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An elderly Black woman in glasses sits wrapped in a cream quilt beside a fireplace with a black cat resting on her lap. 28 / 36

It Was Freezing Outside. Grandma Odessa and Licorice Found the Warmest Spot in the House.

AI imageblack catfireplacewinter

Winter is doing its worst outside, but in here the fire has things under control. Grandma Odessa sits wrapped from shoulders to knees in a thick cream-and-tan quilt, glasses on and a soft smile on her face. Licorice has nestled into the quilt's folds on her lap, front paws resting neatly on the stitched patchwork, one golden eye turned toward the dancing flames. Logs crackle and glow in the stone fireplace at her side, a potted plant sits on the hearth, a basket of yarn waits in the corner, and warm light pours through the window behind them.

Cats adore heat, and a fireplace can draw them like a magnet. Because cats are comfortable at warmer temperatures than people, they may sit closer to a fire than seems wise, and a stray spark or a swish of a tail too near the flames can lead to burns. A sturdy fireplace screen is the best safeguard, along with never leaving a fire unattended with pets in the room. Keep fire tools, matches, and lighter fluid out of reach, and make sure ashes are completely cool before disposal. Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors protect everyone in the household, furry or not.

From the look of things, Licorice has found the perfect compromise: warm quilt, close to the fire, and closer still to Odessa. On a cold night, that's about as good as it gets for both of them.

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