Browse ›
A grandma with a silver braid sits in a wooden rocking chair by lamplight while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sleeps at her feet. 20 / 26

Grandma Ruth Loves Her Rocking Chair. Tonight She Isn't Rocking at All.

AI imageabyssinian catrocking chairnap time

Lamplight pools across the cozy room, catching the edges of a fringed throw on the sofa and a stack of folded blankets by the window. Ruth sits back in her old wooden rocking chair, silver braid falling over her denim shirt, gazing off to the side with a soft, contented expression. She isn't rocking at the moment, and there's a good reason. Curled on the rug right beside the rocker's runners, Saffron is fast asleep, chin tucked against her paws, ears relaxed, tail wrapped around her body in a tidy cinnamon ring.

That curled-up position is a classic for sleeping cats. It helps conserve body heat and protects their belly, and it's often a sign of a cat that's comfortable but still a little cautious. A cat stretched out flat or belly-up is usually even more relaxed. Since cats love to nap near their people, rocking chairs and recliners can pose a hidden risk to tails and paws. It's a good habit to glance down before you rock or lower a footrest, and some owners place a cat bed slightly to the side of a rocker so their pet can stay close without being underfoot.

Ruth seems to have made that habit long ago. For now, the chair stays still, the lamp stays on, and Saffron gets to sleep as long as she likes.

More from this collection

All 26 →
A grandma with a silver braid hand-stitches a patchwork quilt while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sleeps curled on fabric scraps.Ruth Set Aside a Pile of Fabric Squares for Her Quilt. Big Mistake.A grandma with a silver braid paints a watercolor landscape at a wooden easel while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat naps below.Grandma Ruth Set Up Her Easel in the Garden. Her Muse Fell Asleep.
A grandma wrapped in a cream cable-knit blanket sits by a stone fireplace holding a cinnamon Abyssinian cat on her lap.Ruth Wrapped Herself in Her Warmest Blanket by the Fire. It Got Even Cozier.A grandma with a silver braid plays an old upright piano while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sits beside her on the bench.Ruth Sat Down at the Old Piano. She Didn't Expect to Share the Bench.A grandma with a silver braid sleeps in a rope hammock under trees while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sits alert on her chest.Grandma Ruth Fell Asleep in the Hammock. Saffron Stayed Wide Awake.A grandma in a denim shirt and boots shovels snow from a driveway while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat paws at the snowbank.Ruth Went Out to Shovel the Driveway. Saffron Found the Snowbank First.