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A calico cat swats at a stream of water from a hose as an older man in a cardigan scrubs a blue car with a sponge. 19 / 39

Clementine Found the Hose While Otis Was Washing the Old Blue Car

AI imagecalico catcar washplayful cat

Soap suds slide down the side of an old blue car as Otis scrubs it with a yellow sponge, his cardigan sleeves bunched at the wrists. Down by his feet, Clementine has found the real attraction. A bright arc of water is spraying from the end of the hose, and she is standing up on her hind legs, front paws raised, ready to swat it. Her calico coat is flecked with droplets and her amber eyes are locked on the stream. Flower pots, a blue bucket, and a basket of rags crowd the driveway behind them, and the whole scene glitters with splashes.

Moving water triggers a cat's hunting instincts, which explains the swatting. A hose spray flickers and darts like prey, so a normally water-shy cat may suddenly try to catch it. That kind of play is usually harmless, though wet fur can chill a cat, so keep it short and dry her with a towel afterward. Car-washing products, soap, and wax can be harmful if licked, and puddles near a car can hold antifreeze or oil, which are dangerous to pets. Rinse the driveway when you finish, and keep any bottles capped and out of reach. If you think she has licked something toxic, call your vet or an animal poison hotline immediately.

Otis keeps scrubbing as the hose dances around, and every so often, he sneaks a glance down to see how the fight is going. Clementine is winning, at least in her own mind.

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An older man in a green cardigan reaches for an apple on a branch while a calico cat sniffs fallen apples in the grass.Otis Reached for the Best Apple on the Branch. Clementine Checked the Ground.An older man in a green cardigan holds a calico cat up to a frosty window as snow falls outside.Otis Held Clementine Up So She Could See the First Snow
An older man in a patterned cardigan dozes in a wooden rocking chair while a calico cat sleeps curled on the rug below.Otis Drifted Off in the Rocking Chair. Clementine Was Already Asleep.A smiling older man in a cream cardigan sits in a backyard beside a calico cat, with a yellow ball at the edge of the frame.Otis Got Down on the Grass for a Game of Fetch With ClementineAn older man in a green cardigan sleeps on a porch swing with a calico cat curled up asleep across his chest.Otis and Clementine Fell Asleep on the Porch Swing TogetherA smiling older man in a cream cardigan holds a bowl of popcorn while a calico cat reaches a paw toward it on the sofa.The Popcorn Bowl Was Ready for Movie Night. So Was Clementine's Paw.