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A grandmother in glasses waters pink and purple flowers while a large brown tabby Maine Coon sits in the flower bed. 3 / 36

Nora Watered the Flowers and Maple Took Her Seat in the Bed

AI imagemaine coongardenflowers

The sun is low, the light is soft and Nora is making her rounds with the watering can. A thin stream of water falls over pink petunias and tiny purple blooms while Maple the Maine Coon sits right in the flower bed like a furry supervisor, tail curled around her, big green-gold eyes turned toward the camera. Nora's silver hair is up in a loose bun and her glasses rest low on her nose. Behind them, a small blue house, a row of terra cotta pots and a pair of worn shoes by the step finish the scene.

Gardens are wonderful places for cats, but a few cautions help. Some garden plants are toxic to them, including lilies, and fertilizers, slug bait and mulch made from cocoa shells can be harmful. If you can, choose pet-safe plants and keep chemicals locked away. Water your garden in the cool of the evening when the sun is gentler, and make sure your cat has shade and fresh water if she is outdoors. A Maine Coon's thick coat is built for cold, so hot afternoons can be hard on her. Supervised time or an enclosed patio, sometimes called a catio, allows her to enjoy the outdoors safely.

Maple doesn't help with the watering, but she clearly considers herself the garden's most important feature. Nora doesn't mind, because plenty of gardeners have been outranked by a cat before. Flowers drink, the air cools and the last bit of sun warms the leaves. Together they make the evening feel unhurried, as if there were all the time in the world.

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A grandmother with a hammer repairs a wooden fence while a large tabby Maine Coon holds a nail in her mouth.Nora Reached for a Nail and Maple Already Had One ReadyA smiling grandmother holds a bowl of popcorn while a large brown tabby Maine Coon sniffs it on a cozy couch.A Bowl of Popcorn Never Had a Chance Against Maple's Nose
A grandmother gently tucks a blanket around a large brown tabby Maine Coon lying in a round gray pet bed.Grandma Nora Tucked Her Big Maine Coon In for the NightA grandmother with a pencil works a crossword at the breakfast table while a large tabby Maine Coon sits and watches.Nora Was Stuck on One Clue and Maple Looked Very ConfidentA laughing grandmother reaches up to a clothesline as a large tabby Maine Coon clings to a hanging white sheet.Laundry Day Got Interrupted by a Maine Coon Hanging From a SheetA smiling grandmother in a knit cardigan sits on a truck tailgate with a large tabby Maine Coon beside an open field.Nora and Maple Sat on the Tailgate as the Field Turned Gold