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A long-haired ginger cat sits in straw in a wooden barn corner surrounded by eight fluffy yellow ducklings. 15 / 32

A Ginger Longhair Sat on His Straw Throne. Eight Subjects Gathered at His Feet.

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In the snug corner where two weathered barn walls meet, a long-haired ginger cat sits like a fluffy orange monarch on a throne of straw. Gathered at his feet are eight yellow ducklings, a few looking out toward the open pasture, the rest clustered close enough to brush against his chest. The cat's green eyes are calm and steady, and his thick, feathery coat glows warm in the soft light. Through the gap in the wall, a wire fence, wooden posts, and bright green grass stretch out beyond the barn.

Those ducklings will not stay this small for long. Ducks grow remarkably fast, and within a few weeks the fluffy yellow down starts giving way to real feathers, beginning with patches along the sides and tail. During that early stage they need a warm, dry, draft-free space and a starter feed suited to waterfowl, and they quickly outgrow a little indoor brooder. Their longhaired feline friend has his own maintenance needs: a coat this thick should be brushed several times a week to prevent painful mats and reduce the hairballs that can come from all that self-grooming.

For now, though, everyone is exactly the right size for this cozy corner. The cat has his straw, the ducklings have their protector, and the barn is quiet except for a few soft peeps. Some moments are worth enjoying before the little ones grow up.

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