Shiver Me Whiskers. Captain Marmalade Has Come Ashore.
Shiver me whiskers, a pirate has come ashore. An orange tabby kitten sits on a leaf-covered lawn wearing a black eye patch over one eye and a little brown vest with a skull and crossbones bandana. Its ginger stripes glow in the hazy golden light, its ears stand tall, and its one visible green eye gazes out with a slightly startled look. Behind it, an old wooden porch rises from the yard, a carved jack-o'-lantern grins from the garden, and scattered autumn leaves cover the grass in soft color.
Orange tabby cats are famous for their friendly reputations, though personality really depends on the individual cat. Interestingly, a large majority of orange cats are male, because of how the gene for orange fur is inherited. For costumes, eye patches are best avoided or used only for a quick, closely supervised photo. Cats rely heavily on their vision and whiskers to navigate, and covering an eye can make them feel unsure of their surroundings. A simple bandana or a festive collar gives the pirate look without blocking a kitten's view.
We will call him Captain Marmalade, a fitting title for a kitten with such a golden coat. The captain's first voyage may be short, but there is no doubt he has already won over the whole crew, from the porch to the pumpkin patch.
