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An elderly man in plaid washes a dark car with a hose while a cream Exotic Shorthair stands up and swats at the spray. 5 / 29

Earl Just Wanted to Wash the Old Car. Custard Wanted to Fight the Hose.

AI imageexotic shorthaircar washplayful cat

The old sedan is dripping, the driveway is soaked, and Earl has the hose aimed carefully at the door panel. Custard, it turns out, has other plans. The cream Exotic Shorthair has reared up on her back legs, one paw raised mid-swat, batting at the sparkling arc of water as if it personally insulted her. Her wide copper eyes are locked on the spray, droplets flying off her whiskers. Earl watches her with the patient, slightly bemused look of a man who knows the car is going to take twice as long today.

It surprises many people, but plenty of cats are fascinated by moving water even if they hate being bathed. A running stream, a dripping faucet, or a hose spray moves fast, sparkles, and makes noise, all of which can trigger a cat's natural hunting instincts. Some cats also prefer drinking from running water, which is why pet water fountains are popular. If your cat enjoys playing near water, keep the pressure low, avoid spraying her directly, and keep car soap and other cleaning products away from paws and fur, since cats groom themselves and can swallow residue. A towel nearby is a good idea too, because dense coats like Custard's stay damp for a long while.

The car will get clean eventually. Until then, Earl has the best supervisor on the block, even if she keeps trying to catch the water.

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A white-haired grandpa reads aloud from a paperback book to a cream Exotic Shorthair cat sitting beside him on the couch.Earl Started Reading His Old Paperback Out Loud. One Listener Showed Up.A grandpa with glasses on his head sips lemonade on a wooden deck while a cream Exotic Shorthair sits in front of him.Earl Poured a Cold Lemonade on the Deck. Custard Gave Him That Look.
An elderly man in a red plaid shirt whittles wood on a porch as shavings fall near a cream Exotic Shorthair.Earl Sat Down to Whittle on the Porch. The Wood Shavings Got an Audience.A grandpa in glasses and a red plaid shirt sews a blue patchwork quilt while a cream Exotic Shorthair sleeps on the fabric.Earl Was Halfway Through Stitching the Blue Quilt When Custard Moved InA smiling grandpa in red plaid sits on a truck tailgate beside a cream Exotic Shorthair at the edge of a field.Earl Dropped the Tailgate to Rest by the Field. Custard Hopped Right Up.An elderly man in a red plaid shirt naps in a beige recliner while a cream Exotic Shorthair sits alert on the armrest.Earl Nodded Off in His Recliner. Custard Took the Night Shift on the Armrest.