Browse ›
A long-haired calico cat lies on a wooden floor while four yellow baby chicks sleep on her white belly fur. 1 / 36

Four Sleepy Chicks Went Looking for the Softest Bed in the Farmhouse

AI imagecalico catbaby chicksunlikely friends

Four tiny yellow chicks have found the softest bed in the whole farmhouse, and it happens to be breathing. A long-haired calico cat stretches across a worn wooden floor, her orange, black, and white coat fanned out like a quilt, while the chicks sink into the snowy fur of her belly. Two have their eyes shut tight, one rests its beak on a tuft of fur, and another looks ready to doze off any second. The cat herself wears a calm, half-lidded expression, one white paw stretched out lazily, as if she agreed to this arrangement long ago. A woven mat and a pair of house slippers sit in the background, adding to the homey feel.

Calico is a color pattern, not a breed, and it shows up in many types of cats. Because the genes for orange and black coat color sit on the X chromosome, nearly all calicos are female, and male calicos are very rare. In real life, cats are natural predators, and even a gentle cat should never be left alone with chicks or other small birds. Baby chicks also need steady warmth from a brooder or a hen, so a cozy cuddle like this is best kept to the world of imagination. If you keep both cats and backyard poultry, supervised introductions, secure coops, and plenty of patience are the safest path.

Still, it is hard not to smile at the idea of a cat who decided that being a mattress was her true calling. Some days, the best thing anyone can offer is a warm, quiet place to rest.

More from this collection

All 36 →
A curly-coated grey Devon Rex cat sleeps on a striped woven rug outdoors, curled around three fluffy yellow chicks.The Devon Rex Fell Asleep After a Long Day in the Garden. He Woke Up With Company.A black and white tuxedo cat lies under an apple tree in a backyard with four yellow baby chicks gathered around its paws.A Tuxedo Cat Wanted Some Quiet Shade Under the Apple Tree. That Didn't Last.
A fluffy brown tabby Norwegian Forest Cat walks across a wildflower lawn at dusk followed by five yellow baby chicks.At Dusk, a Big Fluffy Cat Started Walking Across the Lawn. He Wasn't Alone.A black and white tuxedo cat sits on a worn green metal tractor seat in a barn beside three fluffy yellow chicks.Someone Left the Old Green Tractor Parked in the Barn. The Seat Didn't Stay Empty.A ruddy Abyssinian cat lies on a wooden windowsill beside three yellow chicks, all gazing out at a rainy street.It Was Raining Too Hard to Go Out, So the Abyssinian Found a New HobbyA fluffy cream Persian cat sits wrapped in a blue plaid quilt on a bed with three small yellow chicks tucked near its paws.The Persian Was Clearly Not Ready for Morning. Then the Quilt Started Peeping.