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A laughing elderly Black woman holds a bowl of popcorn on the couch while a black cat reaches a paw toward it. 20 / 36

Movie Night Hadn't Even Started When Licorice Made His First Move

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The movie hasn't even started, and the popcorn is already under negotiation. Grandma Odessa is curled up on the couch in a green henley, a plaid throw tucked behind her, holding a big bowl of fresh popcorn in her lap. She's grinning down at Licorice, who has planted himself right next to her and hooked one black paw over the rim of the bowl. A few fluffy kernels have already escaped onto the cushion. The side table holds the remote, a tissue box, a stack of books, reading glasses, and a mug, all the essentials for a cozy night in.

Plain, air-popped popcorn isn't toxic to cats, but it isn't a great snack for them either. Movie-night popcorn usually comes loaded with butter, salt, and seasonings that can upset a cat's stomach, and some flavorings, like garlic or onion powder, are harmful to pets. Unpopped kernels and hard hulls can also be a choking hazard or get stuck in teeth. Many cats are more interested in batting a piece across the floor than eating it anyway. A safer move is keeping a few cat treats on the side table, so your cat gets a movie snack without raiding your bowl.

Licorice may or may not care about the film, but he's definitely committed to the snack portion of the evening. Odessa seems ready to share the couch and the company, if not the popcorn. Every movie night is better with a co-star like this.

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A smiling elderly Black woman in a gray cardigan sways in a sunny kitchen as a black cat with its tail raised walks by.Grandma Odessa Started Swaying to the Radio. She Wasn't Dancing Alone for Long.An elderly Black woman in a blue cardigan sips lemonade through a straw on a porch at dusk with a black cat on her lap.Grandma Poured Herself One Glass of Lemonade. Licorice Claimed the Rest of the Evening.
An elderly Black woman in a cream sweater holds a soaking wet black cat wrapped in a plaid blanket inside her entryway.The Sky Opened Up Halfway Through Their Walk. Licorice Came Home Looking Like This.An elderly Black woman with a canvas tote walks through a patch of orange pumpkins while a black cat walks beside her.Grandma Went Pumpkin Picking. Her Black Cat Had Strong Opinions on Which One.A smiling elderly Black woman pins white sheets on a clothesline as a black cat pushes out from between the hanging laundry.Grandma Odessa Pinned Up the Last Clean Sheet. Then the Laundry Moved.An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan sleeps on a cushioned porch swing with a black cat asleep on her lap.The Porch Swing Was Rocking Slower and Slower. Then Everything Went Quiet.