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A small gray kitten sleeps curled up in crumpled red and silver wrapping paper in a cluttered, sunlit room. 15 / 23

The Presents Were Opened, and the Best Gift Was the Paper Pile

AI imagegray kittenwrapping papernap

After the unwrapping comes the mess, and one gray kitten has claimed the best part of it. It sleeps curled up in a heap of crumpled wrapping paper, in red patterns and silver snowflakes, with its nose tucked toward its paws and its tail wrapped around. Behind the paper pile, a basket holds a ball of yarn and knitting needles, a roll of tape sits nearby, and sunlight filters through a lace curtain.

Why do cats love paper and boxes so much? The crinkly sound and the loose, nest-like shape feel like an instant hideout, and cats are often attracted to the texture. It is a harmless pleasure most of the time, but a few precautions help. Before a kitten settles in, remove any tape, ribbon, or staples, because swallowed bits can be dangerous. Gray kittens like this one, often seen in the Russian Blue breed, tend to be gentle, quiet, and a little shy with strangers, and they usually appreciate calm and routine, even in a busy season.

The kitten, who looks like a Pebble to us, is sleeping so soundly that the clutter around it does not matter. The wrapping paper is now a bed, and the party can go on without it. Sometimes the most successful holiday plan is simply to find a soft pile and rest.

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