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A calico cat with snow-dusted paws plays in a snowbank while an older man in a cardigan and knit cap shovels behind her. 1 / 39

Grandpa Otis Was Shoveling the Walk. Clementine Found a Better Job.

AI imagecalico catwintersnow day

Fresh snow has buried the front walk, and Grandpa Otis is out early in his brown cable-knit cardigan, knit cap pulled low, pushing a shovel through the drifts. He has made decent progress toward the porch steps, where stacked firewood and a pair of boots wait under a soft white blanket. Clementine, his calico, has decided the cleared path is far less interesting than the big untouched bank in the front yard. She is crouched low with both front paws buried, a little pile of snow balanced on one white foot, her amber eyes wide with the serious focus of a cat who has found something important to do.

Many cats are curious about snow but have mixed feelings about it, and short supervised visits like this one are the best way to let them explore. Cold paws and wet fur can chill a cat quickly, so it helps to keep outdoor play brief and towel her off once she comes inside. Ice-melt products on sidewalks and driveways can irritate paw pads and upset a cat's stomach if she licks her feet, so wiping paws after walks is a smart habit. Pet-safe ice melt is widely available, and a warm, dry spot near the door gives an adventurous cat a place to recover. If a cat seems sluggish, shivers for a long time, or limps after being out in the cold, talk to your vet.

Otis will finish the walk eventually, and Clementine will probably supervise the last few feet from the porch rail. For now, the shoveling can wait a minute while she takes her very first, very official inspection of the season's snow.

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An older man in a cardigan and glasses plants a tomato seedling while a calico cat digs a hole in the soil beside him.Otis Was Planting Tomatoes. Clementine Started a Project of Her Own.An older man in glasses and a cardigan sorts black-and-white photos on a table while a calico cat sniffs at them.Otis Opened the Old Photo Box. Clementine Moved In for a Closer Look.
A smiling older man in glasses and a mustard cardigan holds a calico cat on his lap beside a turntable.Otis Put on a Record and Sat Down. Clementine Had Been Waiting for That.An older man in glasses reads a folded letter while a calico cat sleeps with her head on his knee beside a mug.Otis Read an Old Letter Slowly. Clementine Stayed Right by His Knee.An older man in a green cardigan sits on weathered porch steps holding a calico cat securely in his arms.Otis Picked Clementine Up Halfway Up the Porch StepsA calico cat rests her chin on a wooden table beside a checkerboard while an older man in a cardigan makes a move behind her.Otis Was Deep in a Game of Checkers. Clementine Picked Her Seat.