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A grandma with a silver braid hand-stitches a patchwork quilt while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sleeps curled on fabric scraps. 21 / 26

Ruth Set Aside a Pile of Fabric Squares for Her Quilt. Big Mistake.

AI imageabyssinian catquiltingsewing corner

Soft window light spills over Ruth's sewing corner, where everything is fabric: folded quilts stacked on a shelf, a basket of thread spools and squares, and a patchwork quilt in blues, creams, and gold spread across her lap. Her glasses are pushed up into her silver hair and her braid hangs down her denim shirt as she pinches a needle and pulls the thread through with practiced care. A cup of tea cools at her elbow. Curled in a tight cinnamon circle on the pile of floral fabric scraps, Saffron is fast asleep, chin resting on her paws, eyes peacefully shut.

Piles of fabric make perfect cat beds: they're soft, warm, and full of familiar smells. But a sewing area also holds a few hidden dangers. Thread, yarn, and string are especially risky because cats love to play with them, and swallowed string can cause serious intestinal blockages that need emergency care. Needles and pins can be swallowed or stepped on, too. It helps to keep thread wound and stored in closed containers, use a lidded pincushion, and sweep the floor for stray pins after each session. If you ever spot thread hanging from a cat's mouth, don't pull it; call your vet right away.

Saffron has chosen napping over mischief today, which suits Ruth perfectly. The quilt grows one square at a time, and its first official tester is already hard at work.

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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.A grandma with a long silver braid and denim shirt holds a cinnamon Abyssinian cat up to a window overlooking a snowy yard.The First Snow Came Overnight. Grandma Ruth Knew Exactly Who Had to See It.