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A grandma with a silver braid smiles at a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sitting at a lace-covered table set for afternoon tea. 8 / 26

Ruth Set the Lace Tablecloth for Afternoon Tea. Only One Guest Showed Up.

AI imageabyssinian catafternoon tealace table

The lace tablecloth is out, which means this is a proper afternoon tea. A blue-gray teapot, a cup of pale golden tea, a scone with jam and butter, and a little dish of raspberries are arranged just so. Behind the table, sunlight falls on a cluttered sideboard with potted plants, a bottle, and a jar of wooden spoons. Ruth sits with her hands resting near her cup, her silver braid draped over her denim shirt, laughing softly down at her guest. Saffron sits upright at the table's edge, chin raised, staring at Ruth with an expression of grave, polite expectation.

Abyssinians are often called the clowns and companions of the cat world: intelligent, social, and eager to be involved with their people. They usually aren't lap cats in the classic sense, but many like to sit close and watch everything that's going on. Hot tea and cats are worth a quick safety thought, since a tipped cup can scald, and caffeine is harmful to pets. Lace tablecloths can also tempt a playful cat to pull, bringing china down with it. Keeping hot drinks toward the center of the table and giving your cat a chair of its own nearby helps keep tea time calm.

Saffron doesn't need a teacup to feel included. She has a seat at the table and Ruth's full attention, which is all any guest of honor could ask for.

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