FEATURE/Purrfect Shopkeepers: How Dadaocheng's cats are helping to boost sales

By Sunny Lai and Rick Yi, CNA staff reporters

In Taipei's Dadaocheng, cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photo models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital's most historic quarters.

A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew over 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted both amateur and professional photographers.

The winning shot

"It's rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat," said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 (US$326) top prize in the second "Meow Pie" Photo Contest in late August.

Her winning photo, titled Fortune Comes with You, shows "Money," a fluffy white cat, standing upright with paws raised beside his ginger brother "Cola," while their owner smiles in the background of his dried-goods shop.

"Cats in the shops along Dihua Street are very interactive and cute, and each one has its own unique character," said Hsu, 30. "The old street and the cats create a blend of tradition and modern charm that makes the area distinctive."

'Purrtector' of the shop

Shop owner Ginseng Hsiao (蕭錫座), who runs He-Shing Chinese Herbs and Groceries, said many Dihua Street merchants keep cats because warehouses of dried goods often attract rats.

"When their numbers grew, I decided to take Money in," Hsiao said. "I saw the method working, so I later adopted Cola to help."

Asked what he would say to his cats if they could understand, the 54-year-old replied simply: "Thank you. It's like they work at our shop, only they do the night shift, guarding the warehouse and keeping rats away."

Hsiao said he sometimes rewards them with dried scallops from the store or special cans of tuna.

'Pawsitive' business impact

While Cola has proven an effective rat hunter, he once went missing for 22 days, leaving staff "heartbroken," Hsiao said. Since then, he has fitted both cats with AirTags to prevent them from straying again.

Seeing the pair as his "sons," Hsiao said they have also transformed his business. Traditionally focused on Chinese herbs and dried goods for older customers, his store now attracts younger visitors who come to see the cats -- and often leave with dried fruit, teas or nuts.

"Most customers who buy Chinese medicinal herbs are older," he said. "But after we got the cats, groups of younger people started coming in to see them and browse the products."

Hsiao added that young cat lovers who come to see them tend to buy something to support the shop.

Drawing customers

Other merchants have seen similar benefits. John Lee (李佳陽), president of century-old pastry brand Li Ting Xiang, said that in the past, passersby who found nothing of interest would simply walk away.

"Now they often stop at the entrance or step inside, chatting with owners about cats while browsing the goods -- this naturally helps boost sales," Lee said. Some shopkeepers even reported customers lining up outside to see the cats, he added.

Although Lee's shop has no cats, he launched a cat-themed product line five years ago. Sales have more than doubled in the past two years, a rise he partly attributes to exposure from contest entries.

The craze, he said, began around five years ago when a local association partnered with photographer Erica Wu to promote cat photography tours, which grew in popularity.

Beyond historic streets

Lee said most old streets in Taiwan have beautiful historic buildings, but what sets Dadaocheng apart is the culture inside them.

"Visitors not only come to see the old streets and traditional culture, but also to meet the adorable cats," he said. "That makes Dadaocheng different from other places."

Top entries from the contest are on display through Sept. 14 at Olympus Plaza Taipei on Dihua Street. Shopkeepers generally welcome visitors photographing their feline companions, though Lee advised asking permission first.

"Many owners are very accommodating -- some will even carry the cats over or offer dried scallops so you can feed them," he said. "This kind of interaction is really special and full of warmth."

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