Browse ›
A fluffy cream flat-faced kitten sits on straw beside a small hay bale maze decorated with mini pumpkins and gourds. 3 / 23

The Backyard Hay Maze Was Ready for Halloween. Then a Gatekeeper Showed Up.

AI imagehalloweenexotic shorthairhay maze

Hay bales have been stacked into a little backyard maze, the kind built for small children on Halloween afternoon, and its entrance now has an unexpected gatekeeper. A round, fluffy cream kitten sits beside the opening on a carpet of loose straw, her flat face and small ears giving her a perpetually serious expression. Mini pumpkins, a grinning jack-o'-lantern, white gourds, and dried corn husks line the path, while fake spiderwebs and a plastic spider hang by the porch steps behind her.

That sweet, pushed-in face and plush coat are hallmarks of the Exotic Shorthair, a breed often described as a short-haired version of the Persian. Exotics are generally known for being calm, affectionate, and easygoing, often content to lounge near their people. Their flat faces do mean some extra care, though. Many need their eyes gently wiped to manage tear staining, and like other flat-faced breeds, they can be more sensitive to heat and may have more trouble breathing during strenuous activity. Regular vet checkups help catch any eye, dental, or breathing concerns early. Their short, dense coat is easier to keep than a Persian's, but still benefits from brushing.

This kitten doesn't look ready to tackle the maze herself. She seems perfectly happy just keeping an eye on who goes in and who comes out.

Every Halloween maze needs a guardian. This one's fierce look is about as scary as a marshmallow.

More from this collection

All 23 →
A cream curly-coated kitten in a green dinosaur hoodie with soft spikes sits on a sidewalk at dusk near a lit porch.The Smallest Dinosaur in the Neighborhood Just Wandered Out to the Front WalkA black and white tuxedo kitten wearing a small black felt witch hat sits on a hay bale on a fall-decorated porch.A Tuxedo Kitten in a Floppy Witch Hat Seems to Be Remembering a Spell
A blue-gray kitten wrapped in a chunky orange knit blanket sits on a kitchen counter next to a whole pumpkin pie.A Fresh Pumpkin Pie Cooled on the Counter. Somebody Small Was Sitting Very Close.A cream flat-faced kitten wearing a fuzzy lion mane hood sits on a leaf-strewn lawn in a backyard at golden hour.The King of the Jungle Has Never Looked Quite This AnxiousA fluffy brown tabby kitten wearing a plush hot dog bun costume with a mustard stripe stands on a leafy front lawn.Of All the Costumes on the Block This Year, This One Might Be the Most DeliciousA black and white tuxedo kitten crouches and pounces on dry brown leaves next to orange pumpkins on a wooden porch.Crunch, Rustle, Pounce. A Tuxedo Kitten Discovered the Leaf Pile.