The loyal and dedicated members of the cat patrol

It is almost impossible to know how many cats there are in China, because there are so many strays, living a miserable existence in which they are constantly threatened not only by raw nature but also by the darker side of humanity.

Fortunately, although China has no regime to protect animals such as wildcats and dogs, there are a good many good-hearted people who care about their well-being.

Yang Jie, 30, says that when Beijing's residential bungalows were torn down at the beginning of the 21st century and most people moved into high-rises, domesticated cats were largely abandoned.