It’s not a litter box, silly—this is the one and only official cat toilet in all of Taiwan!

▲ Illustrator Cat Little P specially designed illustrations for Houtong’s cat restroom, adding a touch of whimsy. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Hailed by CNN as one of the “World’s Six Best Cat-Watching Spots,” Houtong has attracted a large influx of cat lovers in recent years, leading to overstrained existing facilities.

Therefore, the New Taipei City Government, while preserving Houtong’s original vibe and integrating local cat culture and mining history, has upgraded its infrastructure to ensure visitors can enjoy a safer experience and provide a more comfortable environment for the town’s furry residents.

▲ A harmonious cat-human restroom in Houtong. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)

In addition to transforming an old pedestrian overpass into the world’s only cat-and-human shared bridge, Houtong has expanded three aging restrooms into eight and added one new outdoor restroom for cyclists.The newly established cat restroom on the station’s first floor alsofeatures charming cat illustrations by illustrator Cat Little P, making it Taiwan’s first public restroom that blends local flavor with cat-themed design,

and has become a must-visit new landmark for many cat lovers traveling to Houtong.

▲ Beyond solving practical needs, the cat restroom has also become a new photo hotspot in Houtong. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)Additionally, the Taiwan Railways station has undergone renovations for its lobby and exterior to create a warmer atmosphere. The station has also unified its dual naming from different eras—officially becoming “Houtong Station”

—putting an end to the confusion of having two names for one station.

▲ The newly designed security booth also has a cat-friendly base. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)

The security guard booth in front of the Houtong Vision Museum has been redesigned with cats in mind, featuring wooden structures that preserve space for feline movement, allowing the little cats to help guards maintain community peace. [Meow: Meow... do you think those cans and kibbles could be mine? (Yawn & Lick)]

▲ A cat inside the security booth: Hmm... those cans and kibble in that person’s hand look like mine to me!! (Dialogue design) (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government)

Scheduled for completion by the end of August 2014, Houtong will repurpose idle spaces in the cat village to establish a cat information station. Staffed by volunteers from animal protection groups, it will offer real-time cat-related info and assistance to visitors, striving to create a harmonious space where humans and cats coexist.