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An older man in glasses and a fishing vest reads a book aloud on a couch while a silver tabby cat gazes up at the page. 18 / 35

Grandpa Hank Opened His Book and Started Reading Out Loud. One Listener Leaned In.

AI imagesilver tabbyreading aloudliving room

Story hour has begun on the old blue couch. Grandpa Hank sits propped up among knitted pillows in his plaid shirt and fishing vest, round glasses low on his nose, holding a thick hardcover open and reading aloud with real gusto. His mouth is mid-sentence and his white mustache bristles with expression. Pewter sits upright on the cushion beside him, face tilted up toward the page, ears forward and eyes wide, as if waiting to find out what happens next. A side table holds a mug, a tissue box, and a potted plant, and stacks of books and a basket of slippers crowd the cozy room.

Cats are good listeners in their own way. They quickly learn the sound of their person's voice and can tell it apart from the voices of strangers. Many cats respond to being spoken to with slow blinks, a twitch of the ears, or a soft chirp. Reading aloud to a pet is also a lovely habit for people. It gives the day a pleasant routine, keeps the voice and mind active, and can make quiet evenings feel less lonely. Some libraries and shelters even run reading programs where children read to cats or dogs to build confidence, since animals listen without judgment. If your cat wanders off halfway through a chapter, do not take it personally; cats come and go as they please, and they usually return for the good parts.

Pewter may not follow the plot, but he has clearly decided that Hank's voice is worth sitting still for. That is a pretty high compliment from a cat.

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