me when i uhhhhh test things out :3 nothing here is finalized or anything, yes there will be grammar shenanigans that will eventually be fixed :P

there are some things i'm debating on keeping. i think having an example of a filled out infobox in code form would be helpful for those who want a visual reference but it also takes up alot of space... if any lurkers want to share their thoughts, feel free to ping me in the wiki discord :P

How to Create a Page!

This guide is to help you along the process of making a page, typically either for cats or feeders. If you're unfamiliar with source editor or need a refresher, this is for you.

However, before you make a page you will need to check the following:

Does this cat already exist? If you're making a cat page for a pre-existing feeder, please make sure that you're not making a page for a cat who has already been documented. You can double check this by searching the wiki, or asking around in the wiki discord.
Do I have enough information? If you have a name chosen, at least two or three sightings recorded, an understanding of the cat's behavior, and a few pictures that includes a top and front view of the cat, then you have the go-ahead to make a page. If you're making a page on a feeder, it is recommended to have, at the bare minimum, four or five cat pages made for the feeder.
Have I read the Guidelines fully yet? Above all else, please make sure you're following the wiki rules, otherwise you run the risk of getting your page deleted.

If you think you're ready to make a page then go ahead and continue reading!

Making and Preparing a Cat Page

To make a page, use the wiki search bar and enter the name of the cat you want to make the page of. If the page does not already exist, then it will show red text that you can click on. This will prompt you to the source editor. In another tab, open up the Page Template page. Go into edit source, then copy the entire source. Paste the following source into the page you are making.

Throughout the source code, you will fill out each section with the information you have of the cat. Most sections should be self-explanatory. Fill out a brief description of the cat, including which feeder they are from, as well as how they act, what they look like, and their recorded sightings. However, there are some things that require a bit more understanding for first time editors. These sections will include working with formatting, filling out the cat infobox template, how to make a gallery, and any additional information you may need to know.

Cat Infobox

The first thing you'll see in the source is the cat infobox template, it should look like the following:

{{CatInfobox|name=Cat Name|image=Temp Image.png|breed=|coat=|sex=|appearance=|first_sighting=Month ##, Year}}

To start off, you will need to fill and replace text with information about the cat you're writing about. For example, where the bracket says name=|, or coat=|, you would fill in the according information after the equal sign. However, adding an image to the template requires a bit more effort. When adding an image in the infobox, use the upload file page and upload a picture of the cat. Once successfully uploaded, copy the name of the file to the image=| part of the template.

If you would like to add more information to your infobox, here are some following brackets you can add:

Rarity, personality, and occupation are typically seen on a majority of cat pages. This can be done by adding rarity=|occupation=|personality=|, and is typically placed inbetween the sex and first sighting brackets.
If your cat has a relationship with another cat, whether it is familial, romantically, or otherwise unspecified, then you would add the relationship brackets to the infobox. The following code for that would be parents=|partner=|siblings=|children=|other_relations=|, and this would be typically placed after the first sightings bracket.
Although optional, you can add a caption below the image you've uploaded. This can be done by adding caption=| immediately after the image brackets.
If the cat goes by another name or has a nickname either from the international community or the Chinese community, then you can add the other names bracket. The code for this would be other_names=| and would be placed after the image or caption bracket.

This is an example of what a fully filled out infobox would look like, using the source code of Mr. Snack:

{{CatInfobox|name=Mr. Snack|image=Mr snack.jpg|caption= get snacked on!!|other_names=Also known as 冻干哥 or Freeze-Dried Brother|breed=Domestic Shorthair|coat=Red (ginger) Mackerel Tabby|sex=Male|rarity=Unseeable|occupation=Dad, Tax Evader|appearance=Orange with white chin|eye_color=Light green|personality=Picky, impatient|first_sighting=October 28, 2023|partner=[[Ms. Snack]] (ex wife)|children=[[The Snack Children]] ([[Little Fella]] and [[Mr. Inspector]])}}

Image Files & Galleries

Now that you have learned how to upload images for your cat infobox, we can utilize the image and gallery functions. Starting off with the image function in the appearance category of your source code, there will be code for an image that looks like this:

[[File:Temp Image.png|none|thumb|207x207px|Cat from above]]

Here is a step by step process of what each part means.

The first bracket is your file name. Similarly to the infobox, you would switch out Temp Image.png for an image you have uploaded of the cat.
The second bracket is where the image presents itself horizontally. For this purpose, it has been set to none and does not need to be adjusted, however if you would like to see the following options for future edits, you can check here.
The next bracket is for format options, it controls how the image is embedded in the page. Currently, it is set to thumb for thumbnail, which is perfect for this instance, but if you want to know the other options you can check here.
The next bracket is image size, which is self-explanatory. This is measured in pixels, the bigger the pixel count, the bigger the image will be. For this instance it's currently set to the recommended 207x207 size, however you can adjust it to how you see fit.
Finally, the last bracket is for the caption. You can write what works best for whatever you're using the image for.

Towards the bottom of your source code should be a section for the cat's gallery. Instead of adding an image code for every single image you want to add, a gallery function will be used. This works similarly to the image format, however all you need to do is add the file name and caption for the image in-between <gallery> and </gallery>.

Text Formatting

Throughout the source code you may see many formatting options used. If you're interested in a full list different formatting options, you can check out this page here on the MediaWiki page. However, the most used and important options will be quickly shown here.

''This is used for italics,'' and '''this is used for bold words'''

*This makes a bullet point, useful for your sightings!

==This is used for a heading== and ===this is for a subheading.===

[[This redirects you to a page on the wiki]] and [this redirects you to a link outside the wiki]. Keep in mind that in-wiki redirects must be case sensitive.

Finishing off the Page

Once you have finished writing out each section and uploading pictures for your page, we can do some final details before uploading.

Below the gallery should be the cat footer. If you're making a cat page for a newer feeder, leave the footer as is. If you're making a cat page for an already documented feeder either on the List of Cats or List of Other Cats page, then you will want to switch the footer to that corresponding feeder. Using the list of feeder footers here, copy the name of the template you wish to use, then replace Cat Footer with the copied name. For example, if you were making a new page for Hi Meow, it should look like {{HMCF}}.
Next step is categories. First, remove the template category. Second, take a look at the cats by color page. Any of the options there that work best for your cat, you will add as a category. For example, if you're writing a cat that looks like a brown tabby, then it would use the [[Category:Brown Tabby]] code. Once done, add either [[Category:Females]] or [[Category:Males]] depending on the gender of the cat.

Once you've finished up those two final steps, double check your writing and see if there is any grammar or spelling mistakes you need to fix up. If you need to, input your writing into Grammarly or Quillbot to check your work, or have another wiki member read through your work. It is recommended before posting your page to preview what it would look like using the Show preview button at the bottom of your source editor. When you feel everything is sufficient enough to post, click the Save page button and fill out the captcha. Congratulations, you've finished your first page!

Making and Preparing a Feeder Page

Using the search bar method, enter the English name of the feeder, and if it does not already exist, click on the red text. Instead of using the page template for cats, open up the Feeder Template page on another tab. Copy the entire source, then paste it into your new page.

This source code deals with a few additional templates and functions that are specific for feeder pages. These brief sections will go through how to work with the feeder infobox, managing the cat list, and any additional details that should be added.

Feeder Infobox

The feeder infobox works very similarly to the cat infobox. The following is what the template looks like:

{{FeederInfobox|name_en=Name in English|image=Temp Image.png|caption=Temp|name_zh=Chinese Name|watch_id=Feeder ID}}

Just like with the cat infobox, replace and fill in any of the brackets with information about the feeder. As well, upload a picture of the feeder, and place it in the image bracket. If you're having trouble figuring out how to get the feeder ID, access the feeder via meow.camera, and copy the long set of numbers at the end of the link.

Here is an example of a filled out infobox, using the source code of GOODCAT.

{{FeederInfobox|name_en=GOODCAT|image=GOODCAT front view.png|caption=The feeder at night|name_zh=GOODCAT|watch_id=5066658712033736600}}

Making the Cat List

The cat list uses code that makes your cat list collapsible along with the gallery function. This does not need to be messed with, as it is already set up for you. All you will need to do is pick out a picture for your cat, replace the temp image within the gallery brackets, then link back to that cat. Repeat this until you've added all the cats that have been already documented.

Finishing off the Page

Once you have finished all of the sections in your source code, you can finish off with the final details. Starting off with categories, remove the template category, and instead replace it with [[Category:Feeders]]. After that, read through your writing and double check for spelling and grammar errors. If you need to, use Grammarly or Quillbot to check your work, or have another wiki member read through your work. Check how your page presents with the Show preview button, and see if there is any adjustments you need to make. Once you feel everything is in order, go ahead and click on Save Page and fill out the captcha.