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A calico cat licks the head of a yellow duckling while three more ducklings stand nearby on a worn rug. 21 / 22

A Calico Cat Gives a Duckling a Careful Wash While the Others Wait

AI imagecalico catducklingsgrooming

The calico cat has her eyes closed and her tongue out, and she is carefully grooming a duckling's head. The little duckling stands still, its small bill held out and its eyes squeezed shut, as if it has decided to enjoy the attention. Three more ducklings wait close by, one of them so fluffy that it looks like a lemon cloud. The cat's coat, with patches of orange, black and white, shines in the afternoon light coming across the room.

Grooming is one of the ways cats show affection and build bonds. Cats that live together will often groom one another, and mother cats groom their kittens from the day they are born. A calico is a coat color, not a breed, and the pattern is almost always seen in female cats, which is a fun fact thanks to the genetics involved. Real ducklings, though, shouldn't be groomed by a cat, because cat saliva isn't good for their delicate down. Ducks take care of their own feathers with a special oil, and ducklings learn to preen as they grow. A person should always supervise.

What stands out here is how tender the cat looks. She's working carefully, the duckling is holding still, and the others look on with patience. It is a gentle little scene about taking turns, with no hurry at all. Even the waiting ducklings seem to know that their turn is coming, and that it will be just as gentle.

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