Giving zoo animals pumpkins is a beloved Halloween tradition, though no one truly knows how it will turn out. Some animals can’t get enough of pumpkins, while others have nothing to do with them. But that’s part of the fun!

Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas decided to get in on the autumnal fun on October 18, and Juno the Snow Leopard had some big feelings about it. Still, it’s hard to tell whether those feelings are positive or negative! Her leaps and rolls look like the ultimate feline parkour, and her love-hate relationship with the gourds has left over 5 million people smiling from ear to ear.

She acts just like a kitten! I could watch her pounce on the pumpkin all day, and I laughed out loud when she spooked. New things can be shocking to zoo animals like Juno, after all, but I’m glad to see her curiosity won in the end.

“I love how big cats still play like house cats,” agreed commenter @karin_d2. It’s the sweetest thing! Not only does it show just how closely related wild cats and domestic cats are, but it also fools cat lovers like me.

Related: Snow Leopard Has the Most Hilarious Reaction When Zookeepers Put a Pumpkin in His Enclosure

Viewers flooded @honestlymelissa’s comment with love after she wrote, “I understand that she comes equipped with murder mittens. I just think it’d be worth an effort to snuggle, though.”

I like that logic! @Nicholas_382 was also on the right track when he said, “I just feel like she wouldn’t maul me personally.” Juno can be a very polite and cuddly snow leopard when she wants to be, and her caretakers do a wonderful job of capturing her on video during her best moments.

Snow Leopards at the Zoo

In all seriousness, please don’t interact with zoo animals like adorable snow leopards without a zookeeper’s permission and supervision. They are in enclosures for a reason!

Snow leopards who are unable to survive in the wild are excellent candidates for zoo residents, just like Juno. They’ll be waited on hand and food to ensure they’re in the best health and mindset possible, though they’ll also be given lots of enrichment activities to help them stay in touch with their wild feline instincts.

Snow leopards are some of the smallest of the wild cats, with some females weighing only 60 pounds when fully grown. These cats also don’t roar like other big felines, but they do purr and grunt. Their quiet nature helps make them one of the most elusive wild cats, too!

But then there’s Juno. There’s nothing elusive about her, especially when she’s pouncing on a Halloween pumpkin!

🐶SIGN UP to get “pawsitivity” delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends🐾🐾

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.