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An elderly Black woman in glasses and a gray hoodie holds out a small treat to a black cat on a grassy backyard lawn. 4 / 36

The Tennis Ball Was Right There. Licorice Was Only Interested in One Thing.

AI imageblack catbackyard playgrandparents

Out in the big backyard, a bright yellow tennis ball sits forgotten in the grass. Grandma Odessa has crouched low in her gray hoodie, glasses slipping down her nose, holding out a little treat between her fingers. Licorice leans in to sniff, whiskers forward and one golden eye half-squinted with interest. The yard behind them is happily cluttered: a blue watering can, a basket of garden tools, stacked clay pots, scattered toys, and a jacket tossed over a lawn chair, the kind of space where play happens every day.

Pairing play with a small reward is a gentle way to keep a cat engaged, and some cats will even learn to chase and return a toy. The trick is keeping sessions short and fun, ideally ending while your cat is still interested. Use tiny treats so they don't add up over the day, and count them as part of your cat's daily food. Interactive play also matters for older owners and older cats alike: a few minutes of tossing a ball or waving a wand toy gets everyone moving, sharpens a cat's reflexes, and helps an indoor-outdoor cat burn energy that might otherwise go into mischief.

Whether Licorice ever actually brings that tennis ball back is anyone's guess. Cats tend to play by their own rules. But Odessa's patient smile says she's happy to wait, and the treat is a pretty convincing argument for giving it a try.

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An elderly Black woman in a plaid shirt holds a bamboo fishing pole on a wooden dock while a black cat sits close beside her.Grandma Went Fishing for Some Peace and Quiet. Licorice Invited Himself.An elderly Black woman kneels on a wooden floor scattering corn for two brown hens while a black cat watches nearby.Grandma Odessa Scattered the Chicken Feed. The Hens Weren't the Only Ones Interested.An elderly Black woman in a denim shirt naps on a blanket in the grass with a sleeping black cat curled against her.Grandma Odessa Lay Down on the Lawn for Just a Minute. Licorice Had Other Plans.An elderly Black woman sorts black-and-white photos at a kitchen table while a fluffy black cat sniffs the pictures.Grandma Spread Out a Lifetime of Old Photos. Licorice Picked a Favorite.