In Taiwan, there is a village that was famous once for monkeys, then coal, and now cats, and lots of them. Houtong, which means “monkey cave, is located in Ruifang District, New Taipei. Houtong Cat Village was originally called ‘Kau-tong’ due to the existence of a cave inhabited by monkeys in the early days.
The area was once a small mining town, famous for the well-preserved culture surrounding its railway. In the village’s good old days, the area produced more than 220,000 tons of coal per year. The largest coal output of a single area in Taiwan
In 1920, a purification factory was built, ultimately attracting myriad immigrants to the area. The town was gradually prosperous, growing from 900 households to 6,000 people.
Unfortunately, the area was tending to decline in the 1990s due to the decline in the mining industry. The young generation begins to migrate to search for other opportunities. Eventually, only a few hundred inhabitants remained because the mining industry had died out. In 2008, a local cat lover, Peggy Chien organized volunteers to start offering abandoned cats a better life. He was a passionate cat lover who wanted to make things happen by posting cat images online. His passion turns into an overwhelming response from other cat lovers around the world.
The public fell in love with the adorable cats, and the village once again flourished. As the word spread, Houtong Cat Village became the center for cat lovers. Since the number of cats living there increased, it got attention in all parts of the world. Thus, reviving a declining village means transforming it into a tourist destination.
Interestingly, some cats are sterilized and will have one of their ears trimmed as confirmation. Hence, this helps to keep a check on the local population of cats and also supports the identification of new cats that enter the village. Black, ginger, calico, tortoiseshell, white and grey, fat and fatter, friendly and shy—there’re different cats of every wondrous kind in Houtong.
Though most of the cats hang out in the collection of cottages that cling to the hillside, they can be found roaming all over Houtong Village. Now, the Houtong Cat Village is prospering, featuring cafes, shops, relaxing places, and restaurants catering to the many visitors who descend on this feline frontier every weekend. Cat lovers can see cats lounging in flower pots, loafing on shelves, padding up steps, jumping off roofs and spreading out, sleeping, and over stalls of kitty-themed souvenirs.
Houtong Cat Village is located near the origin of the Keelung River. The pristine, green waters of the river are accessible via steps. Drivers entering the town are greeted with a sign that reads, ‘A lot of stray cats here. Drive slowly. Moreover, a black-covered “cat bridge” has been constructed above the busy railway to allow safe passage for the cats. Houtong’s cats are good-natured, but they are constantly being chased, petted, and photographed.
Obvious signage instructs visitors on how to interact with the cats. The cats should be left alone unless they start contact, and they shouldn’t be distraught or chased, as the signs instruct. People who choose to feed the cats should clean up afterward, and flash photography is discouraged. The volunteers and doctors do regular neutering and injections to make sure the population is healthy and stable. And some people abandon their own pets there or even steal cats from the village.
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