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A fluffy silver tabby cat and a tortoise rest side by side on sunlit wooden deck boards. 15 / 33

A Fluffy Tabby and a Tortoise Found the Sunniest Boards on the Deck

AI imagesilver tabbytortoisesunbeam

Sunlight falls across the wooden deck in long, warm stripes, and two friends have settled right in it. A fluffy silver tabby lies on the left with his eyes half closed and his white paw stretched out in front of him. Moss the tortoise sits next to him with his head raised slightly and his shell glowing gold. A few dry leaves rest on the boards, and a wooden fence and green plants line the yard behind them.

Both cats and tortoises love a warm spot in the sun. For a tortoise, basking helps him regulate his body temperature, and for a cat, it is simply one of life's great pleasures. On hot days, both animals need shade and fresh water nearby so they can cool down. Tortoises should never be left in direct sun in an enclosure without shade, since they can overheat quickly. If you are not sure how long your pets should spend in the sun, talk to your vet. A silver tabby with a thick coat should also be brushed often to stay cool.

The deck is warm, and the two sleepers are very still. The cat looks like he has no plans to move, and neither does the tortoise. It is a lovely, easy afternoon in the sun. When the shadows grow longer, they will move over together, a few inches at a time, to keep the warmth.

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