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A smiling elderly man washes a car with a hose while a gray Russian Blue cat paws at the spraying water. 3 / 24

Grandpa Only Wanted a Clean Car. Slate Wanted the Hose.

AI imagerussian bluecar washdriveway

Grandpa has a hose in one hand and a happy grin on his face, and the old sedan behind him is slowly getting clean. But the real action is down low, where Slate has one paw raised and another planted in the puddle, tracking the sparkling arc of water like it is the most interesting thing she has ever seen. Droplets fly off her whiskers and the concrete shines wet in the sunlight.

Grandpa's old car is parked behind them with water streaming down the door, and his sleeves are wet from the spray. Slate's paws reach out one after the other, testing the stream, then pulling back with a twitch. It is hard to say who is more entertained, the man holding the hose or the cat trying to catch it.

Plenty of cats find moving water fascinating even if they dislike baths. Water that splashes, drips, or trickles triggers the same hunting instincts that make them pounce on toys, which is why so many cats swat at faucets and bowls. A little paw-dabbing is harmless fun, but a few common-sense steps help. Keep cats clear of soapy buckets and car-cleaning products, since cleaners and chemicals on a driveway can be toxic if licked from paws or fur. Dry a damp cat with a soft towel, and keep her out of traffic or open driveways. If a cat seems to enjoy water play, a shallow dish of clean water on the patio is a safer stand-in.

The car will be shiny by lunchtime, and Slate will have enjoyed every drop of it.

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An elderly man holds a gray cat up to a window to look at snow covering a backyard.Slate Gets a Front-Row Seat to the First Snow of the YearA man in a vest and gloves shovels a driveway while a gray cat crouches in a deep snowbank.Grandpa Shoveled the Driveway While Slate Took Over the SnowbankA man sits on a wooden dock with bare feet over the water while a gray Russian Blue cat sits beside him.Barefoot at the End of the Dock With His Gray Best FriendAn elderly man brushes a gray cat with a pink brush on the back steps of a house.Slate Holds Perfectly Still for the Weekly Brushing