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An orange tabby cat lies on the ground under an apple tree with seven yellow ducklings snuggled around its paws. 13 / 32

Under the Apple Tree, an Orange Tabby Rested. Seven Little Friends Joined Him.

AI imageorange tabbyducklingsapple tree

Under the low branches of an apple tree heavy with small green fruit, an orange tabby has stretched out in the cool shade, and seven ducklings have gathered in close around him. One leans against his front paw, a few nestle into the curve of his chest, and the rest huddle just behind. The cat squints in that slow, satisfied way cats do when everything is exactly right. A wooden fence, a cluster of potted plants, and a brick house sit in the dappled background, with fallen leaves scattered across the grass.

Orange tabbies have a big fan club, and a fun bit of genetics comes with them. The gene that produces orange fur is carried on the X chromosome, which is why the large majority of orange cats are male. Females need two copies of the orange gene to show the color, while males need only one. Orange cats are often described as especially friendly and laid-back, though personality really comes down to the individual cat. If you have fruit trees in the yard, it is worth raking up fallen fruit regularly, since rotting or fermenting fruit attracts wasps and is not a healthy snack for pets.

This ginger fellow seems to have found the perfect balance of shade, breeze, and company. The apples can wait, the ducklings are content, and the afternoon stretches out lazy and golden. It is hard to imagine a sweeter spot in the whole garden.

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