Queena Cat

Zhubei, Hsinchu County · 1.1 mi / 1.8 km

諾姆精品茶飲 (Nomu) is a tea bar and rescue cat cafe on the second floor of a building on County Government 13th Road in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County. The owner, a tea lover, offers more than 40 kinds of tea alongside coffee and desserts, and the house speciality is a fluffy soufflé pancake, with caramel pearl the favourite. The cafe doubles as a halfway home for rescued street cats: a separate, sectioned-off area is set aside for the cats, a double door keeps them safe, and visitors clean their hands before petting. Many of the cats are friendly and come over to greet new guests, while a few are shy and prefer not to be rushed. Cats here are looking for permanent homes, and adoption enquiries are welcome. The space is clean, calm and free of animal odours.

• Adoptable cats

Zhubei, Hsinchu County · 1.3 mi / 2.1 km

踏踏咖啡 x 養憩動物血液中心 is a coffee roastery and cat cafe on Jiaxing Road in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, run together with an animal blood centre. The owner is a vet, and the resident cats are blood donors whose donations help injured and sick cats, so a visit here quietly supports pet medicine. The cats roam freely through the calm, comfortable cafe and treat it as their home and playground. Guests are welcome to stroke them but should not chase or pick them up, and bringing your own pets is not allowed. The minimum spend is one drink per person. Alongside house-roasted coffee, the menu includes milk tea, Earl Grey drinks, smoothies, pudding and cinnamon rolls. Payment is cash only, and opening days are announced on the cafe's Instagram and Facebook pages.

Zhubei, Hsinchu County · 1.9 mi / 3.0 km

聊夏貓旅x咖啡 (Le Chat) is a pet-friendly cafe on Gaotie 1st Road in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, a short walk from Hsinchu HSR station. It combines a licensed cat grooming and boarding business with a relaxed cafe where resident animals mingle with guests: a laid-back orange-and-white cat acts as shop manager, a cheerful golden retriever called Pudding is his deputy, and several other friendly cats share the room. The cafe also fosters rescue cats and kittens awaiting adoption. Seating includes comfy sofas and hammocks, and visitors can buy small treats to feed the animals. Food is good value, with set meals, waffles, pudding, lemon tarts and coffee, and there is no strict time limit, which makes it popular for killing time before a train. Lighting is dim and the dog can be boisterous, so it suits people happy around both cats and dogs.

• Adoptable cats

Hsinchu City · 3.5 mi / 5.6 km

昭日咖啡 is a small animal cafe in a lane off Minsheng Road in East District, Hsinchu City, close to the Big City shopping mall. Cats of many breeds share the room with a family of meerkats, and the cats outnumber the guests on most days; they are relaxed, friendly and often curious about your plate. Shoe covers are provided at the entrance and must be worn, as shoes stay on. The minimum spend is one drink per person, table visits are 90 minutes, and the standing bar has no time limit. There are no reservations, so join the queue on arrival. Guests may bring well-behaved pets on a leash or in a carrier. Treat capsules are sold for feeding the animals on the floor, and young children must be supervised and not chase the cats. The menu covers coffee with latte art, cakes, cinnamon rolls, tiramisu and pizza.

• Walk-ins welcome

Hsinchu City · 3.7 mi / 5.9 km

若木書房咖啡廳 is a late-night bookshop cafe in a lane off Beida Road in East District, Hsinchu City, and one of the city's best-loved spots for studying or working among cats. The Christian bookshop sells books alongside coffee, herbal teas and light meals such as pizza, lemon tart and ice-cream croissants. More than 20 rescued cats live here, each with its own personality, and they wander freely and settle beside visitors as they read or type. The owner, a dedicated cat lover, cares for around 40 rescued cats across two shops. The minimum spend is one drink per person, which covers about two and a half hours; ordering two items lets you stay until closing. Hot water refills are self-service, and cups are returned to the counter. The ground floor has a large table for study groups, with more seating upstairs.

Hsinchu City · 3.9 mi / 6.2 km

遇見胖喵咖啡 (Meet the Fat Cat Cafe) is a cosy, pet-friendly brunch cafe on a lane off Guangfu Road Section 1 in East District, Hsinchu City, near the Hsinchu Science Park. Two friendly resident cats roam the cafe and happily keep diners company, though they come and go, so a sighting is not guaranteed on every visit. The relaxed room is popular with locals and park workers for weekend brunch and afternoon tea. Plates are generous and good value, with brunch platters of fresh salad, fried fish with tartar sauce, chicken, burgers and karaage, plus coffee and other drinks. Food is made to order, so expect a wait when it is busy. The cafe has short weekday hours and irregular closing days, which are posted on its Facebook page, so check there before making a special trip.