Browse ›
A smiling elderly Black woman in a gray cardigan sways in a sunny kitchen as a black cat with its tail raised walks by. 21 / 36

Grandma Odessa Started Swaying to the Radio. She Wasn't Dancing Alone for Long.

AI imageblack catkitchen dancegrandparents

Somewhere a radio must be playing, because Grandma Odessa is moving to a slow, easy rhythm by the kitchen counter. She's wrapped in a long gray cardigan over a blue tee, eyes lowered, smiling at her dance partner. Licorice is weaving right alongside her, black tail held high and curved at the tip like a question mark, his green eyes looking up as he matches her sway step for step. Morning light spills through the window over the sink, catching a bowl of lemons and limes, a folded blue dish towel, a toaster, and a little potted plant on the sill.

That upright tail is one of the friendliest signals a cat can give. A tail held high, especially with a little hook at the end, generally means a cat is feeling confident and happy to see you, and it's often paired with rubbing against your legs to share scent. Cats can't wag like dogs, but tails still say plenty: a slow swish may mean focus, while a puffed or lashing tail signals stress. When dancing or moving around with a cat underfoot, take small steps and watch where you land, because a sudden swerve around the ankles can cause a trip, especially for anyone with balance concerns.

Licorice has clearly picked up the steps without a single lesson. It's a slow dance for two in a sunny kitchen, with no audience and no judges, which is exactly how the best dances usually go.

More from this collection

All 36 →
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.A black cat with flour on its nose sits by a mixing bowl while an elderly Black woman shapes cookies on a baking sheet.Grandma Odessa Turned Her Back on the Cookie Dough for One Second