貓棒棒咖啡 Chat Bon Café

Hualien City, Hualien County · 0.2 mi / 0.3 km

艾倫貓舖子 is a cat cafe and licensed cattery on Zhongshan Road in Hualien City, run by the team behind the earlier 當狐獴遇見貓 animal cafe, which moved here. Pedigree kittens are displayed and sold on the ground floor, so this is a breeder's shop as well as a cafe. Upstairs, diners can visit a separate play area with the adult cats, many of them fluffy Ragdolls, and stroke them or feed them lickable treats; a few lemurs also live on site. Shoe covers are handed out before you go in, and the dining tables are kept apart from the cat area. The kitchen serves curry pork cutlet rice, braised beef brisket, sukiyaki beef hot pot, fried chicken curry, cakes and coffee. The shop also offers cat boarding and sells pet supplies.

Hualien City, Hualien County · 1.2 mi / 2.0 km

壹樓貓·咖啡 First Floor Caf'e is a relaxed pet cafe on Zhongmei Road in Hualien City, close to Hualien Senior High School and the Meilun seaside park. Its resident cats, Zhongfen, Pangfen and the black cat Migao, roam the dining room and have a dedicated cat house that takes up part of the floor, so they can retreat whenever they like; a shy Shiba Inu named Haji lives here too. Because the cafe is pet-friendly, visitors' own dogs and cats are also welcome, which makes it a different experience from a cats-only lounge. The kitchen is known for bamboo-charcoal waffles, panini, brunch plates, German sausages and fried snacks, with espresso drinks and creative fruit drinks. The minimum is one set meal or one drink per person. Private parties and birthday events can be arranged by message through the cafe's Facebook page.

Hualien City, Hualien County · 2.0 mi / 3.3 km

喵café自家烘焙館 is a small home-roasting coffee house on Zhongyi 2nd Street in Hualien City, set in a converted house that feels like a family living room or study. Owners Peter and Yvonne share it with six resident cats who take turns as 'store managers'. The best known is Afufu, who greets guests at the door, slips off to nap in a back room and comes out again to see people off; the cats are calm and used to people, and children are welcome to stroke them, though some visits catch them all asleep. Indoor seating is limited, with a few extra tables outside, and a guesthouse next door is linked to the cafe. The focus is the coffee: pour-overs and lattes made from beans roasted on site, alongside cakes, fruit toast, cookies and other light bites. Reservations are accepted, and payment is cash only.

Puli, Nantou County · 42 mi / 67 km

Mong Du C (萌度C) is a cat cafe on the second floor of a building in the Mong Garden (水与松萌萌園) leisure park on Nancun Road in Puli Township, Nantou. You don't need a park ticket to visit the cafe. The room has a calm Japanese feel, with lots of natural wood and floor-to-ceiling windows. A group of resident cats, ragdolls among them, roams the room; staff introduce each cat's personality and where it came from. When the cafe is busy, especially at weekends, the cats may be kept in their own area to stop them slipping out, so weekdays offer the most contact. The minimum spend is NT$150 per person. The menu covers coffee with customisable latte art, including photo lattes printed with your own picture, plus Mont Blanc, mille-crêpe cakes, half-baked cheesecake, pudding and afternoon tea sets. It is a popular stop for families.

Yuchi, Nantou County · 43 mi / 69 km

Zou Qi Lu Mao (走起擼貓, "let's go pet the cats") is a cat restaurant on Yuchi Street in Yuchi Township, Nantou, a short drive from Sun Moon Lake. Its spacious dining room is shared with a group of fluffy ragdoll cats who are the restaurant's main attraction. Some greet guests at the door and jump onto tables; others spend the afternoon asleep. The same owners also run cat-themed lodging. The menu offers American-style burgers, pasta, clam linguine, steak, coffee and tea at fair prices for a cat venue, and there is a modest per-person minimum spend. Large groups should book ahead through the restaurant's LINE account, since dishes are cooked to order and can take time. Customers' own pets are welcome if kept in a stroller or carrier. Holiday arrangements are announced on the Facebook page.

Sanxing Township, Yilan County · 48 mi / 77 km

漫步小森林咖啡 is a spacious, light-filled cat cafe on Xingjian 2nd Road in the countryside of Sanxing Township, Yilan. A number of well-cared-for cats live here, and on arrival staff introduce the cats on duty that day and explain their personalities, so you know who enjoys attention. To keep both the cats and young visitors safe, the cafe does not admit children under 12. The kitchen goes well beyond typical cafe fare, with spiced curry served with cat-shaped rice, duck breast pizza, bagels with homemade jam, waffles, brownies and other desserts, plus coffee and drinks. The interior is carefully designed and full of thoughtful details worth a look in their own right, and the owner is happy to chat when she has a moment. Opening days are limited and updates are posted on the cafe's Facebook page, so check there before making the trip.