Exquisite Images From A Real Life Cat Village In Taiwan

In the Ruifang District of New Taipei, Taiwan, lies an incredible village: the Houtong Cat Village. According to Sora News 24, "While Houtong is now known mostly as a tourist destination for cat lovers, it was once a much more industrial village. In fact, it used to be a mining town–though apparently the mines have closed in the last few decades. (…) Eventually, the number of cats grew enough to transform the dying village into a hot tourism destination."

This incredible cat village is truly a joy to see. We've written quite a bit about different paradises for cats, whether it's "Catstanbul", a cat beach in Sardinia, Italy, or a man who built a kitty theme park for his 22 rescue cats, turning his home into a cat-friendly paradise full of climbing structures, hideaways, and kitty cubbies. Wherever cats are ruling the world, we want to be there. That's why we're so pleased to show you some incredible photos of Houtong, the amazing Taiwanese cat village. Take a look:

01
The Houtong Cat Village is located next to the beautiful Keelung River. It's reputation as a "cat village" truly began in 2008.

According to Lonely Planet, "In 2008, local cat admirer Peggy Chien started posting photos of the village's efforts to look after stray cats; her pictures attracted visitors, volunteer help and more kitties. In little more than two years, Houtong, which is located 35km east of Taipei in Ruifang district, managed to reinvent itself as a complete cat village."

via u/jiejenn
Advertisement
02
"Today, the dilapidated mining town and the 100-odd felines that roam the streets are drawing thousands of tourists during weekends."

According to amusing planet, "Houtong residents are cashing in on the tourist influx by opening souvenir shops and selling cat-shaped pineapple pastries. Even the footbridge leading from the station's exit across the tracks to the hillside cat village has recently been beautified and given a distinct "cat-look," complete with ears at one end and a tail at the other."

via u/SuperChloe
03

via u/GodfatherKane
04

via frenchilada
Advertisement
05

via u/tintinatienza
06

via u/5533919
07

via frenchilada
Advertisement
08

via frenchilada
09

via frenchilada
10

via frenchilada
Advertisement
11

via frenchilada
12

Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Then you're in luck because we're now on Instagram!

via frenchilada

For a weekly dose of animal-themed community challenges - Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Find us on Instagram!

Also From I Can Has Cheezburger?

Trending Now

Neighbor holds lost cat "for ransom", demanding to get rewarded for finding her, then throws the scared feline back outside when the owner can't immediately pay: 'I need her back. She's my baby!'

'I think my cat isn't my cat’: Feline father's cat runs away, he finds "his cat" months later, only to realize that the fluffy feline is an adorable impawster

'I'm not a cat person... but I couldn't leave her': Person rescues an itty bitty kitty from freezing, their dogs immediately adopt the kitten into their pawdorable family

Magnificent meowrific memeage of the feline variety for cat lovers in need of a treat

Dog who grew up with a bunch of giant Maine Coon cats thinks that she is a fabulous feline too: 'In her heart, she's all cat'

'Now they're inseparable': Feline pawrent takes kindhearted cat community's wholesome advice to adopt a cat for their cat, proving that more cats is always the answer