The Lady in Waiting Knew Every Secret in the Palace. She Kept Her Fan Closed.
Not much escapes the lady in waiting, and she wants you to know it. A tortoiseshell cat, her face split in warm patches of orange and deep black, wears a white lace cap that drapes over her ears. Amber eyes watch from beneath it with quiet interest. A single strand of pearls rests at her neck, and her blue velvet gown, trimmed in gold, matches the dark background. In one paw she holds a folded lace fan, as if it might be needed any moment, her whiskers perfectly still.
Tortoiseshell cats get their patchwork look from the way their coat color genes work, and nearly all of them are female. Many owners describe them as spirited and full of attitude, sometimes called tortitude, though every cat is an individual. Whatever the coat, cats feel safest with routine, a quiet resting place, and fresh water. Short daily play sessions with a wand toy burn off energy and keep a clever cat engaged. If you notice changes in appetite or behavior, talk to your vet.
A fan was once a very useful thing in a crowded, warm palace, and this one is painted with every little rib visible. The cat holds it with total poise. A good lady in waiting never speaks first, and she certainly never gossips, though her eyes suggest she knows plenty.
