On Christmas Eve, the Ginger Cat Watched the Snow Arrive
The window is cool, the yard is turning white and the orange cat on the sill has no intention of missing a single snowflake. He sits in profile, long amber fur lit by gray winter daylight, eyes following something outside. Beyond the frame, a wooden fence, a bare tree and a patio chair are slowly gathering a layer of snow. The room behind him is quiet, as if everybody has gone to wrap the last gifts.
Window watching is one of the best, simplest enrichments for an indoor cat. Birds, squirrels, falling leaves and snow all provide entertainment, and a safe perch makes it more comfortable. A cat tree by a window or a wide shelf with a soft blanket does the job well. Make sure the window screens are secure and avoid leaving windows open wide, as cats can slip out or fall. A bit of daily play also helps burn off the energy that all that watching builds up.
On Christmas Eve, the house is a little extra still, and a cat at a window seems to capture it. Snow muffles the street noise, and the glow from the room gives the whole scene a hush. This ginger fellow looks perfectly content to sit and watch the white world arrive, one flake at a time, with the whole season waiting just behind him.
