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An elderly Hispanic woman in a floral apron whittles wood on a porch bench as a fluffy orange cat sits among the shavings. 3 / 33

Abuela Carmen Was Whittling Quietly on the Porch. Mango Had Thoughts About It.

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Little curls of pale wood are piling up in Abuela Carmen's lap and spilling onto the porch boards. She sits on a weathered bench in a denim shirt and her floral apron, glasses perched on her nose, carving slowly and carefully with a small knife. At her feet sits Mango, a big orange longhair with a dramatic ruff, surrounded by the falling shavings. He gazes up at the camera with a serious, slightly unimpressed expression, as if he's been asked to supervise and takes the job seriously. A basket of folded clothes and gloves, a green watering can, potted plants, and garden tools lean against the blue siding.

Long-haired cats like Mango have gorgeous coats, but those coats are magnets for debris, from wood shavings to burrs and seeds. Daily or near-daily combing is often recommended to keep long fur free of tangles and mats, with special attention to the armpits, belly, behind the ears, and the fluffy back legs. A wide-toothed comb followed by a finer one works well. Mats left too long can pull on the skin and become painful, and they often need careful trimming by a groomer or vet. Combing also cuts down on hairballs, which tend to be more common in long-haired cats.

Mango doesn't look bothered by a few wood curls in his fur, and Carmen seems glad to have him nearby. Whatever she's carving, it's coming along slowly, and that's exactly how a peaceful afternoon on the porch should go.

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