>>56957736I think the biggest reason is that Eevee itself looks very much like a fennec fox. Eevee's designer also mentioned being inspired by vague memories of a cat or dog-like creature, so you can't be wrong to imagine them as either or both.
If you ask me, their body proportions and supposed size and weight reminds me more of canines than felines. Mainly foxes, but some of them have features that reminds me of dogs too (Jolteon's snout and Sylveon's tail comes to mind)
