洄流餐食 Stream

Taichung City · 0.7 mi / 1.1 km

森林小徑 健行店 is the Jianxing Road branch of Forest Path, a Taichung restaurant group whose dining rooms double as home to friendly shop cats. Located in the North District, it is a lively family restaurant where several cats wander between the tables and let diners and children stroke them; at least one has learned to 'shake hands', so keep play gentle. Pets are welcome, and the staff are attentive with families. The menu is broad: risotto, pasta with pesto or cream sauces, karaage chicken, milk and other hotpots, red-wine beef stew, pizza and volcano pancakes, plus coffee and desserts. Expect a busy, sometimes noisy atmosphere at weekends, and book ahead online for larger groups.

Taichung City · 0.8 mi / 1.3 km

貓邸老咖狐獴餐廳 is a small cat and meerkat restaurant on Dongguang 1st Street in Taichung's North District, a 7-10 minute walk from Jingwu railway station, and the flagship of the Cat Boss (貓老闆) group. The dining area is split in two: an inner, fenced room where about four friendly cats, including an affectionate black cat, mingle with diners, and an outer section without cats. The meerkats live in an enclosure for their safety, though guests can still see them up close. Shoes come off at the entrance, and the rooms are clean and free of cat smell. Seats are few, so phone booking is strongly advised; reservations are held for only five minutes. The menu features risotto, pasta, Matsusaka pork, set meals and cat latte art. Children under ten must keep quiet and move gently.

Taichung City · 1.0 mi / 1.7 km

正當冰 台中西區有貓好樹店 is the Taichung shop of Justice Ice Cream, a brand known for natural ice cream made without additives, on Section 2 of Taiwan Boulevard in the West District. As part of the brand's No More Stray programme, the spacious, clean shop doubles as a halfway home for rescued cats, and a large group of friendly, well-groomed cats lives among the tables while they wait for adoptive families. Staff show visitors how to feed the cats small pieces of natural dried-fish treats. Besides ice cream and affogato, the kitchen serves full meals such as chicken meatballs and herbal chicken soup, plus waffles, puddings, shaved ice and drinks. The shop is occasionally booked for private events or taste-education classes, so check its social media before visiting.

• Adoptable cats

Taichung City · 1.2 mi / 1.9 km

貓癮居 is a Japanese-themed cat restaurant on Dayong Street in Taichung's East District, a short walk from the rear exit of Taichung Railway Station and near LaLaport. A red torii gate and cherry-blossom decor set the tone, and a large group of friendly, well-fed cats lounge on the cushions and wander between tables, often settling right next to diners. During the lunch (12:00-13:30) and dinner (17:00-18:30) peaks each guest must order a main course, with a NT$300 minimum per person; at other times the minimum is NT$350, and a 10% service charge applies. Visits are usually limited to 90 minutes. Lickable cat treats can be bought for NT$30 to feed the cats before your food arrives. The menu includes rice bowls, French toast, lemon tart, Basque cheesecake and milk drinks. Booking by phone is recommended.

Taichung City · 1.2 mi / 2.0 km

貓樂貓咖啡 LaLaport 台中店 is a cat cafe on the third floor of Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Taichung in the East District, next to Taichung Railway Station. It is run by a licensed pet business, and pedigree kittens and cats, including short-legged Minuet cats, are displayed and offered for sale. The bright room has window seating, and the resident cats, many of them short-legged breeds, can be stroked, though they tend to choose their own company. Visits are sold as packages: an afternoon-tea plan at NT$300 per person for one hour, or a meal plan at NT$500 for two hours. Guests wear shoe covers and wash their hands at the sink in the room. The menu includes pasta, risotto, fries and drinks. A sister branch operates at LaLaport Nangang in Taipei.

Taichung City · 1.2 mi / 2.0 km

瓦茲•貓咪咖啡廳 (Wazi Cat Cafe) sits in a lane off Section 2 of Taiwan Boulevard in Taichung's West District, close to the busy Calligraphy Greenway shopping area. The cafe is housed in a striking black building with a large glass-walled room filled with plants, and the cats can roam overhead along raised walkways as well as among the tables. The resident cats are described as gentle and affectionate, though only a handful may be out on a given day. There is a minimum spend of NT$150 per person on weekdays and NT$300 at weekends, with no service charge; visits are not time-limited unless the cafe is full, when a 90-minute limit applies. Payment is by cash or bank transfer. Bookings are taken online through FunNow. The menu covers toast, desserts, coffee and tea.