Mr. Cat’s Friends: A-zen and MarsReporter: Shin-ni 10.11.16
The restaurant that our teacher told us is a very small one. There’s a cat figure on the sign. You will find everything inside the restaurant has something to do with cats. The owners were very welcoming, and there’s a cat on the bar called “Xaio Yang(Little Lamb)”. It is so cute!
We told the owners why we came here and asked a lot of questions. They were really nice that they answered patiently. In the middle of our conversation, there came a beautiful lady, who seemed to be their friend. She had a cat in her arms, and another one in her bag. She joined our conversation, too.
During the two hours, we had learned a lot about cats, and gradually found what we were going to do.
10.12.28
The second time we visited the restaurant is to interview with the owners officially. The owners are as nice and gentle as they used to be, and told us whatever we wanted to know. But “Xaio Yang(Little Lamb)” looked lazy this time and slept under the tables. We had a great time interviewing the owners. I asked the owner that how much would cost him a month. He replied that it would only cost him about 1,000 NT dollars. This surprised me. I used to overhear that keeping a cat would cost you a fortune, but it seemed not be true. Since Christmas was coming at that time, there were Christmas cards everywhere. They made the restaurant even prettier.
Reporter: Yui-jiey 10.11.16.
This was the place we first visited, and the place we started with everything. First we looked for some information about cats nearby. We heard the teacher mentioning about this restaurant before and happened to find it. We got inside and got a lot of useful information. The cat owners love cats and welcome people to bring their own cats here. I found it really fun and exciting. People who keep cats could finally find a restaurant to go in Neihu.
10.12.28
Our second time here was to supply more information and make detailed interview. The decoration didn’t change much. But they would have new menus for people to choose.
Reporter: Wei-kai 10.11.16
The restaurant “Mr. Cat’s Friends” is located in a small lane. People would hardly find it if no one pass the information. The outlook was all white. You would see everything about cats inside. The Cat “Xaio Yang(Little Lamb)” would come and play along with us. The owners were so friendly that it didn’t like an interview. We felt relaxed and fun. We only sensed that he was the owner when he served us the dinner. The rest of the time he just chatted casually with customers and used computers. I was thinking that maybe one day I could work like him. Maybe it’s possible for me to take care of the job and interest at the same time.
Reporter: Chiun-hong
“Mr. Cat’s friends” was a tiny restaurant, but I could feel the love for cats everywhere. Though our questions were not very well prepared, the owners are passionate that he told us more than we had asked. He was one of the best restaurant owners that I have ever seen. I was glad that there were many cat lovers and they were all very nice people.
HoutongReporter: Shin-ni 10.11.20
When we got to Houtong, it was drizzling, and then was pouring cats and dogs. It kept changing, but we had another chance to see cats in the rain. Cats act different from they were on sunny days: they gathered together in rainy days. Most of them stayed under the roof so that they wouldn’t get wet, with some exceptions of being alone in hidden places. But I found them all!
This time we had a special thing to do. We had an interview with the ex-Head of the Village Mr. Chou. We were here for this, but he was busy preparing for the election, so we could do nothing but arranging another date.
11.01.22
We came to Houtong again. This was a sunny day with very low temperature. But cats looked the same. They were cute and vivid. When I was trying to take a picture of them, one cat jumped onto my lap. He held me tight and just wouldn’t let me go, which was really cute. This time I had an appointment with the present Head of Houtong. He came along with his wife and another elderly. They were very friendly and welcoming.
Today I had seen so many cute kittens, and I wish them very happy and healthy lives.
Reporter: Yui-jiey
How should I say? I couldn’t imagine there would be a primitive and natural place in Taipei. The world nowadays was modern with new technology. Technology has brought a lot of harm. Since Taiwan is famous for its electronic industry, everything in urban areas has been modernized. All those warmness and friendliness in ancient country life have all gone. People don’t contact frequently with each other anymore. The same thing happened between humans and animals. There is distance hard to get across. If people can interact with animals the way we see here, the world will be totally different.
This is the second time I got here. This village has changed a little bit. It used to be a village that nobody knows, not is a famous tourist site. This village is growing slowing but steadily.
Reporter: Wei-kai
I didn’t contact with animals before. I didn’t hate them, but I just didn’t feel like to get near them. However, because of our subject, it is unavoidable to approach cats. I used to think that cats would hide under the cars or in some dark corners. With the strong light spotted on them, they will soon all gone, but not the cats here. They are walking around us, and interact with us. I feel that I start to like cats. The first time I got here was a rainy day. Today is sunny. I see more cats this time. When asked about Houtong’s before and after, the residents here showed welcoming attitude but hope no litter left on the streets. Tourists would be much more welcomed without leaving those garbage. It is said that strayed cats will make our environment dirty, but it seems that people are the ones who make a mess. So, do not leave any garbage in Houtong, so that the cats and people there can still live in a beautiful village.
Taipei Animal Shelter: Dr. HuangReporter: Shin-ni
Long before this interview, we have checked this shelter already. We would have done our interview half a month ago, but still we have to wait for some official papers. This is a formal interview with Dr. Huang. To speak the truth, I am so nervous. But Dr. Huang’s detailed introduction makes us relaxed a little bit. He then showed us around the animal shelter. I am very excited, because it used to be impossible for us to take pictures, but now we are allowed to. The cat inside the glass rubs it hard, and says “Take me home, please.” Another one looks sick and tiny and seems to be fighting some disease. I wish it will get better soon.
Reporter: Yui-jiey
When we first got in the animal shelter, I noticed there were a lot of volunteers there. They were playing with dogs and cats. They have the kindest eyes. No matter where the dogs and cats come from, they make their best efforts to help them, which impresses me the most.
Reporter: Wei-kai
I thought animal shelter was in a building., but actually it is a iron-covered hut. So I saw it, but I didn’t find it. After the experts’ explanation, I start to understand the TNR, and the adoption process. When D. Huang mentioned a cat stuck in iron meshes, I felt so sad. We shouldn’t set terrible traps everywhere to hurt animal, we should try to get along with them instead. It was a cruel thing to do to trap animals.
Reporter: Chiun-hongI thought it was a simple task this time. But after this interview, a lot of things have been changed inside of me. I realized that animals are just like people: they have their emotions. Cats and dogs are different. Cats have characters, temprs, and their own independent styles. I appreciate the way they look.
Interview with Madame the Cat
Reporter: Shin-ni
I used to view her articles in her blog, and I would never know that I could have the chance to talk to her face to face. As soon as I left a message on her Facebook, she assented that we could have an interview with her.
We had an appointment in her vet’s clinic. Not only Madame the Cat is friendly, but also the doctors and nurses there. I was quite nervous because I was talking to my idol! However, during the interview, I started to enjoy it. The most impressive thing is that her cat Migo can open the door for us! What a smart cat!
This interview has been for almost 2.5 hours. I can’t believe that Madame the Cat drove me home! Thank you, madame!
Reporter: Yui-jiey
This is our first time to meet Madame the Cat. The first impression she gave us is very nice. She is a famous photographer and an expert of cats. Shooting cats for her is not a job but a pleasure. She likes the easy-going style of cats. I didn’t keep any cats, but I suddenly felt that I should keep strayed cats. She had mentioned one point, which is feeding. A lot of cat owners abandon cats because of economic or personal factors. “If you love it, don’t keep it and abandon it, which is really immoral”, she said. I will memorize this all my life. She thinks that the most important thing is to reduce the amount of strayed cats but not to build a lot of animal shelters. We have to spread this idea in our community. Through education, we can make more people aware of this.
Reporter: Wei-kai
We visited Madame the Cat’s animal clinic. I thought she would be very hard to approach since she’s a very famous cat photographer, but we found her very friendly. I was deeply attracted to her when she talked about cats and how to protect them. She mentioned that cats are more suitable for people nowadays, because you don’t have to take frequent care of them like you will do to dogs. She even compared cats to girls. I have learned a lot about cats. For example, a cat with three different colors is almost female.
Reporter: Chiun-hong
Madame the Cat is a very nice lady. I thought she would reply to our questions casually because we were just students. But she gave full and detailed ones. We could hardly find time to take notes. She told us to unite a community is very important. We had to have high thoughts about our community and make our best efforts.
Interview with Shiao-shien Reporter: Shin-ni
I had msn communication with Shiao-shien a month ago. The day when I met her, I felt she is as nice as she was on the Internet.
We had an appointment at Starbucks, on 2nd floor of Taipei Train Station. It was good that we found seats. There are only two members coming, so this interview is actually the most nervous one for me. I didn’t write down the things I wanted to ask, and I was freaking out of being forgetful. Thank goodness! I memorize every one of them. We had a great time in the end!
Reporter: Wei-kai
I was just thinking if Shiao-shien would be as friendly as Madame the Cat. The answer is yes. When mentioning cats, she could really talk! And I could feel her deep love for cats when she talked. She could wait and wait and wait for just shooting a single shot. If you don’t love cats enough, you can’t be that patient. We had seen some works of hers, which were all amazing! If there were not these photographers in Taipei, how can we see the different sides of cats? Through her cameras, we could see a whole different world!