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A ruddy Abyssinian cat sits in a muddy pumpkin patch in the foreground while a smiling white-haired woman stands behind. 12 / 34

Grandma Went to Pick Pumpkins. Her Cat Had His Own Plans for the Patch.

AI imageabyssinian catpumpkin patchautumn

Orange pumpkins peek out from tangled, drying vines on every side, and the path is a soft carpet of fallen leaves and straw. Saffron has trotted a few steps ahead and paused in the middle of the patch, nose lifted, big ears turned toward some sound only he can hear. A few paces behind him stands Grandma Ruth, white hair pinned up, a dark green quilted vest over her gray sweater, hands relaxed at her sides and a fond smile on her face as she lets her cat set the pace. Baskets and wooden posts line the edge of the field under a pale autumn sky.

Fall outings can be lovely with a pet, but a pumpkin patch has a few things worth watching. Plain, cooked pumpkin is often fine for pets in small amounts, but the stems, leaves, and moldy or rotting pumpkins can upset a stomach, so it is best to keep curious noses away from decaying produce. Farm fields may also have been treated with fertilizers or pest products, and uneven ground hides sharp sticks. If you bring a cat outdoors, a well-fitted harness and leash is a must, since even calm indoor cats can bolt when they hear a strange noise. Afterward, a quick check of paws and fur for burrs or ticks is a good habit.

Ruth was supposed to be choosing pumpkins for the porch steps. Instead she is mostly watching Saffron explore. That seems like a perfectly good way to spend an autumn afternoon.

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