Browse ›
A calico cat sits with her mouth slightly open beside a tipped-over metal trash can with garbage spilled on the floor. 6 / 32

The Trash Can Tipped Over. The Calico Looked Awfully Pleased.

AI imagecalico catcaught in the actkitchen

The kitchen trash can is on its side, and its contents are scattered across the wood floor in a long, messy trail. Lettuce leaves, a banana peel, crumpled tissues and a foam container have all rolled out. Right in the middle of it, a calico cat sits upright with her orange, black and white patches glowing in the window light. Her mouth is open in a tiny, uncertain smile, and her gold eyes are fixed on whoever just walked in. We'll call her Patches.

Cats are natural investigators. Trash holds strong smells, interesting textures and the promise of something edible, so a curious cat will happily take a closer look. Some kitchen scraps are harmful to cats and dogs, including onions, garlic, chocolate and bones, and sharp packaging can cause cuts. A trash can with a locking lid or one tucked inside a cabinet keeps pets safe and the floor clean. Offering a puzzle feeder or a new toy can also give a bored cat something more rewarding to explore. If your cat swallows something unusual, talk to your vet.

Patches, meanwhile, would like to explain that the can fell over by itself. Her smile says she is very pleased to see you, the mess is a coincidence, and she certainly hasn't been planning this for days. The slippers by the door are staying out of this.

More from this collection

All 32 →
A black Cocker Spaniel with soulful brown eyes lies on a carpet beside a pile of shredded newspaper.Somebody Had Not Finished the Newspaper. The Cocker Spaniel Had.A tricolor Beagle with big brown eyes sits on a couch beside a torn cardboard box overflowing with crumpled tissues.One Box of Tissues Sat Within Reach. The Beagle Noticed.
A silver tabby British Shorthair with soil on its whiskers sits beside a freshly dug hole in a sunny garden.Someone Dug a Hole in the Garden. The Silver Tabby Knew Nothing.A grey Persian cat with a flat face and amber eyes sits beside a tipped-over cookie tin and scattered sprinkle cookies.The Cookie Tin Was Guarded. The Persian Had a Different Plan.A black cat with wide green-yellow eyes looks up beside a tipped terracotta pot with soil and leaves across the floor.The Plant Was Fine on the Floor, Said the Cat With Innocent EyesA black and white Siberian Husky with pale blue eyes stands on a lawn over a ripped garbage bag with trash scattered around.The Husky Heard Someone Coming. His Eyes Said Everything.