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A silver Maine Coon cat licks a duckling's head as other yellow ducklings crowd close on a woven rug. 4 / 20

A Giant Silver Maine Coon Gave the Ducklings a Careful Face Wash

AI imagemaine coonducklingsgrooming

A big silver Maine Coon has bent her fluffy head down and is giving one lucky duckling a careful lick. Her tufted ears are pricked, her eyes half closed with concentration, and her long whiskers brush the downy yellow heads around her. Six or seven ducklings gather close, peeping and shuffling on a woven rug, with one waiting its turn at the cat's chin. Slippers and a laundry basket sit in the soft light behind them, and someone's hand reaches in at the edge of the frame.

Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds, with thick shaggy coats, tufted ears, and a famously gentle, sociable nature. They are sometimes called gentle giants. Grooming is a big part of how cats show care, and mother cats lick their kittens to clean them and calm them. Ducklings will naturally accept almost any warm, steady presence as a companion, but they stay safest in their own protected space. Any time cats and baby birds share a room, supervision is essential, and a vet can give advice about how to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

In this moment the big cat is all patience. The ducklings crowd around as if waiting in line for their turn, and she seems willing to work her way through every one of them, one tender lick at a time.

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