Browse ›
A silver tabby cat stands on the back of a tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a backyard. 3 / 21

The Silver Tabby Had Found a Brand-New Way to Cross the Yard

AI imagecavalier spanielsilver tabbybackyard

The tricolor spaniel trots across the lawn with his tongue out and a cheerful look on his face, and he has a passenger. A silver-striped tabby stands on his back, upright and dignified, gazing off into the distance as if this is simply how transportation works. The grass is a little patchy, a wooden fence runs behind them and a flower pot sits by the corner of the house. It is an ordinary backyard, made extraordinary by the fact that nobody involved seems to find this odd.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are generally gentle, patient dogs, which is part of why they have a reputation for getting along with cats. A relaxed dog and a confident cat can build a very comfortable routine, but it is wise to let them set the pace. Cats should never be lifted onto or tossed at a dog, and a dog's back is no place for a cat that is unsure about being there. Real-life friendships usually look more like sharing a sunny patch of grass than carpool rides. If you want your own pets to enjoy the yard together, make sure the space is fenced, offer a cat escape route to a higher spot, and keep the first outings short and positive. Silver tabbies are no different from any other cat in that they love to survey the territory from a high point.

Whatever route they are taking, the cat is clearly the navigator and the spaniel the cheerful engine. It is a sweet picture of trust, one wagging tail at a time.

More from this collection

All 21 →
A silver-grey Weimaraner nuzzles a small black cat swatting at autumn leaves on a cluttered living room floor.A Weimaraner Met a Tiny Black Cat in a Pile of Autumn LeavesA cream Shiba Inu sleeps curled up against a tortoiseshell cat in a nest of straw outside a barn.A Shiba Inu and a Tortoiseshell Cat Found the Coziest Spot in the Barn
A black-and-white tuxedo cat rests its head against a sleeping red-and-white Beagle on a knit blanket near a fireplace.The Beagle and the Tuxedo Cat Had the Fireplace All to ThemselvesA red merle Australian Shepherd and a white Persian cat lie side by side in a patch of sunlight on a wooden floor.The Aussie and the Persian Cat Followed the Sunbeam TogetherA chocolate Labrador Retriever curls around a seal point Siamese cat on a couch with a grey blanket.The Chocolate Lab Did Not Mind That the Siamese Cat Took Over His SpotA cream Devon Rex cat sleeps cuddled between the front paws of a tricolor Corgi on a wooden floor.Everyone Wondered Where the Cat Went Until They Checked the Corgi