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A grey hairless Sphynx cat sits at the edge of a stone ledge beside a tortoise facing a lily pond. 22 / 31

A Sphynx Cat and Old Gus Sat Still Beside the Quiet Pond

AI imagesphynx cattortoisepond

Beside the stone edge of a quiet pond, a grey Sphynx cat sits tall with her ears pricked and her wrinkled body slim against the stone. She looks out over the water with a thoughtful expression. Next to her, a big tortoise faces the same direction, his domed shell wide and patterned, his neck stretched toward the green lily pads. A tipped flowerpot and some fallen leaves lie on the ground.

Ponds are beautiful but need care when pets are around. Tortoises can swim only a little and may drown in deep water, so a pond should have a gentle slope or a fenced edge. Cats generally avoid water, but they enjoy watching fish and insects. Sphynx cats need to stay warm, so a sunny stone is a good spot for them, as long as they do not overheat. If you have a pond, supervise your pets and ask your vet for safety suggestions, especially for tortoises.

Let's call the tortoise Gus. He seems to be contemplating the lily pads, and the Sphynx is contemplating the dragonfly that has just landed on one. Neither of them speaks. The pond sparkles, the afternoon hums, and two unlikely friends are sharing the same quiet view. It is the sort of pause that makes you want to sit down and look at the water, too.

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