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A gray-haired man in overalls plants a tomato seedling in a garden as a white Persian cat paws at the soil beside him. 2 / 36

Grandpa Was Carefully Planting Tomatoes. The Persian Had Her Own Gardening Style.

AI imagepersian catgardeningbackyard

The garden beds are freshly turned, and Earl is down on his knees in his denim overalls, glasses slipping down his nose as he settles a young tomato plant into the dirt. His hands are dark with soil and his focus is complete. Duchess has other ideas about how this should go. The white Persian stands right next to him, one fluffy paw raised mid-scoop, flinging a little spray of earth into the air. Her long coat is already picking up crumbs of dirt, and her flat face wears a look of total determination. Wooden stakes, seedlings, and a watering can fill the yard behind them.

Cats dig in loose soil for several reasons. Freshly turned garden beds feel a lot like a litter box, and digging is also a natural behavior for exploring and marking territory. If you would rather your cat leave the vegetables alone, try covering bare soil with mulch or placing a few stones around seedlings. Be aware that tomato leaves and stems contain compounds that can upset a cat's stomach, and many garden products such as fertilizers, slug pellets, and pesticides are harmful to pets. For long-haired breeds like Persians, outdoor time also means extra brushing to remove dirt and debris from that luxurious coat.

Earl's garden might end up with a few extra holes and a slightly dustier cat, but that seems to be part of the charm. Gardening with Duchess is never boring.

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