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An older man in a cream cardigan waters garden pots with a metal can while a calico cat watches the spray. 15 / 39

Otis Was Watering the Flower Beds. Clementine Couldn't Look Away.

AI imagecalico catgardeningflower beds

Evening chores are underway in the garden, and Otis is crouched beside the beds with a silver watering can tipped just enough to send a bright thread of water into the soil. His cream cardigan and glasses are the same as ever, and he is smiling down at his work. Terracotta pots, a pair of gardening gloves, and a basket of small tools crowd the ground behind him, with a blue cloth tossed over the edge of a planter. Clementine sits close by, her calico face tilted toward the stream, ears up, eyes following the droplets as though they might jump out at her.

Many cats are fascinated by moving water, even if they would rather not get wet. A thin stream catches the light and makes a sound, which engages both their eyes and ears. Letting a cat watch from a safe distance is a fun way to include her, as long as she does not wander into the spray. Garden plants deserve a quick check, because some common flowers and houseplants can upset a cat's stomach if she chews them, and fertilizers and garden chemicals are best stored out of reach. Fresh water in a shallow bowl nearby also helps, since a cat outdoors can get thirsty. If you are not sure whether a plant is safe for her, talk to your vet.

Otis finishes one pot and moves on to the next, with Clementine shuffling along to keep her view. By the time the last flowers are watered, she will have studied every drop.

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An older man in a cream cardigan reads from an open book on a sofa while a calico cat sits beside him, listening.Otis Started a New Chapter Out Loud. Clementine Listened to Every Word.An older man in a green cardigan smiles as a calico cat walks beside him through a field of pumpkins and vines.Otis and Clementine Took a Slow Walk Through the Pumpkin Patch
A calico cat lies on her back wrapped in cream yarn on an older man's lap as he knits with glasses on.Otis Was Making Good Progress on the Knitting. Then Clementine Joined In.A calico cat swats at a stream of water from a hose as an older man in a cardigan scrubs a blue car with a sponge.Clementine Found the Hose While Otis Was Washing the Old Blue CarAn older man in a green cardigan reaches for an apple on a branch while a calico cat sniffs fallen apples in the grass.Otis Reached for the Best Apple on the Branch. Clementine Checked the Ground.An older man in a green cardigan holds a calico cat up to a frosty window as snow falls outside.Otis Held Clementine Up So She Could See the First Snow