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Elderly couple raking autumn leaves on a porch path as an orange cat leaps into the pile with ears back and paws out 4 / 33

Harold and Bev Finally Got the Leaves Into a Neat Pile. Toffee Noticed.

AI imageexotic shorthairautumn leavesbackyard

Two rakes, one porch path and a whole lot of fallen leaves: it should have been a simple fall chore. Harold and Bev, laughing in their matching cream sweaters, had only just started gathering the brown and gold leaves into a pile when Toffee decided the job needed his help. Caught in mid-leap, the red tabby Exotic Shorthair sails forward with his ears back, front paws stretched and stubby tail up, heading straight for the crunchiest part of the heap. Pots of orange mums, a little pumpkin, a wicker basket of pinecones and a pair of rubber boots by the blue door make the porch look like autumn itself.

Cats pounce on leaf piles for the same reason they chase toys: the rustle and movement trigger their hunting instincts. Play like this is good exercise, especially for a breed like the Exotic Shorthair, which is often content to lounge and can benefit from a little encouragement to move. If your cat spends time outdoors, keep an eye on what is hiding in the leaves, since piles can hold sharp sticks, insects or garden chemicals. Many experts recommend that cats go outside only with supervision, on a harness or in a secure enclosure, to protect them from traffic and other animals. Indoors, a paper bag or a crinkle toy can give a similar thrill on rainy days.

The leaves will need raking again, of course. Judging by the laughter, nobody minds doing it twice.

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