Browse ›
An older man in a tan knit cardigan sits on a wooden boardwalk bench by the beach, smiling down at a grey cat on his lap. 22 / 40

The Ocean Was Right There. Sterling Only Had Eyes for One Thing.

AI imagerussian bluebeach boardwalkgrandparents

Sea grass sways beside the weathered boardwalk, and the beach stretches out pale and quiet in the distance. Grandpa has settled onto a wooden bench in a chunky tan cardigan, grinning down with obvious delight. Sterling sits upright against his chest, front paws planted on Grandpa's knee, gazing straight up into his face with wide green eyes. The salty breeze ruffles both of them, and the faded rails and planks behind them suggest a stretch of shoreline they've walked many times.

Bringing a cat to the beach isn't common, but some laid-back cats who are comfortable on a harness can enjoy short visits. Preparation makes all the difference. Sand gets very hot in the sun, so stick to cooler times of day and shaded spots like a boardwalk. Bring fresh drinking water, since cats shouldn't drink salt water. Wind, crowds, gulls, and dogs can all overwhelm a cat quickly, so watch for stress signals such as flattened ears, a puffed tail, or frantic attempts to hide, and head home if they appear. A secure carrier provides a safe retreat. Plenty of cats are simply happier at home, and that's perfectly fine too.

Sterling looks entirely at ease here, though his attention is clearly on Grandpa rather than the ocean. The view is nice, but for this cat, the best sight on the whole boardwalk is that familiar smiling face.

More from this collection

All 40 →
An older man in a green cardigan sleeps in a rope hammock between two trees with a grey cat asleep on his chest.Grandpa Climbed Into the Hammock for a Quick Rest. Someone Joined Him.An older man in a green cardigan hammers a wooden fence while a grey cat sits beside it holding a stick in its mouth.Grandpa Was Mending the Fence. His Apprentice Brought a Very Important Part.
An older man in a green cardigan works on a jigsaw puzzle at a kitchen table while a grey cat sits on a chair beside him.Half the Jigsaw Was Done. A Grey Cat Pulled Up a Chair to Watch the Rest.An older man in a cream cardigan knits on a couch while a grey cat sits in his lap tangled in loops of pale yellow yarn.Grandpa Started Knitting a Scarf. Then the Russian Blue Decided to Help.An older man in a grey cardigan sips lemonade from a glass on a shaded porch while a grey cat lies across his lap.Cold Lemonade on a Hot Afternoon, and the Comfiest Spot on the Porch Was TakenAn older man in a cardigan reads aloud from a book on the couch while a grey cat sits on a knit blanket looking up at him.Grandpa Reached the Most Exciting Part of the Book. His Listener Leaned In.