Cats like having places where they can hide, such as cat beds, cardboard boxes, or behind furniture, so they have a sense of security when feeling nervous or threatened.
The ideal living environment temperature is generally around 25–28 degrees Celsius. They're afraid of both heat and cold, so they need a space with relatively constant, comfortable temperature—avoiding direct sunlight or cold, damp areas.
Cats spend most of their day resting, so soft cushions, blankets, or scratching posts can make them sleep more comfortably while also satisfying their need to sharpen their claws.
But every cat is different. Some cats only need food and shelter plus a cardboard box.
Everything else? Don't worry about it—the cat will take care of it themselves.
Today, while the old uncle was bathing and feeding the foxes, he unexpectedly mistook a cat for a fox and gave it a bath too.
This really wasn't the old uncle's fault.
As everyone knows, when you spot one cockroach in the room, it means there are already countless more hiding in the corners.
The same goes for foxes.
If you feed one fox, once that fox confirms it's safe, it will tell its relatives.
There's a small cabin in the forest where a two-legged beast will provide food, and the only price is letting it stroke your fur.
Though they are regarded as symbols of the divine, the privilege they receive is merely that humans won't hunt them.
If they can't catch prey in the forest, they'll still go hungry.
What? Just let it pet you and you get food!?
I'm going to check it out—you all wait for me.
Roar… This monk is full… The rumors are true.
And so, foxes big and small started showing up in front of the old uncle's cabin begging for food.
The old uncle happened to be researching foxes, so he just went with it.
These foxes weren't picky eaters anyway—very easy to raise.
Then the foxes suddenly realized that this two-legged beast seemed to prefer petting the little foxes over the big ones.
There was nothing more to say about that.
A two-legged beast willing to help raise the young?
Those with kits brought their own over to beg for food; those without dragged someone else's kits over.
The old uncle had already seen foxes fighting each other more than once.
He didn't understand it, but he was greatly shocked. All he could do was clean up the little foxes' hygiene issues and then give them a good petting.
Then this cat actually lined up with the fox kits, waiting its turn to be petted?
Well… how could he possibly pass that up?
After the bath, blow-dry, smooth the fur, gently knead the paw pads…
He used the fox-petting techniques he had summarized on the cat.
The effect was excellent—just looking at how the cat comfortably exposed its belly showed how satisfied it was.
It seemed his fox-petting skills
But this cat's coloring…
And the feeling the wind gave him…
It felt somewhat different, very similar to the tanuki playing and tussling with the foxes nearby.
In the end, the old uncle reached a conclusion.
"Starting today, your name is Kirara. From now on, you'll be our family's cat."
That's what the old uncle said.
The cat seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to.
In the end, it rolled over and turned its butt toward the old uncle.
The old uncle didn't comment much on it—as long as the cat knew to come to him, that was enough.
Soon after, the cat—who had not yet transformed into human form—was pushed aside by a newly arrived fox kit.
You've had your turn—it's mine now!
The old uncle smiled as he lifted Kirara and placed her beside him.
Then he began a new round of fox-petting experiments…
The sensitive areas on fox kits when they're young are quite different from those on adult foxes…
Sample variation…
The old uncle picked up his pen and recorded his observations.