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Calico kitten wearing a fluffy tan lion mane hood with round ears, standing in a leafy yard with jack-o'-lanterns behind. 5 / 25

The Fiercest Lion in the Yard Weighs About Two Pounds

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Behold the queen of the backyard, all two pounds of her. A wide-eyed calico kitten stands in the grass wearing a plush lion mane that frames her face in a big fuzzy halo of tan, complete with little round ears on top. Patches of orange, black and white peek out from her face and legs, and her big blue-gray eyes stare straight ahead with an expression that is more surprised than ferocious. Fallen leaves cover the lawn, a carved jack-o'-lantern grins from the porch steps beside another pumpkin, and a tipped-over blue bucket lies abandoned in the yard.

Calico describes a coat pattern, not a breed, with patches of white, orange and black. Because of the genetics behind those colors, almost all calicos are female, and male calicos are very rare. Any breed can produce the pattern, from domestic shorthairs to Persians. Whatever the coat, kittens need gentle handling and plenty of supervision around holiday decorations. Costumes should be loose enough to move and breathe comfortably, worn only briefly and removed if the kitten seems stressed. Pumpkins with candles inside should always stay out of reach of curious whiskers and tails.

This little lion may not have a mighty roar yet, but that fluffy mane makes a pretty convincing case. Long live the tiny ruler of the pumpkin patch. After the photo, a nap in the sun sounds just about right.

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