Browse ›
A smiling white-haired woman scatters grain to mallard ducks at a pond while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on the stone edge. 29 / 34

Grandma Ruth Was Feeding the Ducks. Saffron Sat Very, Very Still.

AI imageabyssinian catducksgarden pond

A little flotilla of mallards has paddled right up to the stone edge of the pond, and Grandma Ruth is ready for them. Crouched low in a black quilted vest over a gray sweater, white hair twisted into a topknot, she sprinkles a handful of grain onto the water, smiling as a green-headed drake surges forward. Saffron sits perfectly still on the stone ledge beside her, tail wrapped around his paws, eyes cast downward at the ducks with an intensity that is both comic and a little worrying. Behind them stand a weathered fence, clay pots, and a window glowing with soft lamplight.

Cats are natural hunters, and even a well-fed house cat may feel a strong urge to stalk birds. Supervision matters any time cats and wildlife share a space, and many experts encourage keeping cats indoors or on a harness outdoors to protect local birds. As for the ducks themselves, it helps to know that bread is not a great food for them. It fills them up without much nutrition. Better options in small amounts include cracked corn, oats, birdseed, or chopped lettuce, scattered on the water or the bank. Feeding sparingly also keeps leftovers from fouling the pond and attracting pests.

For now, the peace holds. The ducks are busy with their grain, Ruth is enjoying the splashy commotion, and Saffron is content to watch the show from his front-row seat, at least for as long as Ruth keeps a gentle eye on him.

More from this collection

All 34 →
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.A white-haired woman in a green quilted vest sleeps in a rope hammock with a ruddy Abyssinian cat asleep against her side.Grandma Ruth Climbed Into the Hammock for a Nap. She Wasn't Alone for Long.A smiling white-haired woman in a green quilted vest sprays a hose at a car as a ruddy Abyssinian cat leaps at the water.Grandma Ruth Only Wanted to Wash the Car. Saffron Had a Better Idea.