More than 100 stray cats live in the Forbidden City in Beijing. They have been adopted by more than 20 departments in the museum. In five years, the Forbidden City spent 18,410 yuan (about 3,000 $) on sterilization operations for 181 cats.

Gao Jianhua, head of the Beijing New World Animal Rescue Center, said that they did sterilization operations for the cats sent from the Forbidden City every year. After the operation, the cats will be marked on the ear and sent back to the museum.

The cats have been well cared in the Forbidden City. The staff members provide cat foods as well as vitamins, anti-inflammatory drugs for the cats. In winter, the cats are often allowed to enter inside the rooms. Having the privileges, the cats, at the same time, fulfill their duty as the "guardians". "Cats are effective deterrent to keep the rats away from the Forbidden City," said Ma Guoqing, chief of the environment department of the museum.