Browse ›
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. 22 / 36

Grandma Poured Herself One Glass of Lemonade. Licorice Claimed the Rest of the Evening.

AI imageblack catporch eveninggrandparents

The porch light has just flicked on, and the evening air is still warm enough for a cold drink. Grandma Odessa sits in her favorite chair wearing a blue cardigan, sipping a tall glass of lemonade through a straw, a slice of lemon floating among the ice cubes. Licorice has claimed her lap without asking, his black body filling the space between her arms, his green-gold eyes half closed as he gazes off at the yard. Potted plants trail along the wooden railing, a welcome mat waits by the screen door, and a quilt is draped over the back of the chair.

Shady porches are a great place to relax on a warm evening, but it's worth thinking about the heat from your cat's point of view. Cats generally handle warmth better than many dogs, but they can still overheat, especially if they're older, overweight, or have flat faces. Signs like panting, drooling, or restlessness mean it's time to move somewhere cooler and call your vet. Lemonade, by the way, isn't a drink to share: citrus can upset a cat's stomach, and sugary drinks don't belong in a cat's diet. A bowl of fresh water in the shade is all your cat needs.

Some people have a porch swing; Odessa has a warm, purring lap cat, which might be even better. As the light fades and the crickets start up, it's easy to see why these two never hurry inside.

More from this collection

All 36 →
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 SecondAn elderly Black woman in glasses sits wrapped in a cream quilt beside a fireplace with a black cat resting on her lap.It Was Freezing Outside. Grandma Odessa and Licorice Found the Warmest Spot in the House.