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An older man in overalls moves a checker piece on a porch table while a white cat rests its chin on the wood nearby. 5 / 35

Grandpa Was Deep in a Game of Checkers. His Cat Had Her Own Way of Playing.

AI imagewhite catcheckersporch

A checkerboard sits on a rough plank table on the back porch, red and black pieces lined up mid-game. Hank leans in over it in his overalls and tan work shirt, brow furrowed, fingers resting on a black piece while he works out his next jump. Stretched along the front edge of the table is Cotton, her fluffy white body flattened out and her chin resting right on the boards. Her golden eyes are half lidded, watching the game with a sleepy, slightly unimpressed expression. A blue watering can, gloves and a screen door sit in the dappled light behind them.

When a cat rests its chin on a surface near you like this, it is often a relaxed, social gesture. Cats have scent glands on their cheeks and chin, and rubbing or pressing those areas against objects and people leaves a familiar scent that helps them feel at home. A low, flat posture with soft eyes is a good sign of comfort. That slow, half-closed gaze is sometimes called a cat smile or slow blink, and many owners enjoy returning it by blinking slowly back. Games with small loose pieces, like checkers, buttons or dice, are fun to share space with a cat, but it is wise to count pieces afterward, since cats love batting small objects onto the floor.

Hank may be focused on winning, but Cotton seems perfectly happy just being part of the game.

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