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An older man in overalls flips a golden pancake in a skillet as a spotted Bengal cat sits on the counter watching. 19 / 37

Pancake Morning at Hank's House, and Ziggy Is on His Very Best Behavior

AI imagebengal catpancakeskitchen

Sunlight spills through the kitchen window, catching the steam rising off the stove. Hank stands over a black skillet with a spatula, mid-flip, a golden pancake lifted just above its twin in the pan. He's smiling to himself, the kind of grin that comes from getting the timing exactly right. On the counter nearby, beside a dish towel, a bowl of lemons, and a roll of paper towels, Ziggy sits very upright with his paws together, eyes fixed on the pan, the picture of patient good manners.

As polite as Ziggy looks, cats and stovetops are a risky mix. A curious cat can step onto a hot burner, knock over a pan, or brush a tail against a flame in the blink of an eye. Some households train cats to stay off counters by offering an appealing alternative perch nearby, like a tall cat tree or windowsill, and rewarding them for using it. Others never cook with a cat on the counter at all. Either way, turning pot handles inward and never leaving a hot stove unattended keeps everyone safer. And while a tiny bite of plain pancake isn't toxic, syrup and butter aren't good for cats.

Ziggy probably knows he won't get a pancake of his own. But a cat can dream, and with a breakfast that smells this good, dreaming is half the fun.

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