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“So Cute!” This Hokkaido Fox Sleeping Curled Up Like a Cat Is Going Viral: “Why Is It So Round?”
A Kita kitsune that looks like a cat
Photo courtesy of @photo_inu
The photo shows a Kita kitsune sleeping with its eyes peacefully closed and its body curled into a perfect circle. With its fluffy tail also wrapped around, it looks so much like a cat that you might do a double-take and ask, “Is that really a fox?” The post has received comments like “So cute!” and “Why is it so round?” bringing a moment of peace to many viewers.
“Why is it so round?” People are swooning over its resemblance to a cat loaf
Another photo taken by INUPHOTO. It looks so peaceful and comfortable...
This photo was taken by INUPHOTO, who is based in Tokyo. INUPHOTO travels from Tokyo to Hokkaido every one to two months, passionately photographing wild animals like Ezo squirrels, Ezo deer, and Kita kitsune, mainly in the Eastern Hokkaido area. This particular shot was taken in February 2026 on the Notsuke Peninsula in Betsukai Town. While on this peninsula, often called a “paradise for wildlife,” INUPHOTO spotted this fox after glancing up at a small mound of earth.
“I often see Kita kitsune sleeping curled up with their tails as pillows, but I felt it was rare to see one in a pose so similar to a cat's loaf, with its paws tucked in.”
INUPHOTO recalls the surprise of that moment, having captured a precious, fleeting opportunity.
If you ever encounter a wild Kita kitsune in Hokkaido, please be careful not to touch it to prevent the risk of infectious diseases like Echinococcosis. Let's watch them quietly from a safe distance and appreciate their natural beauty.
Interview and photos courtesy of: INUPHOTO
・X (formerly Twitter): @photo_inu
・Instagram: @r.inu
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