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A grandma with a silver braid sprinkles grain by a pond with ducks while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sits beside her. 18 / 26

A Cat, a Pond Full of Ducks, and One Handful of Grain. Ruth Held Her Breath.

AI imageabyssinian catduck pondfeeding ducks

The little pond is busy with ducks gliding across the dark water, a few paddling closer as they spot what Ruth is holding. She sits on the stone edge in her denim shirt, silver braid draped over one shoulder, sprinkling a handful of grain from her fingertips with a tender smile. A warm lamp glows above a doorway behind her, and potted plants line the path. Right beside her sits Saffron, perfectly composed, gazing up at Ruth's hand with big, steady eyes, making no move toward the ducks at all, at least for now.

If you enjoy feeding ducks, what you offer matters. Bread is a common choice, but it has little nutritional value for waterfowl and leftovers can foul the water. Better options include cracked corn, oats, birdseed, or chopped lettuce, offered in small amounts. Bringing a cat near wildlife calls for care in both directions. Ducks can be stressed by predators nearby, and a cat that lunges could end up in the water or chasing birds into danger. A harness and leash keep things under control, and many cats are happiest watching birds through a window instead.

Saffron, impressively, seems more interested in Ruth than in the ducks. It's a peaceful scene, and maybe the most polite pondside visit a cat has ever made, with not a single feather ruffled.

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