Browse ›
An older man in glasses and overalls fills in a crossword at a breakfast table while a blue-eyed white cat sits beside him. 34 / 35

Grandpa Got Stuck on the Morning Crossword. His Cat Looked Like She Knew the Answer.

AI imagewhite catcrosswordbreakfast table

Breakfast is half eaten: a flaky croissant, a few pats of butter and a mug of coffee sit on the worn wooden table. Hank has moved on to the important business of the morning, pen in hand, glasses perched on his nose, frowning in concentration at a crossword grid. A second puzzle waits on the folded newspaper beside him. Cotton sits right at the corner of the table with one paw resting on the edge, her bright blue eyes turned toward the viewer with a calm, slightly smug expression, as if she solved 12 down ages ago. Shelves of dishes, a bunch of bananas and jars of flour fill the cozy kitchen behind them.

Crosswords and word puzzles are a popular way for older adults to keep their minds engaged, and cats benefit from mental challenges too. Food puzzles and treat-dispensing toys ask a cat to bat, paw or roll a toy to earn kibble, which taps into natural hunting behavior and can help prevent boredom and overeating. Simple versions can be made at home, such as hiding a few treats in an egg carton or a small cardboard box with holes cut in it. Rotating toys every few days keeps them feeling new. Starting with an easy puzzle and gradually making it harder helps a cat stay interested instead of giving up. Mental exercise is especially valuable for indoor cats.

Hank may be stuck on one tricky clue, but with Cotton supervising, the puzzle is bound to get solved before lunch.

More from this collection

All 35 →
An older man in glasses and overalls spreads old black-and-white photos on a table while a white cat sniffs at them.Grandpa Spread Decades of Old Family Photos Across the TableAn older man in denim overalls and a flat cap walks through a pumpkin patch beside a fluffy white cat looking up at him.Grandpa Went Out to Check His Pumpkins. Someone Fluffy Got There First.
An older man in overalls and a plaid shirt holds a white cat swaddled in a cream knit blanket inside a doorway.They Got Caught in the Rain on the Way Home. Grandpa Knew Just What to Do.A smiling older man in denim overalls sits on a boardwalk bench by the beach, petting a white cat lying across his lap.Grandpa Sat Down on the Boardwalk at Sunset. His Cat Made It Even Better.An older man in overalls flips a pancake over a gas stove while a white cat sits on the kitchen counter in the foreground.Grandpa Tossed the Pancake in the Air. His Cat's Eyes Never Left It.An older man in overalls moves a checker piece on a porch table while a white cat rests its chin on the wood nearby.Grandpa Was Deep in a Game of Checkers. His Cat Had Her Own Way of Playing.