Is It a Pumpkin or a Kitten Sitting on the Front Doorstep?

Is it a pumpkin or a kitten? Thankfully, it's both. A plush gray kitten with a round, flat face and enormous copper eyes sits on the front doorstep wearing a chunky orange knit costume, complete with a hood shaped like a pumpkin and a little green stem on top. Only her squished face and her short gray legs peek out from all that ribbed yarn. Behind her, the front door is open, sneakers and slippers sit on the threshold, mums bloom in a pot, and a green watering can and a few real pumpkins finish off the seasonal display.

That squashed, teddy-bear face and dense, plush coat are typical of the Exotic Shorthair, a breed often described as a short-haired version of the Persian. Exotics are usually calm, affectionate and fond of lounging. Their flat faces, though, mean they can be more sensitive to heat and may have a harder time breathing during exertion, so a snug knit costume should be worn only very briefly and never on a warm day. Their eyes can also tear more easily, and gently wiping the area with a soft damp cloth is often part of their routine care. Ask your vet if you notice heavy discharge.

This pumpkin may not be destined for a pie, but she is certainly the sweetest one on the porch this Halloween.