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A silver tabby cat clings to window blinds, tangled in the cords, one paw raised against the slats, in a sunny room. 19 / 26

A Silver Tabby Climbed the Blinds and Got a Little Tangled

AI imagesilver tabbywindow blindsamerican shorthair

Sunlight slips through the slats of the window blinds, and Smudge the silver tabby is firmly caught in them. A thin cord loops over her shoulder and around her paw, one front leg is raised against the slats, and her green eyes glance toward the room with a mixture of pride and regret. Below her on the floor sit a basket of clothes, a few books, a mug and a pot of leafy green, and the whole room is bathed in warm gold light. She looks like an acrobat whose trick has gone slightly wrong.

Cats love windows. They are full of birds, passing cars and warm sunbeams, and a cat that climbs the blinds is usually trying to get a better look. Unfortunately, blind cords are a real hazard, because loops can tangle around a cat's neck or legs. Safety groups recommend cordless blinds or cords that are tied up high and out of reach, and a cut cord should never be left in a loop. A sturdy window perch gives a cat a much better view, and a bird feeder placed outside can provide hours of entertainment. American Shorthairs are healthy, adaptable, friendly cats that were originally valued as hardworking mousers, so they like having something to watch and stalk. If your cat gets tangled, free it calmly, and call your vet if there is any injury.

Smudge will wriggle loose and look as if nothing happened. The window will stay her favorite channel.

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