Gardening IS More Fun... with Cats!

Do you love gardening as much as you love your cat? Check out a few ways to bring your true loves together and double your fun!

Cats love spending time outdoors with you, so they make perfect gardening companions. Try taking your cat with you the next time you’re planting, transplanting, or weeding. Here’s how to get the most out of the experience.

Choose Cat-Friendly Blooms

Cats make the perfect gardening buddies. Your cat loves to sit in the sun, watch the wildlife, and enjoy the cool breezes. She may sit calmly — and quietly — by your side as you tend to the weeds and sow new seeds. So why not reward her attention by choosing plants that are attractive to cats?
Of course, no cat garden would be complete without catnip. You can purchase this special kitty treat as seeds and plant them in early spring. By summer, you’ll have a bundle of catnip for your kitty to sniff, play with, and roll around in. Cats also seem to enjoy sprawling plants, such as alyssum and heather, and savory-smelling herbs like parsley, sage, and thyme.

Some cats love to nibble on greens, so you should make sure you don’t have any toxic plants growing in your garden. Common flowers like foxglove are highly poisonous to cats and should be taken out of flower beds. If you must have one of these plants in your garden, grow it in hanging pots, where your cat can’t get to it. Plants that are poisonous to cats include morning glory, lily of the valley, oleander, and daffodil. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any question about what plants to avoid.

Create a Cat Perch

Most cats enjoy climbing and perching on high structures to better peruse their surroundings and take a quick nap. If this sounds like your kitty, build her an elevated space to call her own in your garden. You can purchase outdoor cat perches at a pet supply store or make your own out of a few pieces of plywood.

Keep Her Safe

If your cat is used to spending most of her time indoors, make sure to keep your cat safe when you venture outside. First, you’ll want to keep her on a leash so she won’t scamper off or go traipsing into a neighbor’s garden. Next, nix any pesticides and herbicides from your garden. Pesticides aren’t good for anyone, least of all your cat.

Final Touches

If you don’t mind doing some garden redesign, you might want to add a couple of extra touches just for your cat. For example, you could create small hidden places for her or a shady wooden shelter for when she wants to take a break from all the gardening she’s helping you with. Your cat is sure to appreciate the love and attention you put into your garden just for her — as well as all the quality time spent by your side.

Photo Credit: Barbara Walsh via Flickr of her cat, Mojito

Source: The Petcentric Team

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