No one ever really knows what cats get up to when no one is looking, but after stumbling upon a group of strays in the city, photographer Nyankichi Rojiupa decided to stick around and watch.
Nyankichi Rojiupa doesn't have any cats of his own, but the Japanese photographer is fascinated by them. In fact, cats are all you will see when you visit his Instagram page.
Whether they are running, jumping or just laying around, Rojiupa captures the hidden lives of the enigmatic creatures.
So when he happened upon a group of strays who had turned a drainpipe-covered street into their secret playground, Rojiupa naturally broke out his camera.
What came next was almost too adorable for words.
The cats had taken to diving in and out of the drain holes all along the city block. Once they dove in, their favorite game was poking their heads out and having a look around.
"I casually stumbled upon these strays and now spend all of my weekends with them." Rojiupa said in an interview with Bored Panda.
What started as a chance encounter turned into a series of beautiful and hypnotizing shots, and Rojiupa isn't the only one who can't get enough of the storm drain cats.
As the series grew, so did Rojiupa's following on Instagram.
He now boasts over 100 thousand followers and it's not hard to see why.
When they aren't poking their heads out, Rojiupa often catches the cats as they are diving in.
The angle may not be as flattering but somehow it's no less adorable.
After spending so much time with them, Rojiupa is now just one of the pack:
"I've managed to earn their trust to the point where they allow me to play together."
Now when he takes his pictures, Rojiupa often finds himself in the middle of the action.
Although fans love the pictures, many have expressed concern that all the attention might draw people looking to harm the cats, but Rojiupa says not to worry, reassuring Bored Panda that "the cats live on private, protected property."
So feel free to follow and enjoy; your Instagram feed will thank you.
@GregAbbott_TX/X
