This debate happens every time Asian food culture is brought up here.
I think it's pretty ignorant to put some sort of hierarchy on what animals can or cannot be eaten based off of how cute they are/if they make good pets. Would I ever eat a cat or dog? Probably not. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. Using dogs and cats for food is a big part of Asian culture just like eating cows and chicken is a big part of American culture.
The real tragedy in this is how the cats are treated before they are eaten, which is the same disgusting **** a lot of American livestock also experiences in slaughterhouses.