癒室 Healing Space

Taitung City, Taitung County · 0.5 mi / 0.8 km

Home baby is a cat and reptile lounge on Zhongxing Road, Section 1, in Taitung City, run as the second branch of the Home Baby cattery and billed as the only place in Taiwan where cats and exotic reptiles share one space. The cats, including Maine Coons, Ragdolls and an affectionate Exotic Shorthair, are notably people-friendly, and the owners will bring out snakes and other reptiles for anyone who wants to handle or learn about them. The lounge occupies an old house with three rooms, kept clean and without strong smells, and shoe covers are provided at the door. There is a minimum spend of NT$230 to NT$250 per person with no time limit, which covers coffee, drinks and simple desserts such as brownies. It is a popular outing for families with children, and the owners recommend booking ahead.

Taitung City, Taitung County · 1.1 mi / 1.8 km

貓町咖啡 is a coffee shop on Zhongshan Road in central Taitung City that shares its premises with Houshan Dixing, a dealer in East Coast jade and decorative stones. About 15 cats live here, a mix of rescued street cats and pedigree breeds such as Ragdolls, and they are very affectionate; the family who run the shop know every cat well and are happy to introduce their names and personalities. The coffee is roasted in house from carefully chosen estate-grade green beans and brewed by hand, alongside lattes, teas and simple desserts such as cheesecake, all at modest prices. The minimum spend is NT$150 per person, no booking is needed, and there is no age limit, though children must be gentle with the cats. From the street it can be hard to tell the shop is open to the public, but you can simply walk in.

Yuli, Hualien County · 40 mi / 64 km

誠家綠葉 is a countryside coffee house and homestay right beside the railway line in Yuli Township, in the East Rift Valley of southern Hualien, within walking distance of Yuli Station. Run by a couple who moved to the east coast, the blue-and-white two-storey house has big windows for watching trains go by, and several friendly resident cats, three or four at recent visits, greet guests and ask for attention. The owners are coffee specialists who brew imported specialty beans and let you smell them before making a pour-over, and the bakes include fresh cinnamon rolls, brownies, cheesecakes and crepe cakes. At weekends and on public holidays there is a minimum of NT$150 per person for 1.5 hours, with longer stays charged in proportion. Guests who have just eaten Yuli's famous stinky tofu are asked not to come in. The entrance is from the Yufu bike path, not the lane behind.

Pingtung City, Pingtung County · 41 mi / 66 km

杯沿溫度 is a cafe in a Japanese-and-European style old house on Zhuangjing Street in Pingtung City, which moved here to a larger site with an enclosed courtyard where its shop cats can run and play. Several resident cats, including a friendly calico that jumps onto laps and kneads, wander freely among the guests, and two large tortoises live there too. The menu includes brunch, puddings, Basque cheesecake, strawberry desserts, molten chocolate cake, cinnamon rolls, coffee and fresh-fruit drinks, with the day's desserts announced in Instagram stories. Bookings are not taken; seats are first come, first served, and the whole space can be hired for events. The phone line is currently out of service, so contact the cafe by Facebook or Instagram message.

Pingtung City, Pingtung County · 41 mi / 66 km

宅貓咖啡 (Coffee House Cat) is a cat cafe on a lane off Linsen Road in Pingtung City. Eight well-fed resident cats share the cafe and are friendly and happy to be stroked, often coming over to sit with guests. The kitchen serves brunch platters, pot-boiled noodles, pastas, Andong-style braised chicken, tri-colour sweet potato fries, cinnamon rolls and other desserts, and it takes orders for custom cakes. The minimum spend is NT$120 per person with a 90-minute limit, and prices are modest for a cat cafe. The room is air-conditioned, comfortable and free of litter smells, and parking is easy nearby. It is one of the few dedicated cat cafes in Pingtung, so booking by phone is recommended at weekends.

Fangliao, Pingtung County · 45 mi / 72 km

茵茵喵喵貓咪咖啡館 is a cat cafe and cattery in the Rainbow Railway Art Park next to Fangliao station, Pingtung, a handy stop on the road to Kenting. The ground floor holds a cat-themed gift shop and the cats' area, while the dining room is upstairs, kept separate from the cats. Meals are limited to 90 minutes, after which guests get 30 minutes downstairs with the cats, an active, friendly mix of breeds. Wand toys wait by the door, and freeze-dried and lickable treats can be bought to feed the cats. The menu covers coffee, flower teas, laksa, clay-pot dishes, light meals and desserts. The cafe also breeds and sells kittens, with staff on hand to share cat-care advice, and it sells cat figurines, gifts and supplies.