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An elderly man with a trowel plants tomato seedlings in a raised bed as a Siamese cat digs a hole in the soil beside him. 15 / 38

Grandpa Was Planting Tomatoes. His Siamese Thought He Needed One More Hole.

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String lights glow along the fence as evening settles over the backyard garden. Clarence kneels at the edge of a raised wooden bed in his oatmeal cardigan, trowel in hand, tucking young tomato plants into rich dark soil beside tall bamboo stakes. A blue watering can, a pair of gardening gloves, and potted herbs sit close by. Right next to him, Sapphire has taken a keen interest in the project and is digging a hole of her own, front paw scooping dirt with total commitment, ears pinned forward in concentration. Clarence watches her over his glasses with an expression that says he is not sure whether to laugh or worry about his seedlings.

Cats dig in loose soil for several reasons. Soft earth feels a lot like a litter box, so freshly turned garden beds can be very tempting, and digging is also simply a natural behavior. If you want to protect your plants, chicken wire laid flat over the soil, rough mulch, or a designated digging patch elsewhere can help steer a cat away. It is also worth knowing that tomato leaves and stems, along with some other common garden plants, are not safe for cats to chew. Keep fertilizers and pest products stored safely, and supervise outdoor time so the garden stays fun for everyone.

With any luck, the tomatoes will survive their enthusiastic assistant and grow tall by midsummer. When they do, Clarence will probably tell the story of the evening Sapphire helped plant them. Every garden needs a little chaos.

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