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A black cat with dried mud clumped in its fur lies on a fluffy white shag rug scattered with dirt in a lamplit living room. 18 / 22

Of All the Places to Land After a Mud Bath, He Chose the White Shag Rug

AI imageblack catcaught in the actmuddy cat

Of all the places to land after a mud bath, it had to be the white shag rug. A black cat lies with front paws stretched out on a fluffy cream-colored rug, his fur clumped and crusted with patches of drying brown mud from ears to toes. Little crumbs of dirt are scattered across the rug around him, marking his route in. His wide amber eyes and slightly flattened ears give him a look of mild concern, as if he is only now realizing the scale of the problem. A gray sofa, a plant, and a glowing lamp fill the cozy room behind him.

Most cats keep themselves clean and rarely need a full bath, but a serious mud incident can be the exception. Often, letting the mud dry and then brushing it out works well, followed by spot-cleaning with a damp cloth. If a bath is truly needed, use lukewarm water, a shampoo made for cats rather than people, and keep water away from the eyes and ears. Have towels ready and dry your cat thoroughly so they do not get chilled. Staying calm, speaking softly, and keeping the session short makes it easier on everyone. If your cat gets into something oily or unknown, call your vet for advice.

As for the rug, it may need more help than the cat does. Meanwhile, the culprit simply lies there in the lamplight, looking slightly sheepish and very much hoping someone will just call it modern art.

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