Browse ›
Elderly couple in patterned sweaters work a crossword at the breakfast table as a seal point Ragdoll sits on the table. 10 / 20

Harold Was Sure About 12 Across. Bev Wasn't. Duchess Had a Look.

AI imageragdollcrosswordbreakfast table

Seven letters, starts with a P, and Harold is sure he's got it. He taps the crossword grid with one finger while Bev peers over her glasses, not yet convinced. Today their matching sweaters are cream with a soft zigzag knit pattern, and the breakfast table is crowded with a mug of coffee, a dish of orange slices, a little succulent, a butter dish, and a set of keys. Sitting tall on the table right beside the puzzle is Duchess, the seal point Ragdoll, looking straight ahead with round blue eyes and an expression that suggests she knows the answer and is choosing not to share it.

Word games like crosswords are a popular daily ritual for many older couples, and keeping the mind engaged with puzzles, reading, and conversation is widely encouraged as part of a healthy routine. Breakfast tables, though, can tempt cats with things they shouldn't eat. Butter and other fatty foods can upset a cat's stomach, citrus peels and oils are best avoided, and coffee contains caffeine, which is toxic to pets even in fairly small amounts. Keeping mugs pushed back from the edge and food covered helps, and so does giving the cat her own chair to sit in nearby.

Whether that seven-letter word turns out to be right or not, it's already a good morning. Coffee, a puzzle, and a fluffy third opinion are hard to beat.

More from this collection

All 20 →
Elderly couple in cream sweaters knit on a couch while a seal point Ragdoll cat sits tangled in cream yarn between them.Two Knitting Projects, One Couch, and a Ragdoll Who Wanted InElderly couple in cream sweaters sit in green metal lawn chairs at sunset as a seal point Ragdoll sits in the grass in front.Harold and Bev Watched the Sunset. Duchess Watched Something Else.
Elderly couple in cream sweaters fish from a wooden dock and laugh, as a fluffy seal point Ragdoll sits close in front.Harold and Bev Went Fishing Off the Dock. Duchess Came to Supervise.Elderly couple in cream sweaters nap head to head on a plaid blanket on the lawn, a seal point Ragdoll awake beside them.They Lay Down on the Lawn for a Few Minutes and Fell Fast AsleepElderly couple in cream sweaters cook pancakes at a gas stove while a seal point Ragdoll cat sits on the counter watching.Bev Had the Spatula, Harold Had Advice, and Duchess Had a PlanElderly couple in cream patterned sweaters hold hands in a pumpkin patch as a fluffy seal point Ragdoll walks in front.Harold and Bev Came to Pick a Pumpkin. Duchess Was Leading the Tour.