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A white-haired woman in glasses reads a book aloud on a gray couch as a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits beside her listening. 27 / 34

Grandma Ruth Started Reading Out Loud. Her Most Devoted Listener Sat Right Up.

AI imageabyssinian catreadingliving room

Chapter three is getting good, and Grandma Ruth is giving it her best storytelling voice. She sits on the gray couch with a well-worn paperback open in her hands, glasses low on her nose, mouth mid-sentence, her sage quilted vest buttoned over a cozy sweater. Saffron sits upright on the cushion right beside her, ears perked and face turned up toward hers, every bit the attentive listener. A tan throw is folded over the back of the couch, a mug sits on the side table next to a potted plant, and the bookshelf behind them holds framed family photos and rows of old favorites.

Reading aloud is a lovely habit at any age. For older adults, it can be a pleasant way to keep the voice and memory active, and it turns a quiet afternoon into something a little more social, even when the audience has whiskers. Cats often respond to the familiar sound of their person's voice, and a calm, steady tone can be soothing for them too. Some shelters and libraries even run programs where people read to animals, since pets make such patient, non-judging listeners. If you have a cat who likes to settle in beside you, a regular reading time can become a comforting routine for both of you.

Saffron has no idea how the story ends, and frankly, he does not need to. As long as Ruth keeps reading in that soft voice, he will keep listening right where he is.

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A white-haired woman in a green quilted vest holds a ruddy Abyssinian cat wrapped in a plaid blanket by a rainy doorway.The Rain Caught Them on the Walk Home. Grandma Ruth Knew Exactly What to Do.A smiling white-haired woman scatters grain to mallard ducks at a pond while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on the stone edge.Grandma Ruth Was Feeding the Ducks. Saffron Sat Very, Very Still.
A smiling white-haired woman kneels on the grass at dusk holding a small ball out to a ruddy Abyssinian cat.Everyone Says Cats Don't Play Fetch. Grandma Ruth's Abyssinian Disagrees.A white-haired woman in glasses sips lemonade through a straw on a shady patio as a ruddy Abyssinian cat sniffs the glass.Grandma Ruth Poured a Tall Glass of Lemonade. Someone Wanted to Inspect It.A white-haired woman sips steaming coffee on porch steps at dawn while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits looking up at her.Grandma Ruth's First Sip of Coffee Comes With a Very Patient AudienceA white-haired woman in glasses whittles wood on a porch table as a ruddy Abyssinian cat sniffs the curled shavings.Grandma Ruth Started Whittling on the Porch. Saffron Couldn't Look Away.