Browse ›
A tiny tortoiseshell kitten sits on straw in front of a hay bale tunnel decorated with pumpkins and fake webbing. 19 / 21

A Tortoiseshell Kitten Stood at the Mouth of the Hay Maze

AI imagetortoiseshell kittenhay mazefall yard

She is small, her fur is a patchwork of black, orange, and brown, and she sits upright on a bed of loose straw with her gaze fixed on a distant point. Behind her rises a stack of hay bales with a dark tunnel through the middle, wrapped in a web of fake cobweb and topped with a pumpkin and autumn leaves. A porch with orange mums, work boots, and a pair of gloves waits in the background. The little kitten looks tiny against the golden maze.

Tortoiseshell kittens are almost always female, thanks to the genetics of the coat color, and many owners describe them as spirited. Whatever the coat, every kitten benefits from careful supervision and a safe introduction to new places. A hay maze is a fun adventure but not for an unsupervised kitten: she could slip into a gap, get stuck, or pick up dusty straw in her nose and eyes. Fake cobweb is another danger, since kittens may chew and swallow it. Keep the kitten close, and offer a cardboard box tunnel at home as a safer alternative.

Let's call her Maisie. She has chosen a spot right at the entrance and seems to be deciding. The tunnel is dark and mysterious, and the straw is soft under her paws. Bravery takes a minute, even for the smallest explorer.

More from this collection

All 21 →
A pale spotted snow Bengal kitten with blue eyes sits on a porch among dried corn stalks, gourds and pumpkins.A Pale Bengal Kitten Tiptoed Through the Harvest DisplayA grey hairless Sphynx kitten sits on a concrete step beside a lit jack-o'-lantern at dusk.A Hairless Kitten Sat Beside the Glowing Jack-o'-Lantern at Dusk
A cream point Ragdoll kitten in a plush hot dog bun costume walks across a grassy lawn at dusk.A Tiny Ragdoll Kitten Marched Across the Lawn as a Hot DogA silver tabby Scottish Fold kitten sleeps on a porch rail beside a scarecrow in a plaid shirt and straw hat.A Silver Kitten Fell Asleep Right Beside the ScarecrowA fluffy silver Norwegian Forest Cat kitten wearing a cowboy hat, denim vest and red plaid bandana sits on a porch.A Tiny Cowboy Kitten Took Charge of the Whole PorchA cream Exotic Shorthair kitten crouches in a pile of orange leaves next to pumpkins on a sunny lawn.A Cream Kitten Crouched in the Leaves and Eyed Her Target