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An older man in glasses plays checkers on a wooden porch table while a Bengal cat lies with its chin on the tabletop. 35 / 37

Hank Was One Move From Winning at Checkers. His Opponent Was Fast Asleep.

AI imagebengal catcheckersporch evening

The porch lantern has come on, glowing amber against the wood siding, and the evening has turned blue and quiet. Hank sits at the old plank table, glasses on, studying a wooden checkerboard with red and black pieces arranged mid-game. He's poised over his next move, fingers resting near a black piece, brow furrowed in concentration. Ziggy lies stretched out on the end of the table, chin resting flat on the wood, eyes heavy and watching the board from a low, lazy angle. A watering can and potted plants line the railing behind them.

Board games like checkers are a classic way for older adults to keep their minds active, and they're even better shared. Cats often want to be close to their people during calm activities, and resting a chin on a surface near you is a relaxed, trusting posture. If your cat likes to join game night, it can help to give it a soft spot on the table edge or a nearby chair so it's less tempted to swat pieces onto the floor. Small game pieces can be a choking hazard if batted away and chewed, so it's worth counting them at the end of the evening.

Whether Ziggy is rooting for red or black is anyone's guess. He seems content just to be the most relaxed spectator on the porch.

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