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An elderly Black woman sorts black-and-white photos at a kitchen table while a fluffy black cat sniffs the pictures. 10 / 36

Grandma Spread Out a Lifetime of Old Photos. Licorice Picked a Favorite.

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A whole lifetime is spread across the kitchen table. Grandma Odessa sits in her green cardigan, glasses perched on her silver hair, gently sliding old black-and-white snapshots into rows. Some spill from a woven basket at her elbow, others lie fanned out beside a cup of tea. And there, nose pressed right down to the pictures, is Licorice, inspecting each face with the seriousness of a family historian. His fur looks especially fluffy in the warm window light, and one paw is already creeping toward the pile. Behind them, the kitchen shelves are full of plates, plants, and a bowl of fruit.

Cats sniff new objects because scent is one of the main ways they understand the world. Old photos carry all sorts of interesting smells: paper, dust, a basket, and of course the hands that have held them. If you're working with keepsakes, it helps to give a curious cat a nearby perch or a cardboard box of their own so they're less tempted to walk across the table. Store delicate prints flat, in a closed box, away from sunlight and moisture. For cherished images, making scans or copies is a smart way to protect them from spills and playful paws.

Licorice can't know who's in those pictures, but he clearly understands they matter. Maybe that's why he's sticking so close. Sorting through memories feels a little easier with a warm, curious companion right beside you, sniffing every chapter of the story.

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