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A seal point Siamese cat and a tortoise sit by a wooden fence watching hens in the yard beyond. 24 / 31

The Siamese and Old Gus Had Front-Row Seats to the Chicken Show

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Two spectators have taken front-row seats at the farm fence. A seal point Siamese sits with her cream-colored body tall, her dark mask turned toward the gap in the boards, her blue eyes locked in. Next to her, a tortoise has stopped mid-step, neck stretched up and mouth slightly open. In the yard on the other side, brown and black hens scratch the ground, unaware of the attention.

Siamese cats are talkative, intelligent, and affectionate, with a strong bond to their people. They are curious about everything, including poultry. A secure fence is essential to keep cats and tortoises away from chickens and vice versa. Chickens can carry bacteria such as salmonella, and so can tortoises, so wash your hands after handling any of them. Tortoises are gentle foragers, but hens can peck at them, so keep everyone separate unless supervised. For advice, a vet familiar with poultry and reptiles can help.

We will call the tortoise Gus. He watches the hens with calm interest, as if he has seen far more dramatic dinners. The Siamese wiggles her tail with excitement. A hen clucks, and she lets out a tiny chirp. The two of them stay at their post, completely absorbed. It is better than television, and they know it. If the hens ever look over, they will find two very serious faces looking right back at them, and that will be a story for the coop.

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