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An elderly man in glasses flips a pancake in a skillet while a seal point Birman sits on the counter watching it rise. 32 / 32

A Pancake Flew Up and Mocha Never Looked Away

AI imagebirmanpancakeskitchen

A golden pancake hangs in the air above a black skillet, and Otis watches it with the focused, happy look of a man who has done this for decades. He wears a cable-knit cardigan and glasses, one hand on the pan handle, a spatula ready in the other. Mocha sits on the counter beside the stove with her face turned straight up toward the pancake, her brown ears pricked and her blue eyes round. A kettle, a jar of flour, a bowl of lemons, and a bundle of herbs sit in the background. Her white paws are tucked neatly at the edge, and she does not move a whisker.

Cats are drawn to the kitchen because it is warm, busy, and full of smells. For safety, it is best to keep them off the counter while the burners are on, since a hot pan or open flame can hurt a curious paw. A stool or shelf away from the stove gives her a view without the danger. Pancakes themselves are not a healthy treat for cats, and syrup, butter, and chocolate chips are best kept off her plate. If you want to share breakfast, offer a bit of her own cat food. Routine and calm voices also help a cat feel part of the morning.

Mocha holds her position the way only a very well-behaved cat can. When the pancakes are done, she will have earned something from her own bowl.

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