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An older man in overalls holds out a sandwich on a green park bench while a white cat leans in to sniff the filling. 27 / 35

Grandpa Unwrapped His Sandwich on the Park Bench. He Wasn't Eating Alone.

AI imagewhite catpark benchlunch

A green wooden bench, a mild afternoon and a sandwich stacked with sliced meat: it is lunchtime, and Hank has company. He sits in his denim overalls and an olive work shirt, holding the sandwich low in one weathered hand with a mischievous half smile. Cotton has stepped up onto the bench beside him and is leaning in, nose pressed to the edge of the bread, whiskers forward and golden eyes narrowed with pure focus. Trees, a wooden fence and potted plants stretch out behind them in soft afternoon light.

Cats are drawn to meat for good reason, since they are obligate carnivores who need animal protein to thrive. Still, a lot of people food is not a great fit for them. Deli meats tend to be very salty and are often seasoned with garlic or onion, which can be harmful to cats. Bread offers little nutrition, and sandwich spreads like mayonnaise or mustard can upset their stomachs. If you want to share a bite, a small piece of plain, unseasoned cooked chicken or turkey is a much safer choice, given only now and then so it does not unbalance their regular diet. Treats in general should be a small part of a cat's daily food. Your vet can help with portion advice.

Hank might be giving up a corner of his lunch today, and judging by that grin, he does not mind a bit.

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