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A black and white tuxedo cat with a dirt-smudged nose and wide yellow eyes sits beside a freshly dug hole in a garden. 9 / 23

A Tuxedo Cat Freezes Beside the Hole With a Dirty Little Nose

AI imagetuxedo catgardendigging

Wide yellow eyes, a pink nose smudged with soil, and whiskers sticking out in every direction: the tuxedo cat has clearly seen something he did not expect. He sits in the garden beside a fresh hole in the dirt, with crumbs of soil scattered over his white chest and the pale fur on his muzzle. Mounds of earth and small stones sit around the hole, and behind him potted plants, a wooden fence, and fallen leaves glow in the late sunlight. He seems frozen, as if the world has stopped for a moment.

Digging is natural for cats, who instinctively scratch at loose soil to bury waste or to explore. A fresh garden bed can seem like a giant litter box, which is why some cats treat plant beds as a bathroom or playground. Covering bare soil with stones, chicken wire, or mulch that is safe for pets can discourage digging, and giving your cat a sandbox or a safe patch of cat grass offers a better option. Many garden plants and fertilizers can be harmful to cats, so check what you grow and talk to your vet if you are unsure.

Black and white cats always look dressed for a formal occasion, and this one is a funny contrast, a gentleman in a tuxedo with a muddy nose. He may be a little shocked by his own adventure, but he does not appear to regret it. The garden will recover, and so will his dignity.

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