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An elderly Black woman in glasses bathes a soapy black cat sitting in a galvanized metal tub in a backyard. 34 / 36

Grandma Odessa Filled the Old Washtub With Bubbles. Licorice Was Not Consulted.

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Licorice did not sign up for this. He sits in the middle of an old galvanized washtub, soap bubbles floating all around him, his black fur slicked down in wet spikes and his golden eyes glaring straight ahead with deep, wounded dignity. Grandma Odessa leans over the rim in a gray tee, glasses low on her nose, gently scooping water over his back with a calm, practiced hand and the faintest smile. The backyard behind them is green and a little overgrown, with potted plants by the blue siding, a wooden fence, and a blanket hung out to dry.

Most cats rarely need a full bath, since they do an impressive job of grooming themselves. Baths make sense for things like getting into something sticky or smelly, or when a vet recommends it for a skin issue. If you do bathe a cat, use lukewarm water, a shampoo made for cats, since some human and dog products can irritate or even harm them, and keep water away from the eyes and ears. Have a towel ready and work calmly and quickly. Afterward, a warm room helps them dry. If your cat becomes very distressed, stop and ask your vet or a groomer for help.

Licorice will no doubt spend the rest of the afternoon re-grooming every hair and pretending this never happened. Odessa, meanwhile, will have a very clean cat and a good story. Some relationships survive anything, even bath day.

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An elderly Black woman with short silver curls in a green cardigan holds a black cat on a covered porch as rain falls.The Storm Rolled In. Licorice Knew Exactly Where He Was Going.A smiling elderly Black woman rakes autumn leaves as a black cat bounds through the pile toward the camera.Grandma Odessa Finally Finished Raking the Leaves. Then Licorice Saw the Pile.An elderly Black woman in a denim shirt hammers a weathered fence while a black cat sits nearby holding a stick in its mouth.Grandma Was Fixing the Fence Alone. Licorice Showed Up With Supplies.An elderly Black woman in glasses and a gray hoodie holds out a small treat to a black cat on a grassy backyard lawn.The Tennis Ball Was Right There. Licorice Was Only Interested in One Thing.