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A ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on a breakfast table beside a crossword puzzle as an elderly couple works on it with a pencil. 11 / 38

Ruth Had the Pencil Ready for 12 Down. Saffron Had Already Taken a Seat.

AI imageabyssiniancrosswordbreakfast

Morning coffee is still steaming, apple slices and butter wait on a plate, and the crossword is half filled in. Ruth, pencil in hand, leans over the puzzle in her cardigan while Harold peers down from beside her in a green sweater, both deep in thought. There's just one complication: Saffron is sitting right on the edge of the newspaper, tall and composed, gazing straight ahead with an expression that suggests she knows every answer and isn't sharing. Kitchen cabinets, hanging dish towels, and a gray winter window complete the scene.

Puzzles like crosswords and word games are popular with older adults because they're fun, social, and keep the mind engaged. Cats, meanwhile, are notorious for sitting on whatever paper you happen to be reading. There are a few likely reasons: paper is often warm from the table or your hands, it's where your attention is, and a cat in that spot is guaranteed to be noticed. Rather than shooing your cat away every time, try placing a folded towel or a small bed right next to your workspace. Many cats are happy to settle close by as long as they can still keep an eye on you.

Harold and Ruth may need a little extra time to finish today's grid, but they don't look bothered. With good coffee, a shared puzzle, and a cat who thinks she's the editor, breakfast doesn't get much better.

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An elderly couple plants tomato seedlings in a garden bed as a ruddy Abyssinian cat digs energetically in the dark soil.Harold and Ruth Were Planting Tomatoes. Saffron Was Working on Something Else.An elderly couple sits under a cream quilt in front of a crackling fireplace with a ruddy Abyssinian cat on their laps.Harold Pulled the Quilt Over Their Knees by the Fire. Saffron Saw an Opening.
An elderly couple in winter hats shovels a snowy driveway while a ruddy Abyssinian cat stands playfully in a snowbank.The Driveway Needed Shoveling. Saffron Found the Snowbank First.An elderly couple naps head to head on a backyard lawn while a ruddy Abyssinian cat lies in front of them, half awake.Harold and Ruth Dozed Off on the Lawn. Somebody Stayed on Duty.An elderly couple reads the newspaper by lamplight on a sofa while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sleeps curled on the man's lap.Harold Opened the Evening Paper. Saffron Had Already Picked Her Page.An elderly couple washes an old silver car in the driveway while a ruddy Abyssinian cat swipes at the spray from the hose.Harold Turned On the Hose to Rinse the Car. Saffron Took It Personally.