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A smiling bearded grandpa sits on a lake dock with his bare feet in the water while a white cat stands on the dry boards. 6 / 22

Earl Invited Pearl to Join Him in the Lake. Her Answer Was Written All Over Her Face.

AI imagewhite catlake docksummer

Shoes off, pant legs rolled up, and bare feet splashing in cool lake water: Earl is having a fine afternoon on the dock. He leans forward with a wide, crinkly smile, wearing an olive shirt and gray suspenders. Pearl, on the other hand, has made it very clear that she is staying on the dry wooden planks, thank you very much. She stands right at the front of the scene with her fluffy white coat, pink nose, and pale green eyes, looking straight ahead with the serious expression of a cat supervising something she does not approve of. Behind them, a little lakeside house sits among shrubs and tall reeds.

Most domestic cats really do dislike getting wet. One common explanation is that a soaked coat is heavy, slow to dry, and leaves a cat feeling cold and less nimble. Cats also spend a lot of time grooming to keep their fur in order, and water undoes all that work. A few breeds and individual cats enjoy splashing, but they are the exception. If your cat joins you near a dock or pool, keep a close eye on her. Cats can swim when they must, but slick edges are hard to climb back over, so never leave a pet unattended near deep water.

Earl gets the cool water, Pearl gets the warm boards, and both of them get the lake view. Sometimes a good compromise means everyone keeps their own feet exactly where they like them.

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