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A Siamese cat rests a paw on a patio table set with croissants, fruit and coffee as an elderly couple smile behind it. 28 / 31

Croissants, Strawberries and Coffee on the Patio. Someone Wanted a Seat at the Table.

AI imagesiamese catpatio breakfastweekend morning

Breakfast on the patio is a weekend treat, and the table is set with care: buttery croissants on blue-rimmed plates, a bowl of strawberries, coffee in clay mugs, a glass of water and a little dish of crumbs. Ruth, in a gray cardigan, holds her mug and smiles across at Harold, who sits in a plaid flannel shirt with his fork mid-air. Potted rosemary, a basket of garden tools and watering cans frame the sunny space. And in the very front, Miso has taken a seat right at the table's edge, one paw resting on the wood, his big blue eyes looking straight ahead as if to ask where his plate is.

Sharing a patio breakfast with a cat is a sweet idea, but most human breakfast foods are not great for felines. Buttery pastries are rich and high in fat, and some fruits, such as grapes, are toxic to many pets. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies are built to get nutrition from meat. If you want your cat to feel included, set down a small bowl of its regular food or a cat treat nearby. Keeping hot coffee out of reach is wise too, since caffeine is not safe for pets and a knocked-over mug can scald.

Ruth will probably slip Miso a little treat from her pocket anyway. On a morning like this, with sunshine and good company, it is hard to say no to those eyes.

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An elderly couple slow dance in a kitchen while a large Siamese cat sits in the foreground looking off to the side.Harold Asked Ruth for One Dance Between the Dishes. Miso Was the Only Witness.An elderly couple asleep on a plaid blanket in a sunny backyard, with a pale Siamese cat curled up asleep against them.Harold and Ruth Only Meant to Rest Their Eyes for a Minute on the LawnAn older couple kneels over a round gray pet bed, tucking a mint knit blanket around a blue-eyed Siamese cat.Ruth and Harold Made Up the Perfect Bed. Miso Had Some Thoughts About It.A smiling elderly couple share a vanilla ice cream cone at a kitchen table while a blue-eyed Siamese cat sits in front.They Agreed to Share One Ice Cream Cone. Nobody Asked the Siamese.