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A gray and white Exotic Shorthair cat lies on a cream blanket by a stone fireplace with eight ducklings pressed against it. 20 / 32

That Exotic Shorthair Looks Unimpressed. Her Body Language Says Otherwise.

AI imageexotic shorthairducklingsfireplace

That flat face may look permanently unimpressed, but the body language tells a different story. A gray and white Exotic Shorthair lies on a fuzzy cream blanket in front of a stone fireplace stacked with split logs, and eight yellow ducklings have piled against her chest and paws like a heap of warm buttered popcorn. The cat stares straight ahead with round copper eyes and a perfectly deadpan expression, while the ducklings doze and peep. On the mantel sit a mug, a plant, and a folded knit throw, and a basket of stuffed bunnies and toys waits in the corner.

Young ducklings cannot keep themselves warm at first, which is why they seek out heat so eagerly. People raising them usually provide a brooder with a dependable heat source for the first few weeks, gradually lowering the temperature as feathers come in. Heat lamps are common, but they can be a serious fire risk if they fall or sit too close to bedding, so they must be firmly secured and checked often. Many keepers now prefer radiant heating plates, which let chicks huddle underneath and are generally considered safer. Any heat source should leave room for the birds to move away if they get too warm.

This cozy setup, of course, comes with a built-in heater that purrs. The ducklings have clearly found the warmest spot in the house, and the Exotic, whatever her face says, has not moved an inch. Actions speak louder than expressions.

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