Catple Cheongju Ochang

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 0.7 mi / 1.1 km

Cafe Geunyang is a small, home-like cat cafe on the ground floor of a building in Yangcheong-ri, Ochang, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju. It feels more like the home of a cat-loving family than a commercial venue, and its well-cared-for cats are relaxed around people. Entry is charged per person for two hours and includes a drink, with a lower rate for students. Preschool children are not admitted. The owner also offers cat boarding by the day, with an additional rate for extra cats and a holiday rate during major Korean holidays. Opening days are limited and have centred on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, so it is best to check the cafe's Instagram before visiting.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 2.6 mi / 4.2 km

Dongne Goyangi is a rescue cat cafe in Ochang, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, about five minutes on foot from Ochang Library, up the slope beside a hardware shop at the end of the roundabout. The cats were rescued by the owner from the street, from neglect and from animal-hoarding situations, and the cafe describes its aim as caring for them until they go to happy homes. The space is designed around the cats, with rest areas where they can avoid contact, and visitors are asked not to pick up or force contact with the cats but to let them approach. Tickets are sold for the whole day, with a lower rate for primary school children and eleven-visit passes. The cafe also offers cat boarding. It opens at 11 AM at weekends and noon on weekdays, until 9 PM, and is closed on Wednesdays.

• Adoptable cats

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 4.9 mi / 7.8 km

Choi Cat is a very large cat cafe occupying a whole five-level building on Jikji-daero in Bongmyeong-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, near the Bongmyeong intersection, with its name in large letters on the facade. Each floor is decorated differently, and the cafe describes itself as a premium multiplex of around 450 pyeong with plenty of space for children to move around, as well as a comic book area. Many adult cats and kittens live there, and the cafe stresses health care for the animals. Tickets are sold by duration, with two-hour, three-hour and all-day passes that each include a coupon for cat treats, plus a cheaper all-day pass after 3 PM. It is closed on Mondays and opens from noon on other weekdays and from 10 AM at weekends.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 5.0 mi / 8.0 km

Enthalpy is a small rescue cat cafe on Unridan-gil, a cafe street in Uncheon-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju. The resident cats are former strays and abandoned cats, each with its own story, and the cafe presents itself as a place where people and animals coexist; entry fees go towards supporting the cats. Visitors pay a single entry fee, either with or without a drink. The cats are very sociable and used to being stroked. Opening hours are short on weekdays, from 1 PM to 4 PM from Tuesday to Friday, while on Saturdays and Sundays it is open from 11 AM to 8 PM; it is closed on Mondays. It is a quieter alternative to the larger commercial cat cafes in downtown Cheongju.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 5.1 mi / 8.2 km

Animal Republic is a cat adoption support centre and rescue cat cafe in Uncheon-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, behind the western branch of the National Health Insurance Service. About 60 cats live here, including cats rescued from the street, abandoned cats and cats taken from situations of abuse or neglect, and all are waiting for permanent homes. Rather than treat-selling programmes, the centre encourages visitors to observe the cats' normal routines and let them approach in their own time. The entry fee covers time with the cats, and drinks such as coffee are sold separately. Adoptions are arranged by the centre, and it also offers cat boarding in standard and premium rooms. It is open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM; visitors can use the public car park behind the health insurance office.

• Adoptable cats

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do · 5.9 mi / 9.5 km

Watnyang is a cat cafe on the fourth floor of the KT On Plaza building on Sajik-daero, at the edge of the Seongan-gil shopping area in downtown Cheongju, by the crosswalk in front of Eight Seconds and about 50 metres from the underground shopping arcade bus stop. It specialises in pedigree cats registered with the CFA and TICA, and the cats are known for approaching visitors and climbing onto laps, which suits families with children. Visitors also mention a trained parrot that does tricks. Entry is a single per-person fee that includes a drink, and board games are available. The cafe opens at noon at weekends and 1 PM on weekdays, closing at 9 PM, and is closed on Tuesdays.

• Booking recommended