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An elderly Black grandma with short silver hair smiles beside a fluffy orange longhair cat on a weathered beach boardwalk. 1 / 30

Grandma Odessa Brought Her Cat to the Beach. Marmalade Has Thoughts.

AI imageorange catbeachgrandma

The weathered boardwalk runs right up to the dunes, with a blue railing, coils of rope, and a glimpse of gray-blue ocean beyond. Grandma Odessa sits on the sun-bleached planks in an olive shirt, her short silver hair catching the breeze and her sunglasses pushed up on her head. A beach towel, a water bottle, and a pair of flip-flops lie scattered nearby. Stretched out right in front of her, looking like a small, very fluffy lion, is Marmalade. His long orange coat is ruffled every which way by the sea wind, and his golden eyes are narrowed in an expression of supreme, slightly grumpy dignity as Odessa smiles down and strokes his back.

Cats are not the most common beach companions, but some confident, well-adjusted cats do enjoy outdoor adventures with their people. If you try it, safety comes first. A well-fitted harness and leash are essential, since a startled cat can bolt surprisingly fast. Sand and boards can get very hot, so stick to cooler times of day, and bring fresh water and a shady retreat. Long-haired cats like this one can pick up sand, salt, and burrs in their coats, so a gentle brushing afterward helps prevent tangles. And of course, many cats are happiest at home, so let your cat's comfort guide you.

Marmalade does not look entirely sure about the wind, but he is not going anywhere. He has Odessa's hand on his back, a front-row view of the dunes, and the quiet assurance that the whole boardwalk is, for the moment, his kingdom.

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