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Elderly Black man cooking pancakes in a skillet on a gas stove while a Bengal cat sits on the counter watching closely. 8 / 27

Grandpa Was Flipping Pancakes. Jasper Never Took His Eyes Off the Pan.

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Two golden pancakes sizzle in a steel skillet on the gas stove, and Grandpa, in a brown cable-knit cardigan and glasses, is lifting one edge with a spatula to check its color. The kitchen behind him is bright and homey, with shelves of jars, plants on the windowsill, and a wooden spoon jar on the counter. Sitting tall on the countertop beside the stove, perfectly still and politely waiting, is Jasper the Bengal. His ears are pricked forward, his whiskers are fanned, and his eyes never leave that pan.

Bengals are clever and very food-motivated, which can make them excellent at learning tricks and routines, and also excellent at finding ways onto kitchen counters. Teaching a cat where it is allowed to be while you cook is worth the effort. A tall cat tree or a stool placed a safe distance from the stove gives them a good view without the risk of burns from hot burners, pans, or splattering oil. Plain pancakes are not toxic, but butter, syrup, and sweet toppings are not good for cats. Feeding your Bengal its own breakfast before you start cooking can make it less likely to hover around your plate.

Every cook appreciates an audience, and Jasper is the most devoted fan in town. He may not get a bite, but he will surely get a scratch behind the ears once breakfast is served.

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