Imperial Dogs and Imperial Cats of the Forbidden City

Imperial dogs: In the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were indeed dogs raised by the royal family in the Forbidden City. They were regarded as part of the palace, and some dogs even wore gorgeous clothes to accompany the emperor and his concubines.

Imperial cats: Today, there are hundreds of stray cats in the Forbidden City. They are called "Forbidden City cats" or "imperial cats". They are not only loved by tourists, but also have the task of catching mice and protecting ancient buildings from being destroyed.