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An older man whittles a small piece of wood with a knife while a fluffy tuxedo cat sits among wood shavings beside him. 3 / 37

Grandpa Sat Down to Whittle on the Porch. Domino Found the Best Seat in the Mess.

AI imagetuxedo catgrandparentsporch

Curls of pale wood drift down onto the porch floor, piling up around a pair of muddy rubber boots and a bucket of odds and ends. Grandpa sits hunched over his work, knife in one hand and a small block of wood in the other, concentrating hard enough that his mustache seems to frown along with him. Down at his feet, Domino has settled right into the mess, a fluffy black-and-white heap with big green eyes, watching each shaving tumble past as if it might be worth a pounce.

Falling shavings, flicking hands, and small rustling sounds are practically designed to catch a cat's attention. Cats are wired to notice small moving objects, and that instinct doesn't switch off just because the "prey" is a sliver of pine. If you do crafts or woodwork with a cat nearby, keep sharp tools, finishes, glues, and stains well out of reach, and sweep up small bits that could be chewed or swallowed. Some wood finishes and solvents can be irritating or harmful, so it's best to keep curious paws and noses away from wet projects. A cat that wants to be close can be given a blanket or bed just outside the work area.

Domino doesn't look worried about any of that. To a cat, a porch full of sawdust and a person who sits still for an hour is simply a good afternoon.

Whatever Grandpa is carving, it already has one devoted fan.

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