High-End Taipei Building Becomes a Cat Apartment; Animal Protection Office Finds 62 Cats During Visit
62 cats were discovered in a high-end apartment in Taipei's Xinyi District, causing odor complaints from neighbors. The Taipei City Animal Protection Office investigated and, while the environment was not deemed problematic, the owner faces fines for failing to register and neuter some of the cats.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 19:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 19:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 16, 2026 at 19:36 (4 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Reporter Liu Jian-bang, Taipei, 16th) A high-end apartment building in Taipei's Xinyi District has turned into a cat apartment. The Taipei City Government was notified and a visit revealed 62 cats. Although the space is over 3,300 square feet (100 ping), a foul odor has spread, affecting foreign tenants. The Animal Protection Office stated that no breeding or animal experiments were found and that they will continue to monitor the situation.
The 14-story building is located in an alley in Taipei's Xinyi District, and its residents include many foreign white-collar workers. Sabrina Santos, who lives on the top floor, noticed a foul smell often coming from the apartment across the hall. Upon observation, she discovered multiple cats inside. A resident on the 12th floor also complained of smelling the odor. After multiple complaints by Santos went unresolved, she had to file a complaint with the Taipei City Government. However, the Animal Protection Office sent staff to investigate twice but could not gain entry.
The Taipei Animal Protection Office stated in writing today that on the 15th, animal protection officers, with the help of an assistant hired by the owner, gained access to the apartment. They visually estimated the interior to be about 4,000 square feet (120 ping) and found 62 cats, including 30 males and 32 females, living uncaged. The environment was considered clean, with fresh water and sufficient food, and they were fed and cleaned daily. 51 of the cats were registered as pets.
Animal protection officers visually confirmed that the male cats were neutered, but system checks showed some female cats were not. 30 cats had mild upper respiratory symptoms, and one older cat was inactive. The owner's assistant responded that the cats with respiratory symptoms had been sent for medical treatment.
The Animal Protection Office said the assistant claimed the cats had been kept by the owner's family for five years before a family member passed away. Officers found one cat in the apartment that was inactive and, in accordance with the Taipei City Animal Protection Autonomous Regulations, took it into emergency placement for medical examination. After confirming the cause of illness, the owner's responsibility will be investigated.
Officers inspected the apartment for about 5 hours and confirmed no signs of animal experiments or breeding. For the unregistered and unneutered cats, the Animal Protection Office will issue fines for violating the Animal Protection Act and demand the owner make improvements within a specified period.
The Animal Protection Office stated it will continue to follow this case and will list the owner as a large-scale animal keeper, tracking the condition of the cats wherever the owner moves. If any violations of the Animal Protection Act are found, they will be investigated. Next week, the owner will be notified to appear and state their case, after which administrative penalties will be imposed.
Regarding the complainant's mention of seeing someone take some cats away from the apartment on the 14th, the Animal Protection Office said that after specifically questioning the owner's assistant, they learned that cats were indeed taken out for medical treatment that day. As the building security was unwilling to provide surveillance footage, it is currently difficult to verify. Additionally, if the living conditions affect other residents, the Construction Management Office will be notified to assist.
The Taipei City Construction Management Office stated in writing that the determination of whether this case involves public tranquility and public health should first be investigated and improved upon by the relevant authorities such as the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Animal Protection Office, and the police department, according to their respective regulations.
The Construction Management Office mentioned that according to the Condominium Administration Act, if the management committee finds a resident in such a situation, it must first stop it or handle it according to the community's rules. If the competent authority verifies that the situation indeed constitutes a nuisance, and the resident still does not comply after the management committee has advised and stopped them, the management committee can report to the Construction Management Office with records of the various agencies' investigations and their own actions to stop the behavior.
The Construction Management Office stated that if a report is subsequently received, it will impose a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 on the resident in accordance with Article 47 of the Condominium Administration Act, and demand improvement within a time limit. If the issue is not rectified by the deadline, consecutive fines may be imposed. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150516
The 14-story building is located in an alley in Taipei's Xinyi District, and its residents include many foreign white-collar workers. Sabrina Santos, who lives on the top floor, noticed a foul smell often coming from the apartment across the hall. Upon observation, she discovered multiple cats inside. A resident on the 12th floor also complained of smelling the odor. After multiple complaints by Santos went unresolved, she had to file a complaint with the Taipei City Government. However, the Animal Protection Office sent staff to investigate twice but could not gain entry.
The Taipei Animal Protection Office stated in writing today that on the 15th, animal protection officers, with the help of an assistant hired by the owner, gained access to the apartment. They visually estimated the interior to be about 4,000 square feet (120 ping) and found 62 cats, including 30 males and 32 females, living uncaged. The environment was considered clean, with fresh water and sufficient food, and they were fed and cleaned daily. 51 of the cats were registered as pets.
Animal protection officers visually confirmed that the male cats were neutered, but system checks showed some female cats were not. 30 cats had mild upper respiratory symptoms, and one older cat was inactive. The owner's assistant responded that the cats with respiratory symptoms had been sent for medical treatment.
The Animal Protection Office said the assistant claimed the cats had been kept by the owner's family for five years before a family member passed away. Officers found one cat in the apartment that was inactive and, in accordance with the Taipei City Animal Protection Autonomous Regulations, took it into emergency placement for medical examination. After confirming the cause of illness, the owner's responsibility will be investigated.
Officers inspected the apartment for about 5 hours and confirmed no signs of animal experiments or breeding. For the unregistered and unneutered cats, the Animal Protection Office will issue fines for violating the Animal Protection Act and demand the owner make improvements within a specified period.
The Animal Protection Office stated it will continue to follow this case and will list the owner as a large-scale animal keeper, tracking the condition of the cats wherever the owner moves. If any violations of the Animal Protection Act are found, they will be investigated. Next week, the owner will be notified to appear and state their case, after which administrative penalties will be imposed.
Regarding the complainant's mention of seeing someone take some cats away from the apartment on the 14th, the Animal Protection Office said that after specifically questioning the owner's assistant, they learned that cats were indeed taken out for medical treatment that day. As the building security was unwilling to provide surveillance footage, it is currently difficult to verify. Additionally, if the living conditions affect other residents, the Construction Management Office will be notified to assist.
The Taipei City Construction Management Office stated in writing that the determination of whether this case involves public tranquility and public health should first be investigated and improved upon by the relevant authorities such as the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Animal Protection Office, and the police department, according to their respective regulations.
The Construction Management Office mentioned that according to the Condominium Administration Act, if the management committee finds a resident in such a situation, it must first stop it or handle it according to the community's rules. If the competent authority verifies that the situation indeed constitutes a nuisance, and the resident still does not comply after the management committee has advised and stopped them, the management committee can report to the Construction Management Office with records of the various agencies' investigations and their own actions to stop the behavior.
The Construction Management Office stated that if a report is subsequently received, it will impose a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 on the resident in accordance with Article 47 of the Condominium Administration Act, and demand improvement within a time limit. If the issue is not rectified by the deadline, consecutive fines may be imposed. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150516