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Older woman reads aloud from a small book on a green sofa as a gray Russian Blue cat sits beside her looking up. 31 / 38

Grandma Started Reading Her Book Out Loud. One Listener Didn't Look Away Once.

AI imagerussian bluereading aloudsofa

Chapter three, and the audience is rapt. Grandma Dottie sits on the green sofa with a small, well-worn hardcover open in her hands, reading aloud in an animated voice, her eyebrows raised at an exciting part. Sterling sits on the cushion right beside her, upright and attentive, gazing up at her face with golden-green eyes as though he doesn't want to miss a word. A knit throw is bunched behind them, a mug and folded napkin sit on the side table, and a tall snake plant stands guard by the window.

Reading aloud to pets is more than just charming. Many people find it relaxing, and it's sometimes used in library and school programs to help children build confidence, since animals are such nonjudgmental listeners. For older adults, reading aloud is a nice way to use your voice, keep the mind engaged and share quiet time with a companion. Cats often respond to the calm, rhythmic sound of a familiar voice, and many will settle nearby simply because they enjoy being close to their person. A cat who chooses to sit and look up at you while you talk is showing real interest and comfort.

Whether Sterling follows the plot is anyone's guess, but he's clearly a loyal fan of the reader. Some books are better shared, even when your listener prefers to keep their reviews to a slow blink.

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