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An elderly man sorts old black and white photos on a wooden table while a blue point Ragdoll cat sniffs the pile. 6 / 34

Grandpa Wen Spread Out Decades of Old Photos. Misty Stopped at One in Particular.

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Old black and white prints cover the table edge to edge: portraits, wedding shots, and group pictures from decades past. Grandpa Wen, in an olive sweater vest and blue shirt, slides one photo out of the stack with careful fingers, his face thoughtful behind his glasses. Misty has stepped right onto the table, her fluffy cream body planted among the pictures, nose lowered to sniff one particular face. A mug of tea with the bag still in it sits at the corner, and a sofa draped in a knit throw fills the soft background.

Cats are drawn to anything their people are focused on, and a table full of paper is irresistible. Paper rustles, smells of storage boxes and old hands, and makes a satisfying surface to sit on, which is why cats are famous for lounging on books, laptops, and newspapers. For precious photos, that curiosity calls for a little planning. Keep originals in a box with a lid when you step away, and consider scanning or copying favorites so a stray paw or a knocked-over mug doesn't destroy anything irreplaceable. Hot drinks also shouldn't be left where a cat could tip them over. Offering a cat its own cozy spot nearby, like a folded blanket on a chair, can help keep it close without sitting directly on the project.

For many older adults, going through family photos is a meaningful way to revisit memories and pass stories on to the next generation.

Misty may not know the people in those pictures, but she's making sure every one gets a proper inspection. History, it turns out, is better with whiskers.

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