Taiwan’s First Human-Cat Shared “Cat Bridge” Opens – Features Dedicated Cat Jumps and Murals

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

Japan has Tashirojima, the Cat Island; Malaysia has its Cat City; and advanced countries such as Italy, France, and New York also host numerous animal-themed festivals, all rooted in their unique histories and cultural backgrounds. Houtong in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, was originally a historic coal mining site, but the cats of Houtong, treated kindly and feeling especially safe and affectionate, have outshined the area’s historical association with monkeys. The fame of the “Houtong Cat Village” has gradually spread, attracting large numbers of visitors to Houtong, including many international tourists who “cross the sea to see cats.”


▲%The historical traces and handrails of the old station reflect the heritage of both humans and cats. It is also the “cat corridor” jointly used by humans and cats in Taiwan. (Photo provided by the Tourism and Travel Bureau of New Taipei City)


The Cat Bridge was originally a railway overpass built by the Taiwan Railways Administration in 1970 next to Houtong Railway Station for local residents to access the area. Since the rise in fame of the “Cat Village” in 2009, the number of visitors has grown significantly, and most traveled between the Cat Village and the coal mining area via the station overpass. In response to local residents’ concerns about the aging and narrow structure, the New Taipei City Government decided to renovate it. Since last year, planning has been underway for the reconstruction project of the “Houtong Railway Station Overpass Spanning the Cat Village,” incorporating suggestions from residents to reflect the character of the Cat Village. The new design also integrates motifs of the local coal mines, cats, and tunnels to create a uniquely shaped “Cat Bridge.” The bridge features cat footprints, photos, and murals, as well as specially designed jumps and platforms for cats. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 30.


▲Photo of the interior of the Cat Bridge. The bridge is 60 meters long, with the “cat head” located at the Vision Pavilion end of the park, featuring two ears, and the “cat tail” at the Cat Village end. (Photo provided by the New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The Cat Bridge is 60 meters in length, with the “cat head” at the Vision Pavilion end of the park, featuring two ears, and the “cat tail” at the Cat Village end. Chen Kuo-Chun, Director of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, said the construction process of the Cat Bridge was exceptionally challenging. During the construction period, trials for the Puyuma Express trains were ongoing, and in order not to disrupt train operations, construction could only proceed for four hours each night. The construction difficulty was extremely high, and it is also the only pedestrian railway overpass in the country where each structural component has a unique length and shape. The bridge includes twenty-five ring sections, five hundred square tube components, and seven hundred and fifty steel-aluminum panels, with all parts varying in dimensions.

In addition, several thoughtful designs for the cats have been implemented locally in Houtong. For example, a repurposed pallet-wrapped transformer box in front of the Vision Pavilion serves as a special cat play platform, and spaces under benches offer hiding spots for cats to escape pursuing dogs. The “Cat Bridge” is the first railway overpass in the country shared by humans and cats, integrating elements of animal welfare, tourism, and art, adding unique appeal to Houtong’s travel offerings.