How to (responsibly) let your cat outside

Last April, the Washington Post published an article titled, "How to (responsibly) let your cat outside" -- as you can imagine the comments section was in an uproar and very anti-cat. Few people read past the headline. The article itself was actually very balanced and discussed leash-training your cat (as I have easily done) and featured an image from iStock.

The article's author, Colleen Grablick, writes about her cat’s experience and shares research on outside cats. She discusses:

- Letting your cat choose what it wants. All cats have unique personalities and needs, just as we humans do. Your cat should indicate its interest (or not) in outdoor exploration at its own pace,

- Go gradually. Take your time and be patient. Do as much or as little as your cat wants. Don't rush it or push your own agenda on the cat.

- Take precautions such as surpervising them at all times, checking for fleas and ticks, providing water and shade on hot days, etc.

Grablick also talks about the catio, sunroom-like spaces, or other outdoor enclosures to give the cat a safe taste of outdoors. 

Wear Your Green for St. Gertrude!

Here is an update of one of our most popular posts:

Thank you to the Crazy Cat Ladies Community on Facebook for letting my know about Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, who is the patron saint of Cats AND Gardening. 

This year, we have brand new art depicting St. Gertrude by Washington Gardener Magazine intern Skylar Drew!

The 17th of March is her Saint's Day, which she shares with St. Patrick. "Fine weather on her feast day meant it was time to begin spring planting." This may also explain why we think of St. Patrick's Day as the traditional day for early spring crop sowing -- especially peas and potatoes -- even though St. Pat has nothing to do with gardening.

She lived from 626 to 659. According to Catholics Online, "Gertrude was a mystic, (who was) gifted with visions. She befriended the Irish saints Foillian and Ultan." You can read more about her life here and here.

Let's reclaim the day for St. Gertrude and wear your green proudly in memory of her love for gardening and for cats!

Cats. Gophers. Sweet Peas

Over the years, GreenPrints magazine has published many stories about cats and gardens. One of my faves is "Cats. Gophers. Sweet Peas: A Problem Of Boundaries" by Terilynn Mitchell. It is a "story about what happens when cats and gophers get mixed up in the garden." You can read it here.

ChunkyMonkey by Amina Illustration

I'm so in awe of talented artists who can depict cats and gardens in all their glory.  
Amina is an illustrator who truly knows both of these topics and the Instagram Reel linked below shows her process in creating a commissioned piece of two internet-famous cats -- @kingchunky_spymonkey and @chunkytheclotho. I think my favorite part of the video is seeing her own orange cat watching her paint from a nearby windowsill full of plants.

In her bio, she says, "I am inspired by plants and nature as a whole, and try to inject it into my life and my art as much as I can ! My strengths lie in traditional art, portraiture, narrative illustration, and spoiling my cat."

BTW, postcards and prints of "ChunkyMonkey" are available from just $6! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amina Akhmadeeva (@amina.illustration)

Bad to the Bone

Watch on TikTok

This fiesty orange cat on a jade plant was shared on TikTok by Olga Omelianska. Commenters are going nuts pointing out the cuteness of the cat and the strength of this jade plant to put up with this abuse! My jade plants fall apart at the slightest touch, this one is a champion! They also point out that the flowerpot itself must be somehow affixed to the window shelf as it would normally have all come tumbling down at the first cat leap onto the plant.

Top Garden Cats of 2024

Looking back at the last year, we had many wonderful garden cat photos and stories to share. I love scrolling back and seeing all those fantastic felines. Please keep on sending them in! 

Here are the top 5 posts of 2024 ranked by the highest number of page views (in countdown order):

5. Waldorf the Hard Worker

https://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2024/06/waldorf-hard-worker.html
Heather Andrews of The Thoughtful Gardener sent in some fun pics of another "hard-working" garden cat -- Waldorf, the official cat greeter at Stoney Creek Valley Farm

4. A Garden Cat's Holiday Wish List: Gifts for Outdoor-loving Cats and Kittens

https://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-garden-cats-holiday-wish-list-gifts.html
Coming in fourth, is another favorite past post updated for this year with new links and garden cat gift ideas.

3. Peek-a-Boo

https://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2024/12/peek-boo.html
Kathy Stevens shared this photo of her shy kitty, Spicy P, looking out from under the Japanese Hakone grass in her garden.

2. Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous to Pets

https://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2024/12/poinsettia-are-not-poisonous-to-pets.html

This is an updated post that is a perennial favorite as there are so many myths and misinformation about this holiday plant.

1. A Visit to Walters Gardens Pt. 1 - Tabby

https://catsingardens.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-visit-to-walters-gardens-pt-1-tabby.html
I posted photos of a super-friendly tabby cat I met while visiting Walters Gardens, a wholesale plant nursery, in Zeeland, MI.

Do you agree with the popular vote? What were your favorites this year?

Peek-a-Boo

 

Kathy Stevens of Silver Spring, MD, shared this photo of Spicy P. She writes, "Spicy P joined us in March 2024 after my 15 -year-old tortoise shell cat, Camille, crossed the rainbow bridge. Spicy P is about 3 years old. The folks at the Montgomery County shelter aren’t exactly sure. She was part of a group of 30 cats taken from a hoarding situation. She was very shy at the shelter and took a while to get used to us. It turns out she’s pretty social, probably partly because she is used to being around other cats. And people are just big cats, right? 

   "She doesn’t go outside very often and only with supervision. She doesn’t go far and isn’t really comfortable being outside. That Japanese Hakone grass (pictured above) is fairly close to the house and she likes eating it and hiding in it. I liked her wary, but excited, look"

  Kathy previously shared this picture of a container cat.