Postcard Getaway

Hidden Gems and Captivating Moments with Animals in Taiwan Across Charming Locations and Vibrant communities.

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

As an avid animal lover and long-time cat owner, the cat cafes around Taiwan have enticed me from the moment I arrived. Taipei has a cat cafe in every district, if not multiple, and they all have delicious drinks to sample. However, I didn’t expect to see so many other kinds of animals domesticated in Taiwan. I have seen countless dogs pushed around in strollers, a friendly pig, and a giant boa constrictor on the streets.

In addition to the cat cafes, I have also engaged in many othe critter experiences across Taiwan, including a capybara farm in Yilan and a meerkat cafe in Taipei. No matter where I go in Taiwan, I always have a place to meet someone fluffy.

The Meerkat Cafe

My friends and I visited the Meerkat Cafe in February, and we loved the food. While many animal cafes have fun drinks, the food does not always taste great. However, the pictures on Google Maps looked great, and they did not disappoint.

I ordered a creamy pasta dish with “bacon” or a salted piece of braised pork, which tasted delicious. I was very excited to eat my leftovers for lunch at school the next day.

The meerkats brought so much fun to their coffee shop, and I loved meeting such a unique animal. The person overseeing our playtime gave each customer a blanket to wear, and most of the meerkats slept on top of them. My meerkat had tons of energy and loved digging through the knit top I wore. They also liked playing with my phone chain.

Every table got 15 minutes with the meerkats, and everyone got their own personal meerkat to hold. There was a whole family of them there, and each one wore an adorable outfit. Mine donned a mini tuxedo!

The Street Corners

People in Taiwan love to walk their dogs in baby strollers. Every day, I pass at least one pampered dog pushed around in a carriage and dressed in a frilly outfit. Additionally, many well-trained dogs will sit outside a store, sometimes unleashed, waiting for their owners to finish their errands.m Sometimes, if the owner of a small business has a dog, the dog will also hang around the property during the day, bringing in customers with its charm.

I also have a cat that lives near my apartment nicknamed Mimi. Mimi seems sweet but will run away at the slightest noise. I haven’t seen Mimi around in a while, but I wish her well. I also hope she found herself a less hectic place to live.

Night Markets

You never know what animals you will find at a night market. I love seeing the “night market pig” around town. I’ve met him a few times in different night markets, and every time I notice him, I think, “Wow, it’s a big dog!” Then, I recognize him as the pig. He has a huge personality, and everyone loves him.

Another character I’ve seen around the night markets (and Taipei Pride) is a massive boa constrictor, which this one guy carries around. I’ve also seen him a few times, and he seems like a cool fella. People also bring their dogs to the night markets, and I’ve seen the occasional parrot or two there as well.

Cat Cafes

If I miss kitties back home, I will have tea or another fun drink at the closest cat cafe. The cafes offer so much fun, and they have all different breeds. The cat cafes in Taipei are just everywhere, and I have met everyone from a newborn kitten to a large and in-charge tabby cat with a healthy appetite.

Many cat cafes have fun themes and cat paraphernalia around the establishment for customers to enjoy. They tend to match their drinks to these themes, and many have fun decorations as well to make the plating more appealing. 

Small Towns and Old Streets

Some smaller villages and old streets offer the best places to find stray cats.  For example, when I stayed in Jiufen, my boyfriend and I found a cat who followed us from a restaurant back to our hotel. We named her “Smartie” because she seemed so clever and like she listened to us when we talked.

My friends and I also found a pretty cat near Shenkeng Old Street on a day trip we took in February. This cat followed us from the start of our short walk to the end, where he veered off and decided not to follow us across the street. (This guy also seemed bright!)

I have not visited yet, but the people recommend New Taipei’s Houtong Cat Village. This former mining village cares for over 200 stray cats. The town feeds, sterilizes, and vaccinates these kitties and ensures their quality of life.

The town also has cat-themed architecture, including a cat-shaped overpass that people can see when they enter the village. This village sits near Jiufen Old Street and Shifen waterfall. 

City Parks

I love going to Dadaocheng, the river near my apartment, because of the beautiful views of the mountains from the water and all the adorable birds flying around. I often visit the duck park during my Saturday morning walk and find myself observing all these ducks I have never seen outside of Taiwan. My favorite one has black and white spots on its back and always flies off before I can snap a good picture of it resting.

I’ve also seen herrings and small hummingbird-like creatures. When I visited Wulai, I saw my first black swan! Despite my fear of swans, I had to move closer to snap a photo. There’s nothing like visiting a new place and seeing all kinds of new birds.