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A grey Exotic Shorthair with copper eyes sniffs a yellow chick nose to nose on a towel, with three more chicks nearby. 17 / 36

A Chick Stretched Up as High as It Could to Meet the Giant Grey Face Above

AI imageexotic shorthairbaby chicksfirst meeting

Nose meets beak in the most delicate greeting imaginable. A grey Exotic Shorthair, with a round face, tiny ears, and enormous copper eyes, has lowered his head until his flat little nose almost touches the beak of a chick that stretches upward to meet him. Three more chicks huddle on the fluffy towel nearby, one staring straight up at the giant face above. Around them, the room is a happy mess: an open cardboard box with bits of straw, a water dish, a pair of slippers, and a basket of laundry spilling over with jeans and sweaters.

Exotic Shorthairs are often described as Persians in pajamas. They share the Persian's sweet temperament and flat face, but with a short, plush coat that is far easier to maintain. A weekly brushing is usually enough, though their faces may still need gentle wiping around the eyes. Sniffing is a big part of how cats get to know the world. A cat's sense of smell is far keener than ours, and many friendly cats greet familiar companions by touching noses, which is a polite way to gather information. When introducing a cat to any new animal, letting them sniff items with each other's scent first can make the first meeting calmer.

Whatever information was exchanged in this tiny meeting, both sides seem satisfied. It may be the gentlest handshake ever recorded on a laundry-day floor.

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