As long as there’s oxygen in the air,Pokemonfans will argue whether Eevee and its evolutions are cats or dogs. I’m here to settle the argument. I’m sick of seeing incorrect takes touted as facts - if you think they’re dogs, you’re wrong, and I’m going to prove it.
Looking across the games, anime, and all Pokemon media, there’s plenty of evidence that leans towardsthe Eeveelutions being more felinethan canine. They’re also influenced by other animals, like foxes, andmythical creatures, but the cat inspiration is undeniable. Here’s my purrfect defence.
8They Have Cat-Like Agility
If you’ve seen how Eevee and the Eeveelutions move about in the Pokemon anime, you’ll know what I mean. They’re swift, agile, and elegant. All traits commonly associated with cats, not dogs. When was the last time you saw a dog carefully take every step, instead of clumsily bounding to its next destination?
I’m not ragging on dogs here. They’re cute. But the way cats and dogs move is completely different.
Just going by how the Eeveelutions are portrayed in their movements alone, you have to give a point to the cat side. While they’re not all known for their speed in terms of stats, they still have an agile-ness about them that’s just not seen in dogs.
7Eevee Has A Feline Mane
Can you think of a dog-like animal that has a mane like Eevee? No? I thought so. While Eevee isthe first evolutionand purely there to look cute, you can’t deny the mane is evocative of a lion - you know, a big cat.
The original three evolutions, Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon, all keep this mane when they evolve, too, so it was clearly an important part of the design when they were originally created. It’s too similar to not be a coincidence, in my opinion.
6Eevee, Jolteon, And Vaporeon Literally Have The :3 Mouth
Okay, noteveryEeveelution has a mouth shaped like the ‘:3’ emoticon, but you have to admit that three of them having it is more than a coincidence. It’s a purposeful choice. It directly signals to you that this is a feline creature (and a very cute one at that).
Lots of fanartists drawallthe Eeveelutions with the ‘:3’ mouth, but I’m going with official interpretations here.
There’s not much more I can say about the ‘:3’ mouth. They have it. Decide for yourself whether you take that as a cat proof.
5You Have To Earn Eevee’s Affection For It To Evolve (Sometimes)
Unlike dogs, cats often need a bit of time to get to know you before they open up and start being affectionate. You know what that sounds like? A certain evolution method required to get Espeon, Umbreon, and Sylveon.
Before Eevee will evolve into Espeon or Umbreon, you need to max out your friendship with it first, and to get Sylveon, you need to increase its affection for you. Most dogs don’t need you to go through that much trouble before they start loving on you, so that’s a lot of points for Eevee being feline.
4Sylveon Is Basically A Fancy Sphynx
Go and have a look at a pink/white sphynx cat. Now have a look at Sylveon. See the resemblance? Of course you do. Sylveon is a glorified sphynx cat who happens to have ribbons and patches of fur on its ears and head.
If you dressed up a sphynx cat to look like Sylveon, it would look almost exactly the same. Now I want to see a sphynx cat dressed like Sylveon… Any sphynx cat owners out there willing to do me a solid?
3Umbreon Is Black Cat Energy, Manifested
As the owner of a black cat, I feel more than qualified to say that Umbreon has the air of a black cat. Mysterious. Regal. Adorable. A creature of the night. I wouldn’t be surprised to find my own black cat looking up to the moon on a clear night, worshipping it as a powerful presence.
Does Umbreon resemble a black dog? No. Literally not in the slightest. I challenge you to find me a black dog that looks like Umbreon. Go on, dog Eeveelution truthers. Oh, you may’t? That’s what I thought.
I’ve also seenlotsof people name their black cats Umbreon.
2They Act Like Cats
Alongside being agile and elegant, I’ve also seen the Eeveelutions act very feline-like in the games and in the anime. Take a look at the images used for Leafeon and Jolteon in the Scarlet & Violet Pokedex. Leafeon is licking its paw, like a cat cleaning itself, and Jolteon is doing a classic cat stretch.
The behaviour is similar in the anime, too. In an episode where Pikachu gets to meet all the Eeveelutions, they sit prim and proper on their back legs, exactly how cats sit. Checkmate, dog truthers.
1Pokemon Fans Already Have Trouble Identifying Cats And Dogs…
‘Legendary Dogs’? Sorry? Entei, Raikou, and Suicune are another victim of the ‘dog Pokemon’ agenda. While (incorrect) fans may dub them the Legendary ‘Dogs’, they’re officially called the Legendary Beasts. No mention of dogs here.
In fact, Entei is based on a lion and Raikou is based on a sabre-toothed tiger. Suicune is more debated, but the general consensus is that it’s based on a leopard. If Pokemon fans can’t see that these guys are big cats, how can we believe them when they say the Eeveelutions are also dogs? You can’t.
