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A smiling silver-haired grandma in a cable-knit cardigan carries a fluffy white cat in her arms up concrete porch steps. 32 / 34

Pearl Walked All the Way Around the Block. The Porch Steps Were Another Story.

AI imagewhite catporch stepsafter a walk

The walk is over, and Pearl has apparently decided she's done using her own feet. Dottie climbs the concrete porch steps with the fluffy white cat bundled securely in her arms, one hand under Pearl's chest and the other supporting her back legs. Dottie's silver hair is pinned in a loose bun, her chunky cardigan sleeves pushed up, and she's smiling down with a look of warm amusement. Pearl rests her chin against Dottie's arm, eyes half-closed and utterly relaxed. Around them, the porch is cluttered with rain boots, a green watering can, a basket of gardening gloves, and a bag of supplies.

Carrying a cat comfortably is all about support. The best hold places one hand or arm under the chest just behind the front legs and the other under the hindquarters, so the cat's weight is evenly spread and its back legs aren't left dangling. Holding a cat close to your body helps it feel secure. Avoid lifting a cat by the scruff or by its front legs alone. Some cats love being carried and others only tolerate it, so watch for signs like a lashing tail, flattened ears, or squirming, and set them down gently if they want down.

Pearl clearly falls into the cats-who-enjoy-it category, at least at the end of a long outing. Dottie doesn't seem to mind the extra weight one bit.

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A silver-haired grandma sorts old black-and-white photos on a wooden table at night while a white cat sniffs them.Late at Night, Dottie Spread Out the Old Family Photos. Pearl Leaned In Close.A silver-haired grandma in a cardigan sits on a covered porch at dusk holding a fluffy white cat as rain falls in the yard.The Rain Came Down Hard Tonight. Dottie and Pearl Didn't Go Inside.
A silver-haired grandma in a knitted cardigan holds out a vanilla ice cream cone to a white cat sniffing it in a cozy room.Grandma Dottie Sat Down With a Vanilla Cone. Pearl Wanted a Closer Look.A silver-haired grandma in a cardigan scrubs a car with a yellow sponge while a white cat leaps through the hose spray.Dottie Was Scrubbing the Car When a White Blur Shot Through the SprayA silver-haired grandma in a cable-knit cardigan sleeps on the grass hugging a white cat that is also asleep.Grandma Dottie Lay Down in the Grass for a Minute. Pearl Had Other Plans.A silver-haired grandma in glasses and a knitted cardigan reads an old letter while a white cat rests on her lap.Dottie Unfolded a Letter She'd Saved for Years. Pearl Seemed to Understand.