Popi Cat

This is Popi the Kind Earth security cat. The photos were taken by John Mark Courtney, owner of Kind Earth Growers LLC, growers of native wetland, aquatic and dry site perennials to build habitat diversity, based in Ottsville, PA. John writes that, "He’s my best employee! Here are some pics of him doing various greenhouse tasks."

"He was one of four strays we caught, fixed, and vaccinated in September 2020 and released here as vole control. we started with Popi, Clover, Boogie Stardust (she was a special one), and another that left too fast to name."

"Popi disappeared two days after bringing him here, leaving his two sisters behind. When he reappeared he quickly took to protecting Boogie and allowing her to eat, as the weeks went on and increasing aggression from Clover toward Boogie, he kicked her out! Boogie and Popi cohabitate beautifully. They hunted together, snuggled, and lived the life. Unfortunately, Boog was a sickly cat and had to be put to sleep last January. Popi spent days morning on my lap and then in my office chair, but during the day he still performed his security duty monitoring all the greenhouses and surroundings for voles. He gets endless attention from the Kind Earthlings here and follows me around along side my Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson. He wants to be besties with Jackson, but Jack is still not sure why he is told not to chase him." 

Inventory managment.

 JOhn 

Run, Rabbit, Run

Photo courtesy of Susan Martin @Gardener Sue's News.

Garden communicator Susan Martin shared this photo of a handsome tabby cat in a garden bed that she took at Walters Gardens, a wholesale plant nursery, in Zeeland, MI. (I originally spotted the image on the Proven Winners Instagram page and had to track down its source. What a nice surprise to find out it was colleague and fellow GardenComm member.)

She wrote, "What I know is that Walters has a small crew of cats that work as rodent control in their gardens. They had a terrible rabbit problem there years ago and the cats took care of the problem. This cat is part of that crew. If you visit their gardens, the cats will come out to greet you and beg for belly rubs. They are very sociable."

To see more of Susan's photos and work, follow her at the Gardener Sue's News Facebook page. 

The Backyard Jungle

Eddie Chang, Vice President of the Silver Spring Garden Club, in Silver Spring, MD, shared this photo of Stretch. Eddie wrote, "He belongs to my daughter (and grandson Sebastian) and is a rescue cat. He is actually quite large and strong (the colocasia makes him look small) and a fierce hunter of small rodents, even on a leash. He is quite idiosyncratic in behavior and not like a tame-from-birth type of cat. For some reason, he likes to attack feet when they hover over him..."

Fearless Feline

 

Christy Wilhelmi shared this photo of her garden cat. Christy is based in Los Angeles, CA, and you may know her as Gardenerd. She is the author of several gardening books. Her most recent is Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden.

Christy writes, "This is Mittens. She's my dog/cat. She eats rats whole, loves to snuggle, and is very territorial around dogs in the neighborhood. Everyone with a dog knows Mittens by name, and we hear them say, 'No, Mittens' as they walk by because she wants to make sure their dog knows who's boss. Fearless, loving, and hungry all the time."

Jackie: Queen of the Compost

Gabrielle Dandy-Horn,  a Certified Fine Gardening Professional, with Gardens Remembered, LLC in Gaithersburg, MD, shared pictures of her cat Sally. This week is Jackie's turn -- Sally's sister.

Gabrielle wrote:
"Jackie is our wonder kitty! She has always been a huntress, bringing us her victims - birds, mice, even a baby possum once! In 2018, she went missing for 5 days. She’d never been out overnight, and we posted signs in our neighborhood with a pic of her and description. She was always tiny, but at 17 years old she was also frail. She came back on her own, thank God, but with a broken back leg that was able to heal on its own, but very deformed. She’s managed quite nicely, and two years later still hops around outside or flops down on a comfy chair outside. Through the years her fur has increasingly changed in the mid-section. Through research and my vet’s knowledge, we found she has quite a bit of Rex in her – extremely soft curly fur."

Comfy Dirt Pile

Queen of the Compost

Jackie on her High Spot

It's a Jungle Out There

Betty Brown (https://www.instagram.com/bbeabrown17/) shared these photos of her four garden kitties - Monk, Boo, Simon, and Miss Pippie. These charmers are expert hunters and grass eaters!

Mr Monk doing his thing...Good Kitty

Gray Tabby Is Simon Monk at the base of the tree and Boo on the other side looking up. 

Simon and a grass snake

Monk and Boo on the sidewalk

Miss Pippie in the Lemon Grass

Hachi: A Cat's Tale

Hachi reacts with consternation to my meowing at him.

 Inez Austin Jackson and I are both members of the Potomac Rose Society and a few other local garden clubs. Over the years, I have heard amazing things about her garden and legendary hospitality, so I eagerly anticipated attending her open garden a few weeks ago. What I had not been told about was her beautiful garden cat. This stunner came out the greet me as I took numerous photos around her garden. He was a terrific and playful tour guide.

She writes, "His name is Hachi. He is an Ocicat breed. He is extremely loving and friendly to others but an avid hunter. Keeps after the chipmunks and has rid the garden of moles, voles, and mice. When he isn’t busy hunting, he loves to ride around with me in the car on errands. 

  The little box on his collar keeps him as a house and garden cat. Otherwise, he would be over the fence- hunted and eaten by the many, many foxes in the neighborhood."

Why are all these insane plant people in my garden?

Pet me, please!

Those gorgeous hunter eyes,

Hachi accepts stranger's kisses.

Guarding his corner of the garden.

A sign from Inez's kitchen.

 

Tribute to Tucky

Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD. He shared this story of Tucky. His partner, Dan Weil, shared these photos.

Kitty Hair Fertilizer

No garden bed is complete without the liberal application of cat hair.

Nuts about Gardening in Birmingham said: "Simba is four years old and from a shelter. He drinks from the toilet or tap and loves catching mice, moles, and birds."

Simbas about to have the fright of his life as the sprinkler is another to go on

By the way, this is the third Simba we have shared on the Cats in Gardens blog. We love our little lawn lions!

Profile Pic vs Tagged Pic

Your Profile Pic

Your Tagged Pic

Lou Nicholls ‏(@loujnicholls) shared fun this post with us:

“This is Phil cat. He has a very big personality and even a few fans J. Sometimes referred to as cat pest, murder kitty, or shout-y Cat, he often features on my Twitter and Instagram, and yes, he's not adverse to fame!”

   “I know I'm biased, but he's kinda special He moved in with me in 2011 at a time that I was very low, he was living feral, but had been someone's pet at some point previously. Possibly, the previous tenants at the flat I was living in, no one knew for sure. Anyway, Phil and I have literally traveled the country together. We have moved house 6 or maybe 7 times. We've gone to my dad's for holidays, which is about 500 miles away, and all of this he has taken in his stride.”

   “He is possibly the happiest, most chilled cat ever. If I'm upset, he chases his tail to make me laugh, he stalks me if he's got the devil in him and swipes me with velvet paws. He's never scratched me and meant it only ever by mistake.... he is also a formidable hunter!”

   “I think he's around 9-ish, but he brings home rabbits rats and mice like a pro! The mice he eats straight off, which I think is a throwback to when he had to fend for himself. Unlike most pet cats, he never plays with them ... which I'm very thankful for He is an excellent judge of character and I'll often watch his reaction to people to suss them out. His full name is Phil Macavity, which often raises eyebrows.”

Judging by the Cover

I knew I'd love Time-Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four-Season Garden by Pamela Harper the second I laid eyes on the cover. On it, Pamela is standing mid-garden, holding one of her garden cats.Pamela says her cats "keep her garden free of rabbits."

I had the pleasure last weekend of visiting her Tidewater Virginia garden in person and though I didn't get to see any of these hunting kitties, I did get to talk to Pamela and see the many wonderful plants she is growing almost 20 years after the publication of that legendary garden book.

Here are some photos from that visit:

Pam in a hat!

"hot color" beds

quince espalier

tulips

primrose

Japanese Maple

Tribal Quest

Jan Stuhlmacher in Castlebar, Ireland, posted the following to the GoFundMe web site:

"I rescued the then feral Ma-cat some 3 years ago.

I often saw her hunting in my garden. A harsh harsh winter, and she looked scrawny; limping with a broken hip, and she dragged a crooked, broken tail around. What I didn't know at first: she wasn't hunting for herself - she had a litter of 4 kittens to support.

I 'rescued' all 5. They moved into an old caravan on my site, then into a little chalet I built, and now they live in my tiny house. Next followed 2 little feral torties... that's 7!

Next, somebody dumped little Newb in my yard. New Total: 8!!!

Newb arrived with a vicious form of IBS - he required a lot of veterinary attention, and relies forever on a special diet. But he's doing well now.

When I started 'project Ma,' I had 2 jobs. I don't lead a fancy lifestyle; never have. And I thought, why should I involve an over-stretched cat rescue service. Times are tough. I can help, and they can take care of the more needy/desperate cases... I shared 1,000s of photos on Twitter, documenting the trials and tribulations of Ma's little tribe.

The fun times, the joy, and the lessons learned. Meanwhile, I donated to many worthy causes whenever and whatever I could.

Now it's my time... In October 2014, I lost one job. Then in the following January my 2nd 'back-up' job went as well.

For a while, I believed savings could easily bridge me over to a new job. But.... The west of Ireland is not doing so well in the so-called 'economic recovery'. I'm applying for jobs on an almost daily basis.

I've given up all luxuries - including my car, broadband. etc... And now it's crunch time. Unfortunately, almost daily.  At times I can barely feed the 'tribe'. They were all ferals and really rely on the environment they grew up in.

Here is how to contact her, should you be interested in helping out:

The Tribes Twitter is @TribeOfMa 
https://www.gofundme.com/tribeofma