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An elderly Black woman in overalls plants a tomato seedling while a fluffy black cat digs in the soil beside her. 17 / 36

Grandma Odessa Was Planting Tomatoes. Licorice Was Digging Something Else.

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Planting day has arrived, and Grandma Odessa has a tray of tomato seedlings and a whole bed of freshly turned soil to fill. Kneeling in denim overalls and a plaid shirt, glasses pushed up into her silver hair, she cradles a young plant in both hands, smiling at the commotion beside her. Licorice has gone into full excavation mode, front paws churning, little clods of dirt flying out behind him as he digs a hole of his own. His fluffy black coat is already dusted with earth. Terracotta pots, a trowel, and rows of sprouting greens fill the busy backyard garden.

Digging comes naturally to cats, who instinctively scratch at loose soil to bury waste, which is why a freshly tilled garden bed can look a lot like a giant litter box to them. That's worth knowing for anyone growing food. To discourage it, try covering bare soil with mulch, laying down chicken wire or garden netting between plants, or giving your cat a designated sandy corner. Tomato plants themselves are another reason to supervise: the leaves and stems of tomato plants are considered toxic to cats, as are unripe green tomatoes. Wearing gloves while gardening and washing hands afterward is smart too.

Odessa is taking it all in stride, maybe because Licorice is technically helping. The holes just aren't quite where she wanted them. Every gardener needs a sense of humor, and this one has a furry assistant who keeps hers well exercised.

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