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A tortoiseshell cat with a small smile sits beside a floor scattered with colorful wooden board game pieces and tokens. 16 / 30

Game Night Ended Early When the Tortoiseshell Joined the Board

AI imagetortoiseshell catcaught in the actboard game

Wooden stars, colorful tokens, tiny arrows, and chunky little houses have been flung across the carpet and the wood floor like confetti. Sitting at the edge of the chaos is a tortoiseshell cat with swirling patches of brown, amber, and black, and a faint smile that suggests she enjoyed the game more than anyone else did. A stuffed bunny and a houseplant watch quietly from the background of a cozy living room.

Tortoiseshell cats are famous for their mottled coats, and many owners talk about their lively personalities, sometimes called tortitude. Whether or not that is real science, there is no doubt that cats love batting small objects. Game pieces roll, skid, and click, which sets off a cat's hunting instincts. Unfortunately, small parts like tokens and dice are easy to swallow, so it is best to clear them away quickly and store the games in a closed box on a shelf. Offer her plenty of things that move: ping-pong balls in a tub, a ball track, or a wand toy to chase. A few minutes of play before game night helps burn off energy, and if you ever think she swallowed a piece, call your vet.

By the look of that grin, the cat believes she won, and nobody is going to argue. There may be a few pieces under the sofa for a long time, though.

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