明代宫中有一所“猫儿房”,“专饲御前有名分之猫”。这些猫各有封名,如牡者叫“某小廝”,骟者叫“某老爹”,牝者叫“某丫头”之类(明·刘若愚《明宫史》木集)。皇宫里饲养这些猫,并不是为了捕鼠,祇不过是一种供统治者赏心悦目的玩物而已。 The Ming Dynasty palace has a “kitten room”, “Farewell before the Imperial Division have cats.” Each of these cats has a seal, such as the man who called “a servant,” a man called “a daddy,” a man called “a girl” and the like (Ming Liu Ruoyu “Ming Palace History” set). Raising these cats in the palace is not for catching mice, it is just a plaything for the governor to enjoy.