Browse ›
An elderly woman sprays a dark car with a garden hose in a driveway while a calico cat leaps at the splashing water. 12 / 21

Abuela Rosa Just Wanted to Wash the Car. Her Calico Had Other Ideas About the Hose.

AI imagecalico catcar washwater play

The car is getting a bath, and Canela has decided it is a game. Abuela Rosa, sleeves pushed up and glasses on, leans over the fender of an old dark sedan with a sponge in one hand and the hose in the other, sending a fan of spray across the wet driveway. Right in the middle of the splash zone, the calico is caught mid-pounce, one paw raised and eyes fixed on the arc of water as if it might escape. The porch light glows against the stucco wall, and potted herbs and a blue bucket sit off to the side.

It surprises many people, but not every cat hates water. Some cats are fascinated by moving water, batting at dripping faucets, splashing in bowls, or chasing a hose stream like this one. Moving water catches their eye the same way a darting toy does, and playing with it on their own terms is very different from being dunked in a tub. If your cat enjoys this kind of play, keep it gentle: a soft trickle rather than a hard blast, never spray them directly in the face, and let them walk away whenever they want. A towel nearby is a smart idea, especially for long-haired cats, since a damp coat can leave them chilly once the fun ends. Pet water fountains are a popular way to channel that interest indoors and may encourage some cats to drink more.

The car may end up only half clean. But nobody in this driveway seems to mind, least of all the soaking wet calico.

More from this collection

All 21 →
An elderly woman kneels in a garden planting tomato seedlings with a trowel while a calico cat digs in the soil beside her.Abuela Rosa Planted Tomatoes All Morning. Her Calico Was Busy With a Project Too.An elderly woman knits with gray yarn while a calico cat sits on her lap, tangled in loose strands of the yarn.Abuela Rosa Was Halfway Through a Scarf When Her Calico Found the Yarn
An elderly woman in a cardigan and floral apron sits on a boardwalk bench by the beach with a fluffy calico cat on her lap.Abuela Rosa Sat Down to Watch the Waves. Someone Else Got the Best View.An elderly woman pours water from a metal watering can onto pink flowers while a calico cat watches the stream closely.Abuela Rosa Watered the Petunias. Her Calico Wanted a Closer Look at the Spout.An elderly woman in a denim shirt and floral apron sits on a blue pickup tailgate petting a calico cat near a field.The Field Work Was Done, and the Truck Tailgate Became Something Else EntirelyAn elderly woman in a floral apron brushes a calico cat lying on concrete back steps outside a house.Canela Sprawled Across the Back Step and Waited. Abuela Rosa Knew Exactly Why.