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A tortoiseshell cat holds a ragged, chewed gray slipper in its mouth on a wooden floor, with laundry piled behind it. 1 / 26

Hazel Was Trusted With the Living Room for Five Minutes. Look at Her Face.

AI imagetortoiseshell catchewed slippercaught in the act

Hazel the tortoiseshell has a slipper in her mouth and a look that says she was just about to explain. The gray slipper is frayed at the toe, its stuffing poking out in little tufts, and she holds it gently by the heel like a hunter presenting a trophy. Her coat swirls with black, amber and caramel, and her wide golden eyes slide sideways toward whoever just walked into the room. Behind her, a heap of laundry and a pair of jeans spill across the wooden floor, which suggests the slipper was not the first thing to be dragged around today.

Chewing and carrying are normal cat behaviors, even if the results are annoying. Cats are natural hunters, and a soft, floppy slipper can feel a lot like prey when it is batted around and pounced on. Young cats and bored cats are the most likely to chew, and some simply love the smell of their people on worn shoes and socks. Offering a few sturdy toys, rotating them every week, and setting aside ten minutes a day for a wand toy can redirect a lot of that energy. Because swallowed fabric and stuffing can be dangerous, keep chewed items out of reach, and talk to your vet if a cat seems to be eating things that are not food.

Hazel will probably get a gentle scolding, then a new toy, then a nap on the very same slipper. Some crimes are just too dramatic to stay mad about.

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