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A gray Scottish Fold gently licks a small gray chick, with two yellow chicks standing beside them on a blanket 31 / 35

A Scottish Fold Gave a Gray Chick a Gentle Wash While Friends Waited

AI imagescottish foldbaby chicksgrooming

A gray Scottish Fold has her nose close to a small gray chick, giving it a careful lick on the head. Two yellow chicks stand close by, waiting their turn and peeping gently. A cream blanket spreads under them, and a metal bottle, a plant and a pair of glasses sit in the sunny corner of the room.

Cats groom each other as a sign of friendship, a behavior known as allogrooming, and it helps them bond. Mother cats groom their kittens, and cats that live together often groom each other around the head and neck. Chicks, on the other hand, are covered in delicate down and need to stay warm and dry, so a cat's wet tongue is not ideal for them. This kind of gentle contact should be closely supervised and kept brief, since even a kind cat can injure a tiny bird by accident. Scottish Folds are sweet, mild-mannered cats, but they still need regular vet care, especially for their joints. Wash your hands after any contact with chicks.

It is a very small, very sweet scene. The cat has a soft look, and the chicks are calm. For now, everyone is having a quiet, friendly morning, and the grooming is all part of it. A bit of sunlight slides across the blanket, and the gray chick closes its eyes and leans into the lick as if it has done this many times before.

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