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An older woman in a floral apron scatters corn for brown hens in a dirt yard while a grey Sphynx cat walks beside her. 12 / 39

The Hens Came Running When Rosa Scattered the Corn. So Did Someone Unexpected.

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Golden corn kernels trickle from Abuela Rosa's hand, and the brown hens come running, pecking eagerly at the scattered feed. Rosa crouches low in her pink-flowered apron, glasses on, focused on making sure everyone gets a share. Right in the middle of the flock, completely unbothered, walks Chispa. The grey Sphynx steps carefully over the dirt, ears forward, eyes alert, looking much more like a tiny supervisor than a predator. Laundry flutters on a line behind the wooden fence, and pots of succulents and a blue bucket sit near the back door of the little house.

It may surprise people, but cats and backyard chickens can often coexist peacefully, especially when the cat is calm and the hens are full-grown. Adult chickens are fairly large and can stand up for themselves, while young chicks are much more vulnerable and should be kept safely apart. Supervision is key at first. Chicken areas also bring a few hygiene concerns: poultry can carry bacteria such as salmonella, so washing hands after handling feed and birds is a good habit, and keeping a cat's paws clean helps too. For a hairless cat, limiting time in direct sun and dirt keeps their skin happier.

The hens don't seem to mind their grey visitor in the slightest. On Rosa's little homestead, everyone apparently gets along just fine at breakfast time.

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An older woman in a floral apron holds up a small yellow ball as a grey Sphynx cat jumps up on its hind legs to reach it.Abuela Rosa Held Up the Little Yellow Ball. Chispa Didn't Just Look at It.An older woman in a floral apron eats breakfast on a patio, scratching the chin of a grey Sphynx cat sitting at the table.Eggs, Avocado, Warm Tortillas. Chispa Wanted Something Else From the Breakfast Table.
An older woman in a floral apron grips the wheel of an old pickup truck while a grey Sphynx cat sits on the passenger seat.Abuela Rosa Fired Up the Old Pickup. Her Copilot Was Already in the Passenger Seat.An older woman in glasses and a floral apron has tea at a lace-covered table as a grey Sphynx cat sniffs a plate of cookies.Abuela Rosa Brought Out the Good Teacups. Her Guest Arrived Without an Invitation.An older woman in a floral apron rakes autumn leaves on a walkway as a grey Sphynx cat bounds through the leaves toward her.Rosa Grabbed the Rake to Clear the Walkway. Chispa Saw a Playground.An older woman in a floral apron reads a book aloud on a couch while a grey Sphynx cat sits beside her, listening.Abuela Rosa Started Reading Aloud on the Couch. One Listener Took It Very Seriously.