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An elderly couple in cream sweaters has tea and cookies at a lace-covered table while a grey cat sits at the table edge. 19 / 37

Dot Set the Lace Tablecloth for Two. A Third Guest Arrived Right on Time.

AI imagerussian blueafternoon teagrandparents

Four o'clock, and the good teapot is out. Frank and Dot sit at a round table draped in white lace, both in cream knit sweaters, with cups of amber tea, a china teapot, and a plate of golden butter cookies between them. Dot smiles across at Frank, and he looks back with an easy, affectionate grin. A lamp glows warmly in the corner, shelves crowded with books and plants line the wall, and dusk settles in the window behind them. Seated in the place of honor at the table's edge, Misha rests one paw on the lace and gazes forward with calm green eyes, looking every bit the distinguished guest.

Afternoon tea is a lovely ritual, but a few items on the table aren't cat-friendly. Black and green teas both contain caffeine, which can be dangerous for cats, so keep cups and used tea bags out of reach. Cookies often contain sugar, butter, and sometimes chocolate or raisins, none of which belong in a cat's diet. Hot liquids are another concern, since a curious paw can tip a cup. If your cat loves joining the table, consider giving her a designated chair or a small mat nearby so she can be close without being in the middle of the china. Some households also keep a few cat treats on hand at teatime, which gives her something of her own to look forward to and makes polite behavior worth her while.

With Misha presiding over the lace tablecloth, every cup of tea becomes a slightly more formal occasion. Frank and Dot wouldn't have it any other way.

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A grey cat sits in the foreground as wood shavings fall around it while an elderly couple whittles on a porch behind.Frank and Dot Took Out Their Whittling Knives. Misha Found the Best Seat in the House.An older couple in pale yellow sweaters sips lemonade with lemon slices on a porch while a grey cat sits up close.Two Tall Glasses of Lemonade on the Porch. Misha Wanted to Know Where Hers Was.
An elderly couple in cream sweaters crouches at a park pond feeding mallard ducks while a grey cat sits at the edge.Frank and Dot Went to Feed the Ducks. Misha Sat Down at the Edge and Stared.A fluffy grey cat sleeps on a pile of quilt fabric in the foreground as an older couple in grey sweaters sews behind it.Frank and Dot Spent All Week on the Quilt. Misha Found the Best Part First.An elderly couple in cream sweaters plays an old wooden piano together as a fluffy grey cat sits on the bench in front.Frank and Dot Sat Down at the Old Piano. Their Duet Turned Into a Trio.An elderly couple in cream sweaters waters a flower bed with a green can while a grey cat sits among purple petunias.Dot Tipped the Watering Can Over the Petunias. One Bloom Had Whiskers.