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An elderly woman paints a watercolor landscape at an easel as her husband watches and an Abyssinian cat lies on the patio. 5 / 38

Ruth Was Painting a Meadow. Harold Kept Looking at Something Else.

AI imageabyssinianpaintingbackyard

A gentle watercolor landscape is taking shape on the easel: soft green trees, a winding stream, and a pale sky. Ruth holds the brush with a practiced touch, her gray hair in a loose bun and her blue shirt sleeves rolled just enough to stay out of the paint. Harold, wearing a flannel shirt and a green cap, leans in to admire the progress like a proud museum guide. And stretched across the patio stones right beside the easel is Saffron, the ruddy Abyssinian, completely at ease, as if she modeled for the whole thing. Garden tools lean against the wooden fence behind them, and potted herbs line the path.

Creative hobbies like painting, drawing, and crafts give the mind something absorbing to focus on, and many people find them calming at any age. Having a pet nearby can add to that relaxed feeling, since animals tend to settle in when their people are quiet and content. If you paint with a cat around, a little caution goes a long way. Keep rinse water covered or out of reach, store tubes and palettes after use, and wipe paws if your cat wanders through wet paint. Cats groom constantly, so anything on their fur ends up being licked off.

Ruth may be working on a meadow scene, but anyone looking at this backyard would say the better picture is already right there on the patio. Saffron has clearly decided that art appreciation is best done lying down.

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An elderly man brushes a ruddy Abyssinian cat with a pink-handled brush while his wife gently strokes the cat's head.Harold Grabbed the Pink Brush, and Saffron Knew Exactly What That MeantA ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on a dirt lane at dusk while an elderly couple walks hand in hand behind it past a porch light.Harold and Ruth Took Their Usual Sunset Walk. Saffron Insisted on Leading.
An elderly couple plays checkers on a wooden porch table while a ruddy Abyssinian cat rests its chin on the table edge.Ruth Was One Move From Winning at Checkers When She Noticed the RefereeAn elderly couple on a couch reads a handwritten letter together while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sleeps across their laps.Ruth Found an Old Letter in the Drawer. Saffron Picked the Perfect Moment.An elderly couple plays an old upright piano together while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits upright on the end of the bench.Harold and Ruth Sat Down for a Piano Duet. The Bench Had Room for Three.A ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on a breakfast table beside a crossword puzzle as an elderly couple works on it with a pencil.Ruth Had the Pencil Ready for 12 Down. Saffron Had Already Taken a Seat.