Houtong Cat Village Introduction
Houtong used to be prosperous in coal mining, but as the mining industry declined, it gradually fell into silence. Today, it has transformed into a cat village and developed tourism, becoming an internationally renowned cat-watching destination. In April 2021, Houtong established the preparatory office of the Cat City Hall to strengthen the care for the cat village, providing various services for street cats, including the creation of "identity cards," conducting census on "cat households," and setting up medical stations. By the end of April 2024, the Houtong Cat City Hall will be officially inaugurated. The comprehensive information center for cats, the Cat City Hall, will register the cats living in Houtong, produce identity cards, implant microchips, and regularly conduct census on cat households. It will also collaborate with non-profit organizations to establish medical stations, providing healthcare services for the cats, and form patrol teams with various volunteer associations to enhance the protection of the cat village, ensuring the safety of the cats and putting an end to abandonment. The exterior of the Cat City Hall features a large electronic information board displaying the favorite activity locations of Houtong's cats, various happenings in the cat village, and linking to adoption information from eight animal shelters in New Taipei City. The Cat City Hall, renovated from the old Taiwan Railways dormitory, is highlighted in "Ruifang Gold" as a main color to echo the local mining heritage. The design showcases elements of local mining culture, with a cute cat poking its head out of the roof, outdoor grass designed with cat pawprint imagery, and indoor arrangements of cat play equipment, reflecting a new aesthetic of cat village living. The Animal Protection and Prevention Office of New Taipei City government has also planted a large area of catnip near the Cat City Hall, creating a diverse and integrated ecosystem for both animals and plants.
