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An older man in a cream cardigan flips a pancake in a skillet on a gas stove while a grey cat sits on the counter watching. 14 / 40

Grandpa Flipped the Perfect Pancake. The Cat on the Counter Noticed Immediately.

AI imagerussian bluebreakfastkitchen safety

A perfectly golden pancake hangs mid-flip on the fork, and Grandpa looks thoroughly pleased with himself. He stands at the gas range in a cream cable-knit cardigan, skillet in hand, with a second pancake already browning in the pan. On the counter just beyond the burners, Sterling sits upright with his paws tucked together, watching the whole operation with polite, unblinking interest. A little dish of butter sits nearby, a lamp glows in the corner, and a jar of wooden spoons stands ready on the counter.

A cat on the kitchen counter near a hot stove is a combination worth managing carefully. Gas flames and hot pans can singe whiskers or burn curious paws in an instant, and a swishing tail can brush against a burner. Many owners train cats to wait on a nearby chair or a cat tree with a view of the kitchen instead, rewarding them with praise or a treat for staying put. Stove knob covers are another helpful safety step if your cat tends to jump up when no one is watching. As for pancakes, plain bits aren't toxic, but they're not good nutrition for cats, and butter and syrup can upset their stomachs.

Sterling seems to understand he's on his best behavior, at least for now. Breakfast tastes better with company. Even company that will only be satisfied by a cat treat and a warm sunny windowsill afterward.

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