Hank Was Down to the Last Few Hundred Pieces. Ziggy Was Watching Every One.
The round kitchen table has been taken over by a big jigsaw puzzle, its edges finished and its middle still a scatter of gray and blue pieces. Hank leans over it in his denim shirt and overalls, glasses low on his nose, fingers pressing one piece carefully into place. A mug sits at his elbow, and a bowl of fruit and a potted plant brighten the counter behind him. On the wooden chair across the corner, Ziggy sits perfectly upright, staring at the puzzle with the intense focus of a cat who is absolutely certain he could do it faster.
Puzzles are a lovely pastime for older adults, offering a calm way to stay mentally engaged, practice focus, and pass a slow afternoon. A cat at the table, though, can turn a thousand-piece puzzle into a game of chase. Small pieces are tempting to bat around, and a cat that chews cardboard could swallow bits, so it helps to keep the puzzle on a board you can cover or move to a closed room between sessions. Giving the cat its own nearby perch, like a chair with a cushion, often satisfies its need to be part of the action without paws on the pieces.
Ziggy seems to have accepted the arrangement, at least for now. Every great puzzle needs a sharp-eyed consultant, and Hank has one who works for head scratches.
