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A blue-grey Russian Blue cat lies on a floor while a small tortoise climbs onto her shoulder in a cozy room. 23 / 33

The Russian Blue Didn't Move a Whisker While the Tortoise Climbed Aboard

AI imagerussian bluetortoisepatience

The Russian Blue is stretched out on the floor with her chin resting on the boards and her eyes half closed. On her shoulder, Moss the tortoise has made a slow and steady climb, his small head stretched forward and his shell patterned in gold and green. A water bowl, a woven blanket and a pile of laundry sit behind them near a window, and the whole room is bathed in soft afternoon light.

A cat who stays still while a tortoise climbs on her is showing great patience. Even so, climbing on a cat is best kept to a short, supervised moment. A tortoise's claws can be scratchy, and a fall from a cat's back could hurt him, so it is wise to stay close and lift him off if he starts to slip. Russian Blues are gentle, quiet cats who tend to form close bonds with their people. Their calm temperament makes them well suited to a quiet home. Always watch for signs that the cat has had enough.

The cat does not move a whisker, and the tortoise keeps on climbing. It is a slow, patient moment between two very different pets. Everything in the room seems to wait for them to finish. By the time the climb is complete, the afternoon light will have shifted, and no one will have been in any hurry at all.

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