cosmetics for their testing of animals.

Whoaaaa MAC makeup just got called out on Twitter for their testing facilities….. WHAT gimme all those cats.

on another note why do girls still use mac like? you okay with this?

However the photo does not show any animal testing. An image search reveals this photo actually shows cats being spayed and neutered after being discovered in an extreme hoarding incident involving over 600 cats.

While many of the cats had to be put down due to the poor conditions in which they were being raised, most of the cats were spayed and treated in preparation for an adoption event that happened back in 2011. It had nothing to do with cosmetic testing or MAC Cosmetics.

However many have used the image to criticise MAC Cosmetics – who are owned by Estee Lauder Companies – for their apparent testing on animals.

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MAC Cosmetics considers itself to be firmly against animal testing, but like many cosmetic companies, it funds government-mandated animal testing in countries in which it is legally required, like China. Cosmetic companies are not allowed to sell their products in these countries without funding the testing of their products first, testing that does involve animals.

According to a statement released by Estee Lauder Companies –

We do not test our products or ingredients on animals, or ask others to test on our behalf, except where required by law…

…Some scientific or regulatory authorities may still conduct or require animal testing by law of cosmetic products or ingredients to demonstrate safety. For example, before we are able to import any of our products into China, the Chinese government requires all importers of cosmetics, including us, to pay for animal testing that is conducted by a government-mandated laboratory in China.