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A silver tabby British Shorthair sits beside a spilled paper bag of potting soil on a patio with a small guilty smile. 30 / 30

A Silver British Shorthair Sits Beside a Patio-Wide Soil Spill

AI imagebritish shorthairpotting soilpatio

A bag of potting soil has toppled over on the patio, and dark earth spreads across the stones in a long spill. The silver tabby British Shorthair sits beside it with round amber eyes and a small, uncertain smile, her chunky paws neatly together. A wooden fence and a few plants sit blurred in the background.

British Shorthairs are sturdy, round-faced cats with plush coats, known for being calm, loyal and not too demanding. They are usually less acrobatic than some breeds, but they are still curious, and a fresh bag of soil is a mystery that has to be solved. The loose earth smells interesting and feels soft under the paws.

Potting soil may seem harmless, but some mixes include fertilizers, bark chips or additives that can upset a cat's stomach if eaten. Cats can also swallow bits of soil as they groom their paws. If you garden with a cat nearby, keep the bag closed and store it in a shed or on a high shelf. If she has eaten a lot of soil, or seems unwell, talk to your vet.

The patio is not a disaster, just a little untidy, and a broom can fix it in a few minutes. The cat, meanwhile, is certain that this was a team effort with the wind. She is sitting very still, hoping the spill looks like an accident that happened on its own.

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