TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — UUchinchilla Cafe in Taipei’s Nangang District is home to a unique collection of over 80 chinchillas.

Owner Baby Shuai, a passionate advocate for these adorable creatures, aims to educate the public about chinchillas. Visitors are introduced to their care and can interact with these furry friends.

Three floors of the cafe house different groups of chinchillas. On the second floor, visitors can choose their own chinchilla companion while enjoying a meal.

Shuai emphasizes the importance of love and care in raising chinchillas, noting that these creatures can live for more than 20 years. "They behave like children," she says, “naughty and cute.”

Chinchillas are unique, Shuai explains. Females can choose to close their reproductive organs, so they need to “fall in love” with a male in order to have babies.

Shuai recalls having a growing number of chinchillas at home, reaching about 60. “I raised too many chinchillas by myself,” Shuai recalls, “so I needed a secret base together with my friends.”

Chinchillas, being cave dwellers, are comfortable in smaller spaces, Shuai notes. However, it's essential to provide a cool environment, with temperatures below 24 C.

The cafe houses a diverse group of chinchillas, ranging from long-haired to curly-haired. Several of these chinchillas have earned recognition in beauty competitions like the MCBA West Coast Chapter and the Nerderlandse Chinchilla Show (NCS).

Their rankings are determined by the appearance and condition of their fur, Shuai explains. She also talks about the unbelievably soft coat of chinchillas, and says petting them can be therapeutic and soothing.

According to Shuai, chinchillas are surprisingly clever and capable of opening cage locks with their paws or mouths. She compares their level of intelligence to that of a 5 or 6-year-old child.

Beyond the chinchillas, the cafe offers a variety of delicious treats, including the popular chinchilla latte.

Shuai recommends the “angry chinchilla” pasta. “If you want spicy pasta, you should try it,” she comments.

The cafe is available for booking at InLine. For more information, visit the cafe's Instagram or Facebook page.