Browse ›
A black cat sleeps on a knitted blanket in front of a wood stove with a sleeping group of yellow ducklings beside it. 20 / 22

A Black Cat and a Row of Ducklings Doze Beside the Wood Stove

AI imageblack catducklingswood stove

A cast-iron wood stove stands in the corner, with split logs stacked beside it, and on a chunky knitted blanket in front of it, a black cat lies fast asleep. Ducklings are lined along his chest in a snug crescent, most of them dozing with their heads down. A mug sits on a shelf, a plaid shirt is tossed over a chair, and a pair of slippers rests on the floor. Sun comes in through a window. The whole room smells of wood smoke, or at least it looks like it would.

Cats are heat seekers. Their comfortable temperature range is higher than ours, which is why you'll find them in sunbeams, on laptops and beside radiators. A wood stove can be a wonderful place to nap, but it also carries real risks, since hot surfaces can burn paws and fur. A sturdy stove guard or a safe distance is a good idea if pets share a room with a fire. Ducklings also love warmth, but should only be given a proper heat source in a safe brooder. Cats and baby birds should never be left alone together.

Here, the warmth and the quiet have done their work. The cat is a dark, soft shape, and the ducklings are like little golden lanterns glowing beside him. A cold day doesn't stand a chance.

More from this collection

All 22 →
A calico cat licks the head of a yellow duckling while three more ducklings stand nearby on a worn rug.A Calico Cat Gives a Duckling a Careful Wash While the Others WaitA fluffy silver cat sits on a knitted blanket beside five yellow ducklings in front of a frost-covered window.A Silver Cat Keeps Five Ducklings Cozy by a Frosty Window
A fluffy silver cat rests a paw on a cluster of yellow ducklings huddled together on snowy ground by a wooden fence.The Big Silver Cat Spotted Something Shivering in the SnowA white Persian cat with a grumpy face sits beside a basket as yellow ducklings scatter across a pile of brown leaves.A Grumpy-Faced Persian Sits Very Still Among Ducklings and LeavesA orange long-haired cat walks across a sunny backyard with four yellow ducklings perched on its back.He Was Only Going for a Stroll Until the Ducklings Climbed AboardA black long-haired cat sits on a stone edge beside a pond while a row of yellow ducklings lines up next to it.Five Ducklings and One Black Cat Share a View of the Pond