The Snow Bengal Inspected the Puppy Sleeping in the Leaf Pile

Crisp red and amber leaves are piled on a warm wooden floor, and in the middle of them lies a golden puppy with his chin resting on the pile. Beside him, a pale snow Bengal with a marbled silver coat and ice-blue eyes peers closely at his face, ears pricked forward, as if checking whether he is truly asleep. The room behind them is bright and homey, with a woven basket, a soft blanket on a grey chair and a plant by the wall. Sunlight makes the leaves glow like embers around the two friends.

Bengals are energetic, athletic cats known for their wild-looking spotted or marbled coats. They are smart and curious, and many love to climb, chase and explore new textures, which makes a pile of crunchy leaves irresistible. Leaves are generally fine for a cat or puppy to play in, but keep an eye out for anything that might be hiding in the pile, like twigs, burrs or fallen berries and mushrooms, and discourage chewing on them. Active breeds like Bengals do best with daily play sessions, so a rustling pile can be a fun supplement to toys and climbing shelves.

Autumn has a way of making even a quiet afternoon feel like an adventure. Here the adventure is mostly napping, which suits the puppy just fine.