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A fluffy orange cat with a dirt-smudged face sits beside a fresh hole in a garden at golden hour. 10 / 32

A Dirt-Dusted Orange Cat Has Been Busy in the Garden

AI imageorange catgardendigging

A fluffy orange cat sits in the garden at golden hour, looking up with round green eyes and a nose dusted with soil. Behind him a fresh hole has been dug in the dark earth, with a mound of crumbled dirt beside it, and tiny specks of mud cling to his whiskers and his bright, wispy fur.

The backyard is a mix of wooden fence, hostas, fallen leaves, and a rake leaning in the corner. Evening light is turning the soil copper and the cat's coat nearly the same color, so he looks almost like part of the garden.

Digging is natural cat behavior. Soft, loose soil is an inviting bathroom, and cats may also dig to bury scents, hunt for bugs, or just explore. If you garden, there are a few safe habits worth knowing. Some plants, mulches, and fertilizers can be harmful to pets, and cocoa mulch in particular is risky for dogs. Cover freshly turned beds with netting or chicken wire for a while, and give your cat a designated sandy corner or a pot of cat-safe grass to explore. Wipe muddy paws after outdoor time, and brush a longhaired cat to remove burrs and dirt. If a pet gets into anything chemical, call your vet right away.

The orange explorer clearly considers the hole a good day's work. It only needs a little more digging to become a proper treasure map.

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