Houtong Cat Village Introduction
Houtong once thrived on coal mining, but as the industry declined, it gradually fell into obscurity. Today, it has transformed into a cat village and developed tourism, becoming an internationally recognized cat-watching destination. In April 2021, Houtong established the Cat Office's Preparatory Office to enhance the village's support for cat care. This initiative provides various services for stray cats, such as creating "identification cards," conducting a census of the "cat population," and setting up medical stations. By the end of April 2024, the Houtong Cat Office will officially be inaugurated. The Cat Office serves as a comprehensive information center for the cats in Houtong, registering them, creating identification cards, implanting microchips, and regularly conducting cat population censuses. It collaborates with non-profit organizations to establish medical stations that offer health care services for the cats, and also works with various volunteer associations to form patrol teams that enhance the village's safety and prevent abandonment of cats. The exterior of the Cat Office features a large electronic information board displaying the favorite activities of Houtong's cats, updates on village events, and links to adoption information from eight animal shelters in New Taipei City. Designed with a primary color scheme of "Ruifang Gold" to reflect the local mining heritage, the Cat Office has been renovated from an old Taiwan Railways dormitory. Its exterior showcases the area's mining cultural elements, while the roof has cute cat figures peeking out, the outdoor grass features paw print designs, and the interior is decorated with cat play equipment, showcasing a new aesthetic of life in the cat village. The Animal Protection and Epidemic Prevention Office of New Taipei City has also planted a large patch of catnip next to the Cat Office to create a diverse ecosystem that harmonizes animals and plants.
