Cat Cafes in Yilan City, Yilan County

Yilan City, Yilan County

貓宅 is a cat cafe on Nüzhong Road, Section 2, in Yilan City, opened by a couple who previously ran a dessert studio and a pet grooming shop and wanted to help more street cats find homes. Around 15 to 16 cats live in the lounge and mingle freely with guests while they eat, and the cats are available for adoption: staff are happy to talk through each cat's personality with anyone thinking of taking one home. Staff also hand out treats from time to time so guests can win the cats over. The menu covers savoury light meals, croissants, handmade tarts and other desserts, coffee, milk tea and matcha drinks. There is a minimum spend of NT$250 for anyone taller than 120 cm, stays may be time-limited when the cafe is full, and booking ahead is recommended at weekends. Payment is cash only.

• Adoptable cats

Yilan City, Yilan County

愚者萬事屋 FooL.VisionS is a late-night coffee house on Zhonghua Road in central Yilan City that pairs house-roasted coffee with tarot, astrology and naming consultations. Its shop cats, led by 'store manager' Jiujiu, wander among the tables and often greet guests at the door, and a shop dog lives here too. House rules say the cats may be stroked or held, but timid cats must not be startled and their bottoms must not be patted. The minimum spend is NT$100 per person with no time limit, though guests who have finished their drinks may be asked to give up seats when it is full. The menu centres on pour-overs from beans chosen with the owner, custom drinks, hand-whipped milk and cakes, and outside food is allowed if you take the rubbish away. Phone before visiting, keep voices low, and do not play music or videos.

Yilan City, Yilan County

菓子．貓 is a casual cafe-restaurant on Sanqing Road in Yilan City that shares its space with a crystal and mineral shop. Its cats, notably several Bengals along with other breeds, have their own cat room that you can look into through the glass or step inside to play in, and some also wander out to keep diners company. The owner clearly dotes on them; one was rescued as a kitten after being found abandoned in a travel bag. The menu is good value and changes from time to time: wraps (the Yilan duck-shang wrap is a favourite), croissant waffles, waffles, fried snacks, curry and risotto plates, tiramisu and other cakes, and coffee including pour-overs. Each guest must order at least one item, dine-in time is two hours, and you may be asked to move seats at busy times. Visitors may not bring their own pets, and payment is cash only.

Yilan City, Yilan County

喵來喵去咖啡廳 is a bright, colourful cat cafe on Nongquan Road, Section 3, in Yilan City, across from a public car park. The owner describes it as the cats' home: eight cats live here, seven of them former street cats she took in and one adopted, and six of the eight are now over seven years old, so they spend much of the day dozing; arriving early or late gives the best chance of finding them awake. Each table gets a booklet introducing every cat's name, likes and personality. Interaction is never forced: do not chase, pat, forcibly hold or startle the cats, and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The menu is coffee, tea and small desserts, with quiche and cheesecakes among the favourites. The minimum spend is NT$200 per person, and payment is cash only.

Yilan City, Yilan County

扯貓尾香港cafe is a tiny Hong Kong-style cafe on Bixia Street in Yilan City, with just two tables and eight seats on the ground floor. Upstairs is a cat room decorated with Hong Kong posters and murals, home to four gentle Exotic Shorthair cats; ask the staff before going up, wash your hands first, and let the cats decide whether they want to be stroked. The owners also feed the neighbourhood strays. The menu is classic cha chaan teng fare: silk-stocking milk tea, yuenyeung, Hong Kong French toast, egg waffles, turnip cake, cookie egg tarts, char siu rice, curry rice and Cantonese pastries. Because seats are few, the cafe recommends booking at least a day ahead through Facebook Messenger for 90-minute dine-in slots; groups are limited to four people, the minimum is one drink per person, and payment is cash only.

Yilan City, Yilan County

The Yilan City branch of 萬記商行 The One's Shop sits on a street corner on Nongquan Road, Section 2, and is one of the few cat cafes in central Yilan City. A handful of friendly cats, four at recent count, share the spacious, clean dining room and come over to be stroked; ask the staff to clear empty plates promptly so the cats do not lick them. Like the original shop in Jiaoxi, it serves coffee roasted in house, alongside a full menu of brunch plates such as the continental breakfast with pulled pork and wild mushrooms, ciabatta sandwiches, curry, roast chicken, waffles, mochi desserts, puddings, banana splits and brownies. The minimum spend is NT$120 per person, payment is cash only, and booking ahead is recommended; seats can be reserved through the shop's website.