Flinging with Cats

 The Fling (formerly Garden Bloggers Fling) took place in Memphis, TN, this year. As usual, part of my time was spent prowling the tour gardens for cat sitings. 

The first one was at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens of this orange kitty scampering in the shade garden. He (she?) gave me that impish look right before disappearing down a drainage pipe. (If anyone at the Dixon knows anything more about this cat, please do share!)

Next was this faux cat in the private garden of a cat lover who also had an affection for all things blue. She not only had lots of blue garden decor, but also a few blue cats by her front door and a "cats rule" sign that I heartily agree with!

Finally, as I ran around the Cooper-Young neighborhood gardens on our last day of the Fling, this pretty gray boy ran up to me and insisted I stop and pet him. The owner of a nearby house came out and told me his name is Arthur and that he is fed by several households on that block, but not really ownd by any of them. I think Arthur is quite content with that arrangement.

Community of Cats

I visited Community Forklift in Edmonston, MD. It is a "nonprofit reuse center for home improvement supplies" that collects donations of new and gently used building materials and home essentials and make them available to the community at low cost.

I have visited here several times before, but this is the first time I saw the feral cat colony that lives behind their warehouse. They are clearly well cared for andf not afraid of humans, though I still kept my distance so I didn't spook them.

The area is very industrial with lots of nearby warehouses. There is also a railroad nearby. I'm betting these cats are doing a terrific job holding down the local rodent population there.

Living in Kitty Paradise

I'm a big fan of surrealism so was pleased to come across this artist who depicts cats in a surreal way. This painting is "Cats Paradise" by Remedios Varo.

"Remedios Varo Uranga was one of the few acknowledged female surrealist painter," according to her WikiArts entry. "She combined mystical beings and utopic machines together to give birth to her unique and enchanting style. The artist adopted mysticism and the occult as her main theme, and dismissed Christian and religious symbolism"

Varo used cats and cat-like creatures in many of her paintings. What they symbolize is open to interpretation. To me, the cats are happy and relaxed in their own little world. The kittens are having a blast playing with the string toy and you just know that long tower ramp is a hit with all of them too.

What do you think? Does this painting speak to you? Or many your cats enjoys viewing it and can share their thoughts?

Image source: https://www.wikiart.org/en/remedios-varo/cats-paradise-1955

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! 

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