Browse ›
An older couple in grey sweaters picks red apples into a basket while a grey cat sniffs fallen apples on the ground. 29 / 37

Frank and Dot Filled the Basket With Apples. Misha Had Her Own Inspection to Do.

AI imagerussian blueapple orchardautumn

Ripe red apples hang heavy on the branches, and plenty more have already dropped into the grass. Dot reaches up to pluck one from a low bough while Frank crouches beside a wicker basket, both in grey cable-knit sweaters, grinning as they add to the harvest. A canvas bag hangs from Frank's shoulder, and a watering can and a few garden tools sit near the house in the background. Low in the foreground, Misha has her nose pressed right to the ground, sniffing a fallen apple with total concentration, her big blue-grey body hunched among the leaves like a detective on a case.

Orchards are full of interesting smells for a cat, but a few things are worth watching. The flesh of an apple isn't toxic to cats, though they rarely want to eat it. The seeds, stems, and leaves, however, contain compounds that can release cyanide, so it's best not to let a cat chew on cores, twigs, or foliage. Fallen fruit that's been sitting a while can ferment or grow mold, and that can make pets sick, while rotting apples also attract wasps and bees that may sting a curious nose. If your cat roams the orchard with you, keep her on a harness or close by, check her fur for burrs and ticks afterward, and steer clear of any areas recently sprayed with pesticides. If she seems unwell after nibbling something, talk to your vet.

Frank and Dot will be baking pies by the weekend. Misha, meanwhile, is satisfied simply inspecting every apple that hits the ground.

More from this collection

All 37 →
An elderly couple in cream sweaters reads an old folded letter on a sofa while a fluffy grey cat dozes across their laps.Dot Found an Old Letter in the Drawer. Frank and Misha Settled In to Listen.An older couple in cream sweaters plays checkers on a porch while a grey cat rests its chin on the wooden table edge.Frank Was Deep in Thought Over the Checkerboard. Then Misha Joined the Table.
An elderly couple in cream sweaters shares breakfast at a patio table with croissants and avocado as a grey cat sits by.Breakfast on the Patio Looked Perfect Until Misha Pulled Up a SeatAn elderly couple in cream sweaters sits in the cab of an old pickup truck with a grey cat perched on the woman's lap.Frank Climbed Behind the Wheel of the Old Pickup. Dot Wasn't the Only Passenger.An elderly couple in cream sweaters sits on a weathered dock holding fishing lines as a grey cat sits in front of them.Frank and Dot Cast Their Lines Off the Old Dock. Misha Was Already Waiting.An elderly couple in cream sweaters holds a grey cat up against a window pane while snow covers the yard outside.The First Snow Fell Overnight. Frank and Dot Had to Show Misha Right Away.