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A calico cat with wide green eyes sits next to a knocked-over clay pot and soil scattered across a wooden floor. 17 / 21

A Calico Cat Looked Up With Innocent Eyes Beside the Toppled Plant

AI imagecalicoknocked-over plantcaught in the act

Her big green eyes seem to say, 'It was like this when I got here.' A calico cat sits on the wooden floor beside a clay pot that has been knocked on its side, with dark soil spilled across the boards in little clumps. A few leaves and a trailing root stick out of the pot, and crumbs of dirt cling to the edge of her white chest. Her orange, black, and cream patches are striped with a tabby swirl.

The room behind her is a little cluttered, with laundry in a basket, sandals on the floor, and a water bottle and magazines on a table. Warm light spills in from a window on the right. We'll call her Patches. She looks up with innocent eyes, ready to plead not guilty.

Houseplants are a popular target for cats, who love to nibble, dig, and bat at the leaves. Before you decide where to put a plant, check whether it is safe, because many common houseplants, such as lilies, pothos, and sago palms, can be toxic to cats. Your vet or a pet poison hotline can help you identify them. Place plants on high stands, use heavy pots, and cover soil with stones or mesh to discourage digging. Offer a pot of cat grass as a safe alternative. Calico cats are almost always female and are known for their lively personalities, so a bit of daily play helps. If your cat has eaten a plant, call your vet immediately.

Patches waits, wide-eyed and still, convinced that the plant tipped over by itself.

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