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An elderly couple repairs a wooden fence with tools while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits nearby holding a twig in its mouth. 36 / 38

Harold and Ruth Were Fixing the Fence When Saffron Showed Up With Supplies

AI imageabyssinianfence repairbackyard

The old backyard fence has seen better days, and Harold and Ruth have rolled up their sleeves to fix it. Ruth, in a green cardigan and glasses, braces a weathered board with one hand and works a tool with the other, while Harold, in a denim jacket and canvas cap, leans in with a hammer and work gloves. Right beside the broken rails sits Saffron, holding a small twig in her mouth with great dignity, as if she's brought her own lumber to the job. A blue bucket of gloves and tools, a few potted plants, and dry autumn leaves fill out the busy backyard.

Cats carrying sticks or toys around in their mouths is a fun and fairly common behavior. Some cats bring items to their people as a way of interacting, or simply because the object caught their interest. When you're doing home projects, though, keep a curious cat at a safe distance from hammers, saws, nails, and screws. Splinters, loose nails, and small hardware pieces can injure paws or be swallowed. It's a good idea to sweep the work area when you finish, put tools away, and check that no gaps in the fence are left where a cat could get stuck or slip out.

Every job goes a little better with a helper, even one who contributes nothing more than a twig and moral support. Harold and Ruth's fence will be standing tall again soon, with Saffron's stamp of approval.

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An elderly couple behind a frosty window holds up a ruddy Abyssinian cat, with a snowy yard and bare trees outside.Harold and Ruth Wanted Saffron to See the Snow. Her Face Said It All.An Abyssinian cat sits front and center on a lace tablecloth while an elderly couple laughs over tea and scones behind it.Ruth Set the Table for Two. Saffron Had Other Seating Plans.An elderly couple whittles wood on a rustic porch while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits among curled wood shavings, looking up.Two Pocketknives, One Porch, and a Cat Who Took the Shavings Very SeriouslyAn elderly man in green holds a ruddy Abyssinian cat at the bottom of wooden porch steps as his wife smiles beside him.The Walk Was Over, but Saffron Wasn't Quite Ready to Climb the Steps