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A grandpa in glasses flips a golden pancake in a cast iron pan while a cream Exotic Shorthair sits on the counter watching. 20 / 29

Earl Went for the Big Pancake Flip. Someone on the Counter Held Her Breath.

AI imageexotic shorthairpancake breakfastkitchen

A golden pancake hangs in midair on the end of Earl's spatula, steam rising off it, while a second one sizzles in the cast iron skillet below. He is concentrating hard behind his glasses, determined to land the flip. Custard sits on the counter just beyond the stove, front paws together, gazing up at the pancake with the patient, hopeful expression of a cat who has been told to wait and is technically obeying. The kitchen is busy and warm, with a loaf of bread, a bowl of onions, a dish towel, and a crock of wooden spoons crowding the butcher-block counter.

A cat near a hot stove is a real safety concern. Burners, hot pans, and spattering oil can cause painful burns, and a cat that jumps onto the stovetop while it is warm may not realize the danger. It helps to train cats to stay off counters during cooking, offer a nearby perch like a stool or windowsill, and turn pan handles inward. Some cooks use stove covers when burners are cooling. As for pancakes, they are not toxic in small amounts, but they offer no real nutrition for cats, and butter and syrup are best skipped. A cat-safe treat is a better way to reward good manners in the kitchen.

Custard's patience is admirable, and it may well be rewarded with a little something from her own treat jar. Breakfast just tastes better with an audience.

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