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A smiling older man presses cookie dough balls on a floured baking tray while a white cat with flour on its cheek watches. 26 / 35

Grandpa Was Baking Cookies. The Flour on the Cat's Face Tells the Rest.

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Flour has drifted across every inch of the counter, and a tray of round cookie dough balls sits ready for the oven. Hank leans over it in a denim shirt and overalls, pressing each ball gently with his fingertips and smiling to himself. Beside the tray sits Cotton, chin tipped up and golden eyes wide, with a telltale smudge of white flour on her cheek and nose that proves she has already been investigating. An open bag of flour, a bowl of eggs, a mixing bowl, a stick of butter and a sunny window round out this happy, messy baking day.

Baking days are fun to share, but raw dough is one kitchen item to keep well away from pets. Uncooked dough can contain raw eggs, and any dough made with yeast can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol as it ferments, which is dangerous for cats and dogs. Many cookie recipes also include ingredients like chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts or the sweetener xylitol, all of which are commonly listed as toxic for pets. A light dusting of plain flour on fur is generally harmless and the cat will usually groom it off, though it is best not to let them eat it in quantity. Keeping pets off counters while you bake makes cleanup easier too. If your pet eats raw dough, talk to your vet promptly.

The cookies will be done soon, and Cotton has already earned an honorary apron for her floury supervision.

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