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An older couple in pale yellow sweaters sips lemonade with lemon slices on a porch while a grey cat sits up close. 21 / 37

Two Tall Glasses of Lemonade on the Porch. Misha Wanted to Know Where Hers Was.

AI imagerussian bluesummerporch

Ice clinks, lemon slices float, and the porch is blissfully shaded. Frank and Dot have traded their usual cream knits for soft buttery-yellow sweaters, and both are mid-sip from tall glasses of homemade lemonade, eyes closed in contentment on Frank's side and bright with amusement on Dot's. Leafy trees fill the background, potted plants line the railing, and the afternoon looks warm and lazy. Misha sits right up against Frank's lap, her blue-grey coat soft in the dappled light, gazing sideways with her green eyes as if waiting politely for someone to notice she's thirsty too.

Warm days call for extra attention to a pet's hydration. Cats evolved from desert-dwelling ancestors and often don't drink as eagerly as dogs, so it helps to make water as appealing as possible. Keep several fresh bowls around the house and on any porch where your cat spends time, choose wide, shallow dishes so whiskers don't brush the sides, and refresh the water often. Some cats prefer running water and enjoy a pet fountain. Wet food also contributes moisture to the diet. Skip sharing the lemonade, though. Citrus fruits and peels can upset a cat's stomach, and the sugar does her no favors. On hot afternoons, make sure she has shade and a cool spot to rest. Signs of overheating such as panting, drooling, or lethargy are a reason to move her somewhere cool and call your vet promptly.

Frank and Dot have their lemonade, and Misha has her shady spot right beside them. It's the kind of afternoon that could happily stretch on for hours.

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