Three Stockings Hung by the Fire, and One Got Occupied
Three stockings hang in a neat row, red with a snowflake, green with a diamond pattern, and a chunky grey knit, but the best gift on the mantel is already unwrapped. A round-faced grey Exotic Shorthair kitten has claimed the wooden ledge and flopped down with her chin on her paws and her eyes squeezed shut. Pine branches, pinecones and dried orange slices frame her like a wreath, and a window behind the mantel lets in thin winter light.
Exotic Shorthairs are often described as the easygoing cousins of Persians, with the same flat face and plush look but a shorter coat that's simpler to brush. They tend to be calm and affectionate, and they do love a quiet perch. Kittens sleep a great deal, often far more than adult cats, because they are growing quickly, so a nap in an unlikely spot is perfectly normal. A mantel can be risky, though. Fireplaces should have a screen, candles should be kept out of reach, and decorations like dried fruit and pine needles are better left unchewed.
We'll call her Pebble, because she looks smooth and grey and perfectly settled. The stockings above her will be stuffed before long, but she's already had the best seat in the house, warm, still and utterly unbothered by anything the season brings. It's a small reminder that the coziest spots in a house are usually the ones a cat finds first.
