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A woman in a cream cardigan plays checkers on a porch table while a tortoiseshell cat rests her chin beside the board. 16 / 27

Maple Rested Her Chin on the Table While Grandma Planned Her Next Move

AI imagetortoiseshell catcheckersporch

A checkers board sits on the porch table, black and red pieces ready, and Grandma studies it with an amused tilt of her head. Her silver hair is pinned up, her cardigan is warm, and a garden of potted plants glows green behind her. In the foreground, Maple the tortoiseshell cat has laid her chin flat on the wooden edge of the table, her ears slightly turned and her pale green eyes half open. She looks like a spectator who is not very impressed by the strategy. A breeze rustles the leaves of the plants, and nobody seems to mind the pace.

Cats like to be near their people during activities, and a calm porch is a great place for them to watch the world. If you play board games with a cat nearby, remember that small pieces can be a choking hazard if she bats them off the table and tries to chew them. Keep a bit of space around her, and give her something to do, such as a toy or a window perch. Cats also appreciate predictable routines and soft places to rest.

Maple might not know the rules, but she definitely has an opinion. Grandma ponders her next move, and the cat keeps her post. The game could last all afternoon. There is a fine tradition of cats overseeing games of every kind.

A cat makes a very patient referee.

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