Browse ›
Smiling older woman holds a rake as a gray Russian Blue cat bounds through a pile of autumn leaves, leaves flying in the air. 18 / 38

Grandma Worked Hard on the Perfect Leaf Pile. Sterling Noticed.

AI imagerussian blueautumn leavesbackyard

Raking leaves is a losing battle when Sterling is around. Grandma Dottie has worked hard to gather a crunchy pile of brown and gold leaves in the yard, and now she's crouched with the rake in hand, laughing, as her Russian Blue launches straight through the middle of it. Sterling is caught mid-bound with his front paws reaching forward, ears perked and eyes bright, while orange and yellow leaves twirl through the air around him. The house behind them is framed by potted mums and late-season shrubs.

Autumn leaves are a natural playground for cats. The rustling sound and unpredictable movement trigger a cat's instinct to chase, and leaping into a pile is great exercise. A few safety notes help keep the fun easy: check leaf piles before raking or bagging them, since cats like to hide inside. Wet, moldy leaves can harbor bacteria and mold, so fresh, dry piles are best for play. After outdoor time in the fall, it's also wise to check your cat's coat for ticks, which can still be active in cool weather, and to talk to your vet about appropriate parasite prevention.

The pile will need to be raked again, probably more than once. But a crisp fall afternoon spent laughing at a leaping cat is better than a tidy lawn any day. Dottie would surely agree.

More from this collection

All 38 →
Older woman stirs cookie dough in a metal bowl on a floury counter as a gray Russian Blue cat licks its lips beside her.Grandma Was Mixing a Bowl of Cookie Dough. Then She Noticed Sterling's Tongue.Older woman sprinkles feed toward mallard ducks at a pond while a gray Russian Blue cat sits calmly on the stone ledge.A Cat at the Duck Pond Sounds Like Trouble. Sterling Had Other Plans.
Smiling woman in a cardigan and rubber boots shovels a snowy driveway while a gray Russian Blue cat paws at the shovel.The Driveway Was Covered in Fresh Snow, and Grandma's Shovel Had a ChallengerOlder woman sorts black-and-white family photos on a wooden table as a gray cat leans in to sniff them.Grandma Spread Decades of Family Photos Across the Table. Sterling Found One He Liked.Older woman reaches up to pick a red apple while a gray Russian Blue cat sniffs fallen apples in the grass below.Grandma Was Picking Apples. Sterling Was More Interested in the Ones on the Ground.Smiling gray-haired woman holds a gray Russian Blue cat in her arms in front of vegetable stalls at an outdoor market.Grandma Went to the Farmers Market, but She Didn't Bring a Shopping Basket