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A tortoiseshell cat sits at the edge of a Thanksgiving table staring at a roast turkey, green beans and cranberry sauce. 23 / 23

Maple Sat at the Edge of the Table and Stared Down the Turkey

AI imagetortoiseshell catthanksgivingturkey

At the very edge of the table, a tortoiseshell cat sits with her paws tucked in and her green eyes fixed on a golden roast turkey. Around the bird are dishes of green beans with almonds, cranberry sauce, a bowl of mashed potatoes, a pitcher, and sprigs of rosemary, with a folded cloth napkin in the foreground. The kitchen behind her glows in soft evening light, and she looks like she has been sitting there for hours.

Tortoiseshell cats are known for their blended coats of black, orange, and brown, and for a lively, confident personality that some people call tortitude. They are often independent and very vocal, and they usually have a clear idea of what they want, which in this case is turkey. A cat who stares like this one needs a distraction, such as a treat toy or a playtime session before the meal starts.

Turkey is a fine example of a food with some cautions. A tiny piece of plain, cooked, boneless turkey is usually fine, but skin, fat, seasonings, and bones can cause digestive trouble or worse. Cooked bones can splinter, and gravy and stuffing often contain onions and garlic. It is smart to let guests know not to feed the cat from the table. This is Maple again, who has gone from nap to feast in one step. She waits, still and focused, with the patient look of a cat who believes the turkey will be hers soon enough.

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