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A silver-haired grandma sprinkles seed into a pond full of ducks while a white cat sits beside her on the bank. 10 / 34

Dottie Fed the Ducks. Pearl Showed the Most Self-Control a Cat Ever Has.

AI imagewhite catduck pondfeeding ducks

The pond is a gathering place this morning. A handsome green-headed mallard and several brown ducks paddle up close, their ripples spreading across the murky water. Dottie leans over the bank in her cable-knit cardigan, glasses on, sprinkling a trickle of seed from her fingers with a gentle smile. Pearl sits beside her on the grassy edge, white fur bright against the dark leaves, ears forward and eyes narrowed, staring at the ducks with an intensity that suggests she's showing a great deal of self-control.

If you like feeding ducks, the menu matters. Bread is a classic choice, but it offers waterfowl little nutrition and leftovers can pollute the water. Cracked corn, rolled oats, birdseed, and chopped greens are better options, offered in modest amounts. Bringing a cat near wildlife deserves some thought, too. Even a calm cat has strong hunting instincts, and ducks can be stressed by a predator nearby. A harness and leash keep a cat from lunging or tumbling into the water. Many cats get plenty of enrichment simply from watching birds through a window at home.

Pearl is behaving herself beautifully, at least for now. The ducks get their breakfast, Dottie gets her peaceful pond, and Pearl gets the show of a lifetime, front-row seat included, with nothing but a few ripples between her and the most fascinating birds she has ever seen.

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