Taipei: New Taipei has unveiled Taiwan's first cat-friendly "demonstration and education space," aimed at facilitating interactions between prospective adopters, existing cat owners, and shelter cats, while promoting suitable home environments for felines.

According to Focus Taiwan, the "Happy Cat Home" opened its doors on Monday at the Banqiao public animal shelter. It features a mock home tailored to the behavioral and physical needs of cats, along with an educational area that covers topics such as adoption preparation, daily care, and health and aging.

Pao Hai-ni, deputy head of the city's Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office, explained that the space is designed to help people understand "not only how to interact with cats, but also the kind of environment cats need." The demonstration area includes elevated platforms, hiding spaces, and gentler slopes for older cats, along with examples of litter boxes and water bowls.

The city aims to educate owners on providing better living conditions for cats and ensuring they are accompanied into old age, Pao said. The facility will also enable potential adopters to interact with cats before adoption, helping them determine compatibility and reducing the likelihood of animals being returned or abandoned. Visitors can reserve 30-minute sessions to interact with cats in the mock home, with six to eight groups accommodated per day from Tuesday through Sunday to avoid overwhelming the cats.

Sessions encourage visitors to let the animals initiate contact, aligning with cats' natural behavior. Only cats comfortable around strangers will be brought into the area, Pao noted. English-language assistance is available upon reservation.

New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi, present at the opening, highlighted the growing popularity of cats in the city. About 370,000 dogs and cats are registered, including nearly 180,000 cats. The number of new cat registrations has more than doubled compared to dogs in recent years, reflecting a broader trend across Taiwan. A 2025 Ministry of Agriculture survey estimated the country's pet cat population at 1.74 million, marking a 32.8 percent increase from 2023, while the dog population saw a slight decline.

Pao revealed that 142 cats and 823 dogs are currently available for adoption at the city's eight public shelters. Over the past year, 2,879 cats and 876 dogs found new homes.