Browse ›
An older couple plays checkers on a wooden porch table at dusk while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat rests its chin on the edge. 25 / 26

Ruth Was About to Make Her Winning Move. Saffron Leaned In to Watch.

AI imageabyssinian catcheckersporch

The porch light has just come on, and the game is getting serious. Ruth and Harold sit at a weathered wooden table on the back porch, an old wooden checkerboard between them with red and black pieces lined up in mid-battle. Ruth, in a green cardigan and glasses, leans over the board with a mischievous smile, clearly plotting her next move. Harold, in a plaid shirt and glasses, smiles down at their companion. Right at the corner of the table, Saffron has rested her chin against the edge, her ears tall and her golden eyes studying the board with an expression of deep concentration, as though she is about to offer advice.

Classic board games like checkers are a favorite pastime for many older adults, offering friendly competition, conversation, and a little mental workout. Cats, meanwhile, are often drawn to tabletop activities because of the small, movable objects. Many cats find game pieces irresistible to bat across the table, so expect the occasional checker to vanish onto the floor. Small pieces can also pose a choking hazard if a cat decides to chew one, so it is wise to put the game away after playing.

So far, Saffron is behaving like a perfect spectator, keeping her paws to herself and watching every move.

Whoever wins, the real victory is a warm evening on the porch, a friendly rivalry decades in the making, and a cat who would not miss it for the world.

More from this collection

All 26 →
An older couple hangs white sheets on a clothesline while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat steps through a sagging sheet.Harold Pinned Up the Last Clean Sheet. Ruth Started Laughing Before He Turned Around.An older couple sits on wooden back steps at dusk, each brushing a cinnamon Abyssinian cat standing between them.Ruth and Harold Each Grabbed a Brush. Saffron Stood Between Them Like Royalty.
An older couple laughs in a backyard garden as a cinnamon Abyssinian cat bounds toward a tennis ball on the grass.Harold Tossed a Tennis Ball Across the Yard. Saffron Took It Personally.An older couple washes a silver car with a sponge and hose as a cinnamon Abyssinian cat stands up to paw at the water.Everyone Says Cats Hate Water. Saffron Never Heard That Rule.An older couple leans over a round woven pet bed, tucking a blue cloth around a cinnamon Abyssinian cat.It Takes Both Ruth and Harold to Put Saffron to Bed Every NightAn older couple sits close on a low wooden dock with bare feet in the water while a cinnamon Abyssinian cat sits beside them.Ruth and Harold Dipped Their Feet in the Pond. Saffron Had Her Own Opinion About That.