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An older couple in cream sweaters pick red apples from a tree while a tortoiseshell cat sniffs fallen apples in the grass. 28 / 34

Walt Picked Apples Off the Tree. Mabel Inspected the Ones on the Ground.

AI imagetortoiseshell catapple pickingautumn

The apple tree beside the little blue house is heavy with fruit this year, and the harvest is in full swing. Walt stretches up to pluck a shiny red apple from a low branch, beaming through his glasses, while June holds open a canvas tote already filling with the day's haul. Down in the grass, Mabel the tortoiseshell has found the windfalls. She crouches low, nose pressed to a fallen apple, investigating it with the seriousness of a professional inspector. Late-season leaves scatter the lawn and more apples dangle in the trees beyond.

Orchards are full of interesting scents for a curious cat, but a few things are worth knowing. Apple seeds, stems and leaves contain compounds that can be harmful to pets, and fallen fruit that has started to rot may ferment or grow mold, which can upset a stomach. Most cats show little interest in eating apples, but it is still best to clear windfalls regularly and keep an eye on any pet who likes to chew. Wasps and bees also love fallen fruit in late summer and fall, so watch for stings around the ground. If a pet seems unwell after nosing around, talk to your vet.

June will probably turn today's apples into a pie or two, and Walt will happily eat more than his share. Mabel, meanwhile, will be perfectly satisfied with the warm kitchen and a good long nap afterward.

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An older couple in cream sweaters walk down a quiet country road as a large tortoiseshell cat strides ahead of them.Walt and June Took Their Daily Country Walk. Mabel Handled Navigation.An older couple in cream sweaters walk arm in arm through a pumpkin patch while a tortoiseshell cat walks beside them.A Stroll Through the Pumpkin Patch, and Mabel Has Her Eye on One
An older couple in cream sweaters sleep in a rope hammock between two trees with a tortoiseshell cat curled on their chests.The Old Rope Hammock Held Walt and June. Then Mabel Climbed Aboard.An older couple in cream sweaters whittle wood on a porch while a tortoiseshell cat watches curled shavings on the boards.Every Wood Curl Off Walt and June's Knives Had Mabel's Full AttentionAn older couple in cream sweaters share a sandwich on a wooden garden bench as a tortoiseshell cat crouches in front.One Sandwich, Two People, and a Tortoiseshell Positioned Just RightAn older couple in cream sweaters sit on the edge of a lake dock with feet in the water and a tortoiseshell cat between them.Walt and June Dipped Their Feet in the Lake. Then Mabel Joined Them.