Browse ›
An elderly woman kneels in a garden planting tomato seedlings with a trowel while a calico cat digs in the soil beside her. 13 / 21

Abuela Rosa Planted Tomatoes All Morning. Her Calico Was Busy With a Project Too.

AI imagecalico catgardeningbackyard

Two gardeners are hard at work in this backyard, though only one of them is following the plan. Abuela Rosa kneels in the dark soil in a denim shirt and floral apron, glasses on, firming the earth around a young tomato seedling with a small trowel. A few feet away, Canela is fully committed to a project of her own, front paws deep in a fresh hole, sending clods of dirt flying behind her. Terracotta pots, a metal watering can, a bag of potting mix, and rows of leafy little plants fill the sunny yard.

Cats dig in garden beds for the same reason they use a litter box: loose, soft soil feels like the perfect place to bury things. Freshly turned earth is especially tempting, which is why newly planted beds often attract neighborhood cats. If you garden with a cat around, a few gentle strategies help. Covering bare soil with mulch, pine cones, or chicken wire laid flat makes it less inviting, and giving your cat a designated sandy patch elsewhere can redirect the urge. It is also worth knowing that tomato plants themselves, particularly the leaves and green stems, can upset a cat's stomach if chewed, so discourage nibbling. Keep fertilizers, snail baits, and pesticides well out of reach, and choose pet-safe products whenever you can. If you think your cat has eaten something harmful, talk to your vet promptly.

Canela's hole may not grow any tomatoes this year. But judging by her enthusiasm, she believes she is the most productive gardener in the family.

More from this collection

All 21 →
An elderly woman knits with gray yarn while a calico cat sits on her lap, tangled in loose strands of the yarn.Abuela Rosa Was Halfway Through a Scarf When Her Calico Found the YarnAn elderly woman in a cardigan and floral apron sits on a boardwalk bench by the beach with a fluffy calico cat on her lap.Abuela Rosa Sat Down to Watch the Waves. Someone Else Got the Best View.
An elderly woman pours water from a metal watering can onto pink flowers while a calico cat watches the stream closely.Abuela Rosa Watered the Petunias. Her Calico Wanted a Closer Look at the Spout.An elderly woman in a denim shirt and floral apron sits on a blue pickup tailgate petting a calico cat near a field.The Field Work Was Done, and the Truck Tailgate Became Something Else EntirelyAn elderly woman in a floral apron brushes a calico cat lying on concrete back steps outside a house.Canela Sprawled Across the Back Step and Waited. Abuela Rosa Knew Exactly Why.An elderly woman in a green cardigan reads a handwritten letter while a calico cat rests its head on her knee.Abuela Rosa Unfolded an Old Letter, and Her Calico Knew to Come Close