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An elderly couple picking red apples in an autumn orchard while a Siamese cat walks among fallen apples in the grass. 4 / 31

Grandpa Filled the Apple Bag. The Siamese Had His Own Job in the Orchard.

AI imagesiamese catapple orchardautumn

The orchard is heavy with fruit, and Harold and Ruth are in no hurry to leave. Ruth, in an olive jacket with her silver hair pinned back, holds up a shiny red apple and laughs at something Harold has said. He wears a flat cap and plaid shirt, with a canvas picking bag slung across his chest and already half full. Down at their feet, Miso the Siamese has taken on the role of quality inspector. He pads through the grass and fallen leaves, nose low, sniffing each windfall apple as if deciding which ones meet his standards. A wheelbarrow and a weathered shed wait in the background.

Cats are natural investigators, and their sense of smell is far keener than ours, so a new place full of fruit, leaves and wildlife scents is endlessly interesting. If you bring a cat along on an outing like this, a well-fitted harness and leash are the safest choice, since unfamiliar open spaces can spook even a calm cat. Apple flesh is not toxic to cats in small amounts, but the seeds, stems and leaves contain compounds that can be harmful, and rotting fruit can upset the stomach. It is best to let your cat sniff and explore but not snack. Bring water, and keep an eye out for bees around fallen fruit.

Harold and Ruth will go home with a bag of apples for pie. Miso will go home with a head full of new smells, which, for a cat, might be the better haul.

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