diff --git a/.markdownlint-cli2.yaml b/.markdownlint-cli2.yaml
index 9e94750..21f05ea 100644
--- a/.markdownlint-cli2.yaml
+++ b/.markdownlint-cli2.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 config:
   no-duplicate-heading: false
   no-inline-html: false
+  emphasis-style:
+    style: underscore
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0182ab2..4db53ef 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,8 +101,9 @@ plugins:
       cache: 600
 ```
 
-In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be installed.
-You can include it in the installation of the plugin adding the `cache` extra:
+In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be installed
+or the setting [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir) must be defined. You can include
+[platformdirs] in the installation of the plugin adding the `cache` extra:
 
 ```txt
 # requirements.txt
@@ -111,6 +112,23 @@ mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin[cache]
 
 <!-- mdpo-disable-next-line -->
 
+#### `cache_dir`
+
+Directory where cached HTTP requests will be stored. If set, [platformdirs] is not
+needed to be installed to use [`cache`](#cache).
+
+```yaml
+plugins:
+  - include-markdown:
+      cache: 600
+      cache_dir: ./mkdocs-include-markdown-cache
+```
+
+A _.gitignore_ file will be added to the cache directory if not exists to avoid
+committing the cache files.
+
+<!-- mdpo-disable-next-line -->
+
 #### `directives`
 
 Customize the names of the directives.
diff --git a/examples/http-cache-dir/docs/README.md b/examples/http-cache-dir/docs/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc4dbd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/http-cache-dir/docs/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Header
+
+{%
+  include-markdown "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mondeja/mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin/master/examples/basic/docs/included.md"
+  start="<--start-->"
+%}
+
+## mkdocs.yml
+
+```
+{%
+  include "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mondeja/mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin/master/examples/basic/mkdocs.yml"
+%}
+```
+
+## From cache
+
+{%
+  include-markdown "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mondeja/mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin/master/examples/basic/docs/included.md"
+  start="<--start-->"
+%}
diff --git a/examples/http-cache-dir/mkdocs.yml b/examples/http-cache-dir/mkdocs.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebbee01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/http-cache-dir/mkdocs.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+site_name: Foo
+plugins:
+  - include-markdown:
+      cache: 600
+      cache_dir: .mkdocs-include-markdown-cache
diff --git a/examples/http-cache/docs/README.md b/examples/http-cache/docs/README.md
index 7e8b565..a975143 100644
--- a/examples/http-cache/docs/README.md
+++ b/examples/http-cache/docs/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 {%
   include-markdown "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mondeja/mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin/master/examples/basic/docs/included.md"
+  start="<--start-->"
 %}
 
 ## mkdocs.yml
@@ -18,4 +19,5 @@
 
 {%
   include-markdown "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mondeja/mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin/master/examples/basic/docs/included.md"
+  start="<--start-->"
 %}
diff --git a/locale/es/README.md b/locale/es/README.md
index d46a887..d142858 100644
--- a/locale/es/README.md
+++ b/locale/es/README.md
@@ -88,14 +88,30 @@ plugins:
       cache: 600
 ```
 
-Para usar esta funcionalidad, la dependencia [platformdirs] debe ser instalada.
-Puedes incluirla en la instalación del plugin añadiendo el extra `cache`:
+Para poder utilizar esta función, se debe instalar la dependencia [platformdirs]
+o definir la configuración [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir). Puedes incluir
+[platformdirs] en la instalación del plugin agregando el extra `cache`:
 
 ```txt
 # requirements.txt
 mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin[cache]
 ```
 
+#### `cache_dir`
+
+Directorio donde se almacenarán las solicitudes HTTP en caché. Si se configura,
+no es necesario instalar [platformdirs] para usar [`cache`](#cache).
+
+```yaml
+plugins:
+  - include-markdown:
+      cache: 600
+      cache_dir: ./mkdocs-include-markdown-cache
+```
+
+Se agregará un archivo *.gitignore* al directorio de caché si no existe para
+evitar confirmar los archivos de caché.
+
 #### `directives`
 
 Personaliza los nombres de las directivas.
diff --git a/locale/es/README.md.po b/locale/es/README.md.po
index 16bcc87..d13ddde 100644
--- a/locale/es/README.md.po
+++ b/locale/es/README.md.po
@@ -349,15 +349,6 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Relativas desde el archivo que las incluye (empezando por `./` o `../`)."
 
-msgid ""
-"In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be "
-"installed. You can include it in the installation of the plugin adding the "
-"`cache` extra:"
-msgstr ""
-"Para usar esta funcionalidad, la dependencia [platformdirs] debe ser "
-"instalada. Puedes incluirla en la instalación del plugin añadiendo el extra "
-"`cache`:"
-
 msgid "`opening_tag` and `closing_tag`"
 msgstr "`opening_tag` y `closing_tag`"
 
@@ -454,3 +445,29 @@ msgstr ""
 
 msgid "Customize the names of the directives."
 msgstr "Personaliza los nombres de las directivas."
+
+msgid ""
+"In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be "
+"installed or the setting [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir) must be defined. You can "
+"include [platformdirs] in the installation of the plugin adding the `cache` "
+"extra:"
+msgstr ""
+"Para poder utilizar esta función, se debe instalar la dependencia "
+"[platformdirs] o definir la configuración [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir). Puedes "
+"incluir [platformdirs] en la instalación del plugin agregando el extra "
+"`cache`:"
+
+msgid ""
+"Directory where cached HTTP requests will be stored. If set, [platformdirs] "
+"is not needed to be installed to use [`cache`](#cache)."
+msgstr ""
+"Directorio donde se almacenarán las solicitudes HTTP en caché. Si se "
+"configura, no es necesario instalar [platformdirs] para usar "
+"[`cache`](#cache)."
+
+msgid ""
+"A *.gitignore* file will be added to the cache directory if not exists to "
+"avoid committing the cache files."
+msgstr ""
+"Se agregará un archivo *.gitignore* al directorio de caché si no existe para"
+" evitar confirmar los archivos de caché."
diff --git a/locale/fr/README.md b/locale/fr/README.md
index 3768766..1e611d8 100644
--- a/locale/fr/README.md
+++ b/locale/fr/README.md
@@ -88,14 +88,31 @@ plugins:
 ```
 
 Pour utiliser cette fonctionnalité, la dépendance [platformdirs] doit être
-installée. Vous pouvez l'inclure dans l'installation du plugin en ajoutant le
-supplément `cache`:
+installée ou le paramètre [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir) doit être défini. Vous
+pouvez inclure [platformdirs] dans l'installation du plugin en ajoutant le
+supplément `cache` :
 
 ```txt
 # requirements.txt
 mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin[cache]
 ```
 
+#### `cache_dir`
+
+Répertoire dans lequel les requêtes HTTP mises en cache seront stockées. Si
+défini, [platformdirs] n'a pas besoin d'être installé pour utiliser
+[`cache`](#cache).
+
+```yaml
+plugins:
+  - include-markdown:
+      cache: 600
+      cache_dir: ./mkdocs-include-markdown-cache
+```
+
+Un fichier *.gitignore* sera ajouté au répertoire de cache s'il n'existe pas pour
+éviter de valider les fichiers de cache.
+
 #### `directives`
 
 Personnaliser les noms des directives.
diff --git a/locale/fr/README.md.po b/locale/fr/README.md.po
index be54f39..1b2f8e6 100644
--- a/locale/fr/README.md.po
+++ b/locale/fr/README.md.po
@@ -348,15 +348,6 @@ msgid ""
 "Relative from the file that includes them (starting with `./` or `../`)."
 msgstr "Relatifs du fichiers qui les inclut (commençant par `./` ou `../`)."
 
-msgid ""
-"In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be "
-"installed. You can include it in the installation of the plugin adding the "
-"`cache` extra:"
-msgstr ""
-"Pour utiliser cette fonctionnalité, la dépendance [platformdirs] doit être "
-"installée. Vous pouvez l'inclure dans l'installation du plugin en ajoutant "
-"le supplément `cache`:"
-
 msgid "`opening_tag` and `closing_tag`"
 msgstr "`opening_tag` et `closing_tag`"
 
@@ -453,3 +444,29 @@ msgstr ""
 
 msgid "Customize the names of the directives."
 msgstr "Personnaliser les noms des directives."
+
+msgid ""
+"In order to use this feature, the dependency [platformdirs] must be "
+"installed or the setting [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir) must be defined. You can "
+"include [platformdirs] in the installation of the plugin adding the `cache` "
+"extra:"
+msgstr ""
+"Pour utiliser cette fonctionnalité, la dépendance [platformdirs] doit être "
+"installée ou le paramètre [`cache_dir`](#cache_dir) doit être défini. Vous "
+"pouvez inclure [platformdirs] dans l'installation du plugin en ajoutant le "
+"supplément `cache` :"
+
+msgid ""
+"Directory where cached HTTP requests will be stored. If set, [platformdirs] "
+"is not needed to be installed to use [`cache`](#cache)."
+msgstr ""
+"Répertoire dans lequel les requêtes HTTP mises en cache seront stockées. Si "
+"défini, [platformdirs] n'a pas besoin d'être installé pour utiliser "
+"[`cache`](#cache)."
+
+msgid ""
+"A *.gitignore* file will be added to the cache directory if not exists to "
+"avoid committing the cache files."
+msgstr ""
+"Un fichier *.gitignore* sera ajouté au répertoire de cache s'il n'existe pas"
+" pour éviter de valider les fichiers de cache."
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c00deb6..865c447 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin"
-version = "7.1.1"
+version = "7.1.2"
 description = "Mkdocs Markdown includer plugin."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/cache.py b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/cache.py
index 137c3f5..90d1f49 100644
--- a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/cache.py
+++ b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/cache.py
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 from importlib.util import find_spec
 
 
-CACHE_AVAILABLE = find_spec('platformdirs') is not None
-
-
 class Cache:
     """Cache for arbitrary content, one file per entry."""
 
@@ -64,31 +61,52 @@ def set_(self, url: str, value: str, encoding: str = 'utf-8') -> None:  # noqa:
     def clean(self) -> None:
         """Clean expired entries from the cache."""
         for fname in os.listdir(self.cache_dir):
+            if fname == '.gitignore':
+                continue
             fpath = os.path.join(self.cache_dir, fname)
             creation_time = self.get_creation_time_from_fpath(fpath)
             if time.time() > creation_time + self.expiration_seconds:
                 os.remove(fpath)
 
 
-def get_cache_directory() -> str | None:
-    """Get the cache directory."""
-    if not CACHE_AVAILABLE:
+def get_cache_directory(cache_dir: str) -> str | None:
+    """Get cache directory."""
+    if cache_dir:
+        return cache_dir
+
+    if not is_platformdirs_installed():
         return None
 
     try:
         from platformdirs import user_data_dir
     except ImportError:
         return None
+    else:
+        return user_data_dir('mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin')
+
+
+def initialize_cache(expiration_seconds: int, cache_dir: str) -> Cache | None:
+    """Initialize a cache instance."""
+    cache_directory = get_cache_directory(cache_dir)
+
+    if cache_directory is None:
+        return None
 
-    cache_dir = user_data_dir('mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin')
-    os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(cache_directory, exist_ok=True)
 
-    return cache_dir
+    # Add a `.gitignore` file to prevent the cache directory from being
+    # included in the repository. This is needed because the cache directory
+    # can be configured as a relative path with `cache_dir` setting.
+    gitignore = os.path.join(cache_directory, '.gitignore')
+    if not os.path.exists(gitignore):
+        with open(gitignore, 'wb') as f:
+            f.write(b'*\n')
 
+    cache = Cache(cache_directory, expiration_seconds)
+    cache.clean()
+    return cache
 
-def initialize_cache(expiration_seconds: int) -> Cache | None:
-    """Initialize a cache instance."""
-    cache_dir = get_cache_directory()
-    return None if cache_dir is None else Cache(
-        cache_dir, expiration_seconds,
-    )
+
+def is_platformdirs_installed() -> bool:
+    """Check if `platformdirs` package is installed without importing it."""
+    return find_spec('platformdirs') is not None
diff --git a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/config.py b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/config.py
index 7792b65..047d1d1 100644
--- a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/config.py
+++ b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/config.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class PluginConfig(Config):  # noqa: D101
     end = Optional(MkType(str))
     exclude = ListOfItems(MkType(str), default=[])
     cache = MkType(int, default=0)
+    cache_dir = MkType(str, default='')
     recursive = MkType(bool, default=True)
     directives = MkType(
         dict,
diff --git a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/plugin.py b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/plugin.py
index 602cc0c..948d06d 100644
--- a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/plugin.py
+++ b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/plugin.py
@@ -31,22 +31,19 @@ class IncludeMarkdownPlugin(BasePlugin[PluginConfig]):
 
     def on_config(self, config: MkDocsConfig) -> MkDocsConfig:
         if self.config.cache > 0:
-            cache = initialize_cache(self.config.cache)
+            cache = initialize_cache(self.config.cache, self.config.cache_dir)
             if cache is None:
                 raise PluginError(
-                    'The "platformdirs" package is required to use the'
-                    ' "cache" option. Install'
-                    ' mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin with the "cache"'
-                    ' extra to install it.',
+                    'Either `cache_dir` global setting must be configured or'
+                    ' `platformdirs` package is required to use the'
+                    ' `cache` option. Install mkdocs-include-markdown-plugin'
+                    " with the 'cache' extra to install `platformdirs`.",
                 )
-            cache.clean()
             self._cache = cache
 
         if '__default' not in self.config.directives:  # pragma: no cover
             for directive in self.config.directives:
-                if directive not in {
-                    'include', 'include-markdown',
-                }:
+                if directive not in ('include', 'include-markdown'):
                     raise PluginError(
                         f"Invalid directive name '{directive}' at 'directives'"
                         ' global setting. Valid values are "include" and'
diff --git a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/process.py b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/process.py
index 32eb533..4d41abc 100644
--- a/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/process.py
+++ b/src/mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin/process.py
@@ -244,12 +244,9 @@ def rewrite_relative_urls(
     ``source_path`` will still work when inserted into a file at
     ``destination_path``.
     """
-    def rewrite_url(url: str) -> str:
-        from urllib.parse import urlparse, urlunparse
-
-        if is_relative_path(url):
-            return url
+    from urllib.parse import urlparse, urlunparse
 
+    def rewrite_url(url: str) -> str:
         scheme, netloc, path, params, query, fragment = urlparse(url)
 
         # absolute or mail
@@ -425,7 +422,7 @@ def increase_headings_offset(markdown: str, offset: int = 0) -> str:
 
 def rstrip_trailing_newlines(content: str) -> str:
     """Removes trailing newlines from a string."""
-    while content.endswith('\n') or content.endswith('\r'):
+    while content.endswith(('\n', '\r')):
         content = content.rstrip('\r\n')
     return content
 
diff --git a/tests/test_integration/test_cache_integration.py b/tests/test_integration/test_cache_integration.py
index 527c133..41ab850 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration/test_cache_integration.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration/test_cache_integration.py
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 import mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache
 from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin import IncludeMarkdownPlugin
 from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache import (
-    CACHE_AVAILABLE,
     Cache,
     get_cache_directory,
     initialize_cache,
+    is_platformdirs_installed,
 )
 from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.event import on_page_markdown
 from testing_helpers import parametrize_directives
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ def test_page_included_by_url_is_cached(
     tmp_path,
     plugin,
 ):
-    cache_dir = get_cache_directory()
-    if not CACHE_AVAILABLE:
+    cache_dir = get_cache_directory('')
+    if not is_platformdirs_installed():
         assert cache_dir is None
         assert initialize_cache(600) is None
         return
@@ -84,14 +84,40 @@ def test_cache_setting_when_not_available_raises_error(monkeypatch):
     @dataclass
     class FakeConfig:
         cache: int
+        cache_dir: str
+        directives: dict[str, str]
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache,
-        'CACHE_AVAILABLE',
-        False,
+        'is_platformdirs_installed',
+        lambda: False,
     )
     plugin = IncludeMarkdownPlugin()
-    plugin.config = FakeConfig(cache=600)
+    plugin.config = FakeConfig(
+        cache=600, cache_dir='', directives={'__default': ''},
+    )
     with pytest.raises(PluginError) as exc:
         plugin.on_config({})
-    assert 'The "platformdirs" package is required' in str(exc.value)
+    assert (
+        'Either `cache_dir` global setting must be configured or'
+        ' `platformdirs` package is required'
+    ) in str(exc.value)
+
+
+def test_cache_setting_available_with_cache_dir(monkeypatch):
+    @dataclass
+    class FakeConfig:
+        cache: int
+        cache_dir: str
+        directives: dict[str, str]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache,
+        'is_platformdirs_installed',
+        lambda: False,
+    )
+    plugin = IncludeMarkdownPlugin()
+    plugin.config = FakeConfig(
+        cache=600, cache_dir='foo', directives={'__default': ''},
+    )
+    plugin.on_config({})
diff --git a/tests/test_integration/test_examples.py b/tests/test_integration/test_examples.py
index 4054f4b..147a339 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration/test_examples.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from mkdocs.commands.build import build
 from mkdocs.exceptions import Abort
 
-from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache import CACHE_AVAILABLE
+from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache import is_platformdirs_installed
 from testing_helpers import rootdir
 
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def test_examples_subprocess(dirname):
     config_file = os.path.join(example_dir, 'mkdocs.yml')
     expected_returncode = 1 if config_is_using_cache_setting(
         config_file,
-    ) and not CACHE_AVAILABLE else 0
+    ) and not is_platformdirs_installed() else 0
 
     proc = subprocess.Popen(
         [sys.executable, '-mmkdocs', 'build'],
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ def test_examples_api(dirname):
     example_dir = os.path.join(EXAMPLES_DIR, dirname)
     config_file = os.path.join(example_dir, 'mkdocs.yml')
     expected_to_raise_exc = (
-        config_is_using_cache_setting(config_file) and not CACHE_AVAILABLE
+        config_is_using_cache_setting(config_file) and
+        not is_platformdirs_installed()
     )
 
     def run():
diff --git a/tests/test_unit/test_cache.py b/tests/test_unit/test_cache.py
index f578ad3..112ab8e 100644
--- a/tests/test_unit/test_cache.py
+++ b/tests/test_unit/test_cache.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 import time
 
 from mkdocs_include_markdown_plugin.cache import (
-    CACHE_AVAILABLE,
     Cache,
     get_cache_directory,
     initialize_cache,
+    is_platformdirs_installed,
 )
 
 
@@ -38,15 +38,23 @@ def test_cache_clean(tmp_path):
     assert len(os.listdir(tmp_path)) == 0
 
 
-def test_get_cache_directory():
-    if not CACHE_AVAILABLE:
-        assert get_cache_directory() is None
+def test_get_cache_directory_empty():
+    if not is_platformdirs_installed():
+        assert get_cache_directory('') is None
     else:
-        assert isinstance(get_cache_directory(), str)
+        assert isinstance(get_cache_directory(''), str)
 
 
-def test_initialize_cache_instance():
-    if not CACHE_AVAILABLE:
-        assert initialize_cache(300) is None
+def test_get_cache_directory_custom():
+    assert get_cache_directory('foo') == 'foo'
+
+
+def test_initialize_cache_not_cache_dir():
+    if not is_platformdirs_installed():
+        assert initialize_cache(300, '') is None
     else:
-        assert isinstance(initialize_cache(300), Cache)
+        assert isinstance(initialize_cache(300, ''), Cache)
+
+
+def test_initialize_cache_cache_dir():
+    assert isinstance(initialize_cache(300, 'foo'), Cache)