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A grandma moving a checker on a wooden board on the porch while a calico cat rests its head on the table edge. 26 / 31

Grandma's Checkers Game Has an Audience With Her Chin on the Table

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One careful move at a time, Grandma slides a black checker across the wooden board, deep in concentration. A mug and a pair of reading glasses sit nearby on the porch table. Her opponent, if you can call her that, has propped her chin right on the edge of the table: Maple, the calico, watching every piece with half-closed green eyes and a white paw tucked under her nose. Behind them, a basket of yarn, scattered gardening gloves and tools, a few potted plants and an open door hint at a relaxed afternoon on the porch.

Board games and puzzles are popular pastimes for many older adults, offering mental engagement, social connection and a pleasant way to pass the time. Pets often like to be part of the action, even if only as spectators. Cats in particular are drawn to small objects that slide, roll or click, so game pieces can quickly become toys. Keep small pieces counted and put away after play, since swallowed items can cause serious problems. If your cat insists on joining in, a small puzzle feeder or treat toy nearby can give them their own game to work on. Your vet can suggest enrichment ideas suited to your cat's age.

Some cats simply like being close, and resting a chin on a table is a sweet way of saying I am here with you.

Maple has not made a single move all game, but somehow she still looks like she is winning.

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