Browse ›
A tortoiseshell cat and a sleeping cream puppy nestle face to face on a woven blue and white rug outside. 26 / 37

A Patchwork Cat and a Pale Puppy Fell Asleep Forehead to Forehead

AI imagetortoiseshell catpuppyrug

A woven rug with blue zigzags has been laid on the ground near an old fence, and two sleepers have made it their bed. A tortoiseshell cat, her coat a patchwork of black, orange and brown, has her eyes shut and her forehead pressed against Waffles. The pale puppy has his nose pressed down and his ears folded flat. A garden bed and a wooden fence stretch behind them in the shade.

Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female, because the genes behind the pattern are carried on the X chromosome. People often talk about their strong personalities, sometimes called tortitude, though that is more folklore than science. What does matter for any cat is a safe sleeping spot. Outdoor rugs can get damp or dirty, and it is smart to check them for fleas and ticks. If your pets love napping outdoors, bring the rug in after use, and keep an eye on the weather so they do not get too hot or too cold.

The cat and the puppy are so still that a passing butterfly could land on either one. They have found a perfect patch of calm, with a rug underneath and each other for warmth. It is a very good place to be. Somewhere nearby the breeze moves the leaves, and neither of them so much as twitches an ear in response.

More from this collection

All 37 →
A golden puppy sleeps against a ruddy Abyssinian cat on a cream knit blanket near a stone fireplace.The Fire Burned Low and the Puppy Burrowed Into the CatA tiny golden puppy sleeps curled between the front paws of a large fluffy black Maine Coon on a cream rug.A Tiny Puppy Found the Safest Spot Between Two Big Paws
A fluffy orange cat lies on a patterned rug while a small golden puppy sleeps sprawled across her back.The Orange Cat Held Perfectly Still While a Puppy Climbed AboardA silver tabby American Shorthair lies on his back on a rug while a small golden puppy sleeps on his belly.A Silver Tabby Rolled Over and the Puppy Took the HintA tiny sleeping golden puppy rides on the back of a cinnamon Abyssinian cat walking across a backyard lawn.The Abyssinian Gave a Sleepy Puppy a Piggyback Across the YardA white cat and a golden puppy look out together from behind a weathered wooden barn door frame.Two Faces in a Barn Doorway, Both Waiting for Something