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A brown tabby cat on the floor grabs a red ribbon from a gift among wrapping paper in a cluttered living room 6 / 22

The Gift Was Opened, but the Tabby Only Wanted the Ribbon

AI imagebrown tabbychristmaswrapping paper

The present has been opened, the paper has been tossed aside, and the best part is still lying on the floor: a long red ribbon. A brown tabby has pinned one end beneath his paw and is staring at the camera with a look that says nobody is taking it back. Crumpled kraft paper rests around him, a cardboard box leans in the corner, and the couch behind is stacked with blankets and a pile of books. A strand of garland glows along the shelf at the top of the scene.

Cats go wild for ribbon because it moves like prey, but it is also one of the more dangerous holiday toys. If swallowed, string and ribbon can cause serious intestinal trouble, so it is best to play with it only while you are holding the other end, then put it away. Wand toys with feathers or fabric tails offer the same thrill with much less risk. American Shorthairs, with their classic tabby stripes, are sturdy and playful cats who often stay lively well into adulthood, so a short play session each day suits them nicely.

For this tabby, though, the fun is simple: one ribbon, one paw, one very proud expression. The box may have been a gift, but he knows the real prize. Somewhere nearby a box waits to be sat in next, which is usually how the afternoon goes.

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