Visiting Houtong Cat Village: Taiwan’s Village Where Cats Outnumber People

When Bench Payla and I were planning our Taiwan trip, Houtong Cat Village was an absolute MUST on our itinerary.

Why? Well, for starters, we both love cats! Plus, it’s not every day you get to visit a village where felines reportedly outnumber human residents. But more than that, this stop held a special place in our hearts. Back in 2024, our cat Cooper passed away. Visiting Houtong felt like a sweet, comforting way for us to honor his memory and share our love for cats again. 

Getting Lost at Taipei Main Station (Classic First-Timers!) 

Our adventure started with a bit of a detour right at the beginning. From our hotel in Ximending, we hopped on Bus 604 heading toward Taipei Main Station. 

Following Google Maps after stepping off the bus, we took an escalator down underground and kept walking. The map kept insisting we were right at the station, but all we could see were endless lines of shops! We had unknowingly walked right into the underground metro mall. It was so funny when we finally walked outside to street level and realized the giant, iconic Taipei Main Station building was sitting right in front of us the whole time. Haha! 

Once we finally made it inside, we bought our tickets to Houtong from the machine. Now, since we aren't really "train transportation" people back home, navigating a massive transit hub in a foreign country was... an experience! We were a bit confused and lost inside the huge station, but thankfully, all the station staff we asked were super helpful and guided us in the right direction.

The train ride took about an hour. It was super clean, comfortable, and not very crowded—probably because it was a Monday right after a holiday weekend in Taiwan.

How a Coal Mining Town Became a Cat Haven

Before we arrived, I did a little digging on the history of the place. Houtong actually used to be a bustling coal mining town back in the mid-1900s, home to thousands of workers. But when the mines closed down in the 1990s, most residents moved away for work.

Fast forward to 2008: local volunteers started taking care of the abandoned cats that stayed behind. They posted photos of the thriving feline community online, and people fell in love! Today, it’s transformed from a historical mining hub into a world-famous, cat-friendly paradise.

Crossing the famous Cat-shaped bridge

The moment we stepped off the train at Houtong Station, we were welcomed by cat murals, paintings, and cute statues everywhere. But the coolest detail right off the platform was the famous Cat Bridge! 

It’s an architectural footbridge designed specifically to look like a giant metallic cat stretching across the train tracks—complete with cute "cat ears" at one end and a sleek "tail" structure at the other. Walking through this cat-shaped tunnel connects you straight from the train platform up into the hillside village. Inside the tunnel, there are even built-in wooden elevated walkways, ramps, and tiny feeding stations designed especially for the resident kitties to lounge around comfortably while travellers pass through!

Cats Living Their Best Life

As we walked through the small town filled with cute cafes, museums, and souvenir shops, we realized every single corner had at least one or two cats just casually living their best life.

They are so used to people! Visitors would pet them or give them treats, and the cats would just roll over on their backs asking for belly scratches. It’s clearly their daily routine—and playing with them naturally brought back fond, sweet memories of Cooper, especially for Bench who mostly took care of him in Cagayan de Oro.

Cozy Coffee at Niao Cafe on a Drizzly Morning 

The weather that morning was a bit gloomy and drizzling, which actually made the hillside village feel super cozy. To warm up, we ducked into a quaint little spot called Niao Cafe. 

The moment we walked in, we were greeted by the cafe’s resident cat! It walked up to welcome us, did a quick inspection, and then immediately trotted right back to its bed to take a nap once it saw us. Haha! Talk about peak cat hospitality. 

Sipping hot coffee while taking a break from the drizzle was pure comfort. The owner and staff were so friendly and made us feel right at home despite the language barrier! 

Local Cold Noodles, Desserts & Soy Milk 

After exploring a bit more, our stomachs started growling. Finding a place to eat in the main area right by the station was a bit tricky at first since most signages and menus didn't have English translations. 

We eventually picked a lovely local eatery and ordered a spread of classic Taiwanese comfort food: 

• Cold Noodles (Liang Mian / 涼麵): Refreshing, savory noodles usually tossed in a rich sesame sauce—perfect after walking around!
• Taro Ball & Mango Pudding Dessert: A delicious combination of soft, chewy taro balls (Yu Yuan) paired with smooth, sweet mango pudding.
• Soy Drink (Dou Jiang / 豆漿): Fresh, rich Taiwanese soy milk—a total staple that washed down the whole meal perfectly!

The staff and owners were so sweet and welcoming to us. Honestly, the genuine hospitality of the locals alone made the meal so special. 

We Definitely Need to Go Back! 

Visiting Houtong Cat Village was such a fun, heartfelt experience, but I feel like we barely scratched the surface. 

Next time, I definitely want to spend a whole day there to explore the other historical trails, learn more about the town, try even more food options, and of course, hang out with more cats. 

If you're ever in Taiwan and love cats (or just want a chill, unique day trip), Houtong should definitely be on your travel bucket list!

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