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A grey tabby cat with butter on its whiskers sits on a counter beside a nearly empty butter dish and a blue towel. 22 / 30

The Butter Dish Was Full an Hour Ago. The Grey Cat Knows Nothing.

AI imagetabby catcaught in the actbutter

The butter dish sits nearly empty on the counter, with a pale smear along one side where a very determined tongue has been. Beside it, a grey tabby crouches with her ears flat against her head and little yellow specks of butter dotting her whiskers and chin. A blue dish towel is bunched up beside her, crumbs surround a cutting board, and half an onion rests nearby. Her big dark eyes glance sideways, looking for the way out.

Cats are drawn to butter for its strong smell and rich fat content. A lick or two will not usually harm a healthy cat, but fatty foods are hard on a cat's digestive system, and too much can lead to an upset stomach or, in some cases, a serious condition involving the pancreas. Rich human foods also add calories fast. The onion on the counter is a bigger worry than the butter, since onions and garlic are toxic to cats, so keep them away from curious paws. A few good habits help: store butter in a covered dish in the refrigerator, wipe the counters after cooking, and give her a lick of a cat-safe treat to keep her from chasing smells. If she eats a large amount of fat or an onion, talk to your vet.

Right now she is wearing the expression of a cat who knows the party is over. The whiskers, sadly, are still glowing with evidence.

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