# @nationalparkservice on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CW6z7BVP9G4
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/21025674-nationalparkservice-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/54cb3d8515.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-11-30T23:45:48.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Park Service (@nationalparkservice) — https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice

## Caption

Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball fur…

Due to its cat-like size and appearance, the nickname ‘cat’ usually follows a Ringtail. But this nocturnal animal is not a cat. It’s actually a small-sized member of the raccoon family. (That tail does look familiar.) Their face is fox-like (almost clever-like) and body is elongated like a…raccoon. The main difference from their raccoon cousins is that raccoons have a black band around their eyes while Ringtail cats have lighter fur resembling spectacles. Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are shy creatures that  often rank high on the cuteness scale (non-scientific) because of their laidback and highly adaptive nature. (That describes most of us, right?) Fun fact. Young ringtail cats are commonly referred to as cubs. (Because why not?) 

Can a ringtail hurt me? Like anything in a park, yes, most likely, possibly, why test it? However, as mentioned earlier, ringtails are shy and timid creatures that tend to hide during the day and explore their adventurous side during the nights. Meow. Wait, that was a cat. What does a raccoon say? Or a cub? 

Image: A Ringtail curled up in a ball at @coronado_nps.

#ringtailcat #nature #nationalparkservice #feltcute #arizona

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 55,110
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- **Comments:** 220

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National Park Service | @nationalparkservice | https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice | Government Organization |

## Tags

nature, feltcute, arizona, nationalparkservice, ringtailcat

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