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A tortoiseshell cat lies on a rug while a tortoise stands on her back with his head raised. 26 / 31

The Tortoiseshell Cat Held Still While Old Gus Climbed Right Over Her

AI imagetortoiseshell cattortoisepatience

The tortoiseshell cat has stopped moving. She lies flat on a grey rug with her chin on the floor and her eyes half closed, wearing the resigned look of a creature who knows what is coming. A tortoise has stepped onto her back and stands there with legs braced, head raised, shell as high as a small hill. The room behind them is warm and golden, with baskets and shoes against the wall.

Tortoiseshell cats, with their patchwork of black and orange, are often said to have lots of personality, sometimes called tortitude. They are not a breed but a coat pattern, and they can be found in many types of cats. Tortoises are heavy for their size, so a cat should never be asked to bear much weight, and a tortoise's claws can scratch. Keep time on top of a pet short, and watch to make sure both are comfortable. Ask your vet about safe interactions between cats and reptiles.

Let's call the tortoise Gus. He does not know that he has chosen an unusual road. The cat, fairly sure it is not in her contract, bears the climb in dignified silence. Her tail flicks once, a small protest. Then she sighs and lets him pass. Some friendships are built on being a good sport, and this is one of them.

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A cinnamon Abyssinian cat and a tortoise sit in an old wooden wagon with a rope handle on a lawn.The Abyssinian and Old Gus Went for a Slow Wagon RideA brown tabby cat sits by a rain-streaked window while a tortoise beside her looks up at the glass.A Tabby and Old Gus Watched Every Raindrop Run Down the Glass
A fluffy white Norwegian Forest Cat sleeps curled around a tortoise in a wicker basket lined with a knit blanket.A Fluffy White Cat Guarded Old Gus While He Slept in the BasketA blue point Ragdoll cat and a tortoise drink side by side from one shallow white bowl on a wooden floor.A Ragdoll and Old Gus Shared One Bowl Without Any FussA blue-grey Russian Blue cat sleeps beside a tortoise on a woven mat in front of a black wood stove.A Russian Blue and a Tortoise Dozed Off in Front of the Wood StoveA fluffy silver Norwegian Forest Cat sniffs the nose of a large old tortoise on a wooden floor.The Cat Leaned In and the Old Tortoise Stretched His Neck Out