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A tortoiseshell cat with wide eyes and butter on her nose sits next to a licked butter dish on a kitchen counter. 22 / 31

A Tortoiseshell Cat Froze With Butter on Her Nose and Whiskers

AI imagetortoiseshell catbutterkitchen

Her wide green eyes look straight at us, and a golden smear of butter sits right at the end of her nose. The tortoiseshell cat has come to a complete stop, mouth half open. Beside her, a white butter dish with its lid pushed aside has been licked almost clean, and the counter behind it holds a cutting board, a few avocados, and a key ring. The kitchen is warm and quiet.

Many cats are attracted to butter and other fats, which smell rich and delicious. A lick or two is unlikely to cause harm, but butter is high in fat, and larger amounts can upset a cat's stomach or contribute to more serious problems, so keep the dish covered and out of reach. If your cat eats a large amount of buttery food, call your vet. Tortoiseshell cats are famous for their patchwork coats and bold personalities, which many owners call tortitude.

She could be called Cinder, and she certainly has plenty of tortitude. She is not retreating, apologizing, or explaining. She is simply staring, with the confidence of a cat who has done something delicious and is waiting to see what happens. The butter dish will need to be washed, and perhaps moved to a higher shelf. The key ring beside her has no comment, and neither does the avocado.

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