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An older couple in cream sweaters doze head to head in a recliner while a tortoiseshell cat rests on the armrest. 4 / 34

Walt and June Dozed Off in the Recliner. Mabel Stayed on Duty.

AI imagetortoiseshell catnap timeliving room

Somewhere between the evening news and the next program, everybody in this living room drifted off. Walt and June lean head to head in a well-worn tan recliner, eyes closed and glasses slightly askew, their cream cable-knit sweaters bunched cozily around them. Late sun pours through the window and lights up the clutter of a lived-in home: a stack of books, a tissue box, a remote or two and a houseplant on the shelf. On the armrest, Mabel the tortoiseshell has claimed her own patch of warmth, paws tucked and eyes nearly shut, keeping one sleepy watch over her people.

Cats are famous nappers, often sleeping somewhere around twelve to sixteen hours a day, and they tend to choose spots that are warm, slightly raised and close to their favorite humans. An armrest checks every box. For older adults, a calm companion animal can bring comfort, routine and gentle company through the quiet hours of the day. Feeding times, a bit of play and simply having someone to talk to can add structure and a sense of purpose. If you share a recliner with a pet, it is worth glancing down before you lower the footrest, since cats love to curl up in the gaps underneath.

The television can keep talking to itself for a while. Right now, three tired friends are having the best nap of the week, and that seems exactly right.

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An older couple in cream sweaters sit in the cab of a rusty vintage pickup with a tortoiseshell cat on the seat beside them.Walt Drives, June Rides Shotgun, and the Middle Seat Has Strong OpinionsAn older couple in cream sweaters tuck a plaid blanket around a tortoiseshell cat lying in a round plush pet bed.Bedtime at Walt and June's Comes With Full Turndown ServiceAn older couple in patterned sweaters assemble a jigsaw puzzle of a village while a tortoiseshell cat sits on a nearby chair.Half a Snowy Village Was Done. Mabel Was Eyeing the Rest of the Pieces.An older couple in cream sweaters nap on a hanging porch swing with a tortoiseshell cat curled asleep on their laps.One Porch Swing, Three Sleepyheads, and One Paw Over a Face