He's Got Moxie!

 

Matthew Von Hendy shared this photo of his cat on LinkedIn.

He wrote, "Moxie is a loveable tuxedo getting into everything. In this case, he got into a bag of produce we had gotten at the farmer's market."

Sweet Pepper

Rich Crider, owner of Three Shovels Farm, shared this garden cat photo that he took while touring daylily gardens.

He writes, "This is Pepper in Peggy Jeffcoat’s South Carolina garden." Peggy is a daylily hybridizer and has an amazing garden, that I'm sure Pepper enjoys exploring,

Rich previously shared a cat photo with us here.

A pair of trouble makers...

On Twitter/X Jonathan Norman @JonNormanDesign shares photos of his garden cats. He runs Jon Norman Garden Design, a Midlands, UK-based landscape design business. Creating beautiful gardens inspired by nature.

> My kitten crop is flowering already Little Tuppence being her mischievous self  <

>Well, I wasn't expecting this today. Young Tilly decided to climb up one of our conifers from the middle, then poked her head out halfway up

If I can get her to wear a couple of wings, she might become our Xmas fairy

Our two love the garden and get up to all mischief in it. I'm going to have to re-design the planting to be a *lot* sturdier as they do like to chase around and climb things. Hopefully, young Olga will calm down soon  <

Hang in There

 

This hanging pot of pothos is the perfect perch for this handsome cat.

The earliest posts I can find on a Google image search is at https://cheezburger.com/9067720192, but no credit is given. If you know who took this originally, please let me know ASAP so I can credit this properly.

California Dreamin'

 

Mike K., Monterey, California, shared this colorful photo and wrote: "This neighborhood cat frequently stops by my gardens to check out what's in bloom.."

Guardian of the Stoop

Tamara Stoneburner shared this photo of her cat. She wrote, "He is a 14-year old male named Bogart (after Humphrey of black-and-white films). We have to be in bed by midnight or he becomes out of sorts. Very vocal. Has a thing for ginger ale. Wakes me up at the very break of day, so that we can watch sunrises."

See if you can spot Bogart below watching his garden from inside the house.

Little Miss Figgy

A few weeks ago, my garden club visited the Plants Alive! plant store. There, I met Figgy, the adorable (and adored) resident store cat. I asked the staff to share her story and  Amari Hemmings sent in these photos and wrote:

Meet Figgy, our lovable greenhouse cat and furry mascot of Plants Alive! Rescued from Animal Services Baltimore County by the kind-hearted Becky Sass-Crews, Figgy found her forever home amongst the lush foliage of our greenhouse. This whiskered wonder has since flourished in her new environment, charming everyone who enters our verdant sanctuary.

Figgy's days are filled with the sweet aroma of blossoms and the gentle rustle of leaves, providing her with the perfect playground for her curious spirit. An expert in plant navigation, she loves to explore every nook and cranny of the greenhouse, ensuring that no leaf goes unturned. Her favorite pastime, however, is bonding with our dedicated employees, who have come to treasure her delightful antics and friendly purrs.

Customers visiting our greenhouse are always thrilled to encounter Figgy, as she warmly greets them with a flick of her tail and an inquisitive gaze. As she rubs up against their legs and weaves through the foliage, Figgy never fails to bring a smile to their faces. She has become an integral part of our team and a beloved ambassador of our establishment.

Follow our instagram to keep up with Figgy - @plantsalive

Bodega Cats

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A post shared by Bodega Cats (@bodegacatsofinstagram)

One of my favorite cat-focused social media accounts to follow is Bodega Cats on Instagram.

I think this image tells it all. These are working cats that keep the rodent population downs at this small. convenience stores, while also providing entertainment and company for the store's employees and customers. I don't know about you, but I love it when I enter a business and a cat is there to greet me or I discover one hidden among the cases of sodas and chips.

I thought this post in particular was a great one to share on the Cats in Gardens blog as it has it all -- a working cat taking a break in the catnip harvest basket. I hope you enjoy it and the many other terrific Bodega Cats on that Instagram feed. I'll just say in advance: "You're welcome!"

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 

Memories of Morgan

Steve Moore of Fort Worth, Texas, shared these memories of his late cat, Morgan (pictured above):

July 2, 2013
"Just because you have four legs does not mean that you cannot be a real friend and companion. My four-legged pal has been my fat cat, Morgan. Through fun times and the saddest, she’s been here. Okay, she’s probably more interested in getting fed regularly than any of my needs, but we sustain each other mutually. I’ve often ridiculed those stereotypical people with cats who have become obsessed. My late partner Christian’s Grandfather Bill Kavanaugh worshipped his cat as long as I knew him, but somehow this feels different. Having lost Christian, and having lost Morgan’s companion Kevin as well as our tabby Tiger, she’s just as alone as I’ve been. I’ve tried to add some new companions for us both, Timmie and Linus, but they’ve been more challenging than I’d have hoped."

"When we settle in for the night and Morgan reminds me of happier times, I find myself moved to the tears of an old man lost in memories. I often feel like I’m losing my grip until I realize that I’m still grieving and missing Christian. She’s one of the few close links to Christian that remain, other than those many possessions that the two of us accumulated. Morgan provides me with tremendous joy and companionship. I’m thankful to the vet for helping me to keep her around as long as possible."

December 13, 2021
"Twenty years and 6 months ago this sweet, demonstrative, Type-A animal became part of our Family. Morgan has been an angel, a pill, a lady of the house, ruler of all that she surveys. Today I helped her take that walk over the bridge of life into her next consciousness where she can hear once again, eat all of the ice cream and whipped cream she wants, swat at those she won't like, greet her brother Kevin, and have the very best eternal existence possible. Bye Sweet Girl. You've always been Daddy's sweetheart!"

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Mary-Denise Smith, who blogs at www.crumbsonthetable.com, shared these photos of Joey.

She writes:

Joey is almost 17 years old, we think, and has lived all his life in Green Ridge House - a senior living apartment house in Greenbelt, MD.

Two years ago, just as the shut downs were slamming everything shut, Joey’s human died, and Joey was sent to the Greenbelt animal shelter. 

I found out about him from our wonderful house manager, rushed over in the very last hour before they closed, and brought Joey home with me.

It took him quite a while to get over the shock and confusion of events, and to living with a new human. But he rose to the occasion like the gentleman he is, and is now a champion lap cat.

Here he is doing something new - messing with seed packets! He had so much fun making them rattle and skip around, I was sorry/not sorry to pick them up!

In the photo below, he is peering out from under the bedsheets on laundry day.

According to Wikipedia: 
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a twelve bar blues-form song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone (usually credited as Charles F. Calhoun, his songwriting name). The original recording by Big Joe Turner is ranked number 127 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 

   Bill Haley & His Comets covered it in 1955.

Freshly Picked From Cat Tree

This video shows the origin of garden cats -- freshly picked in a local orchard, of course! I have watched it dozens of times and my favorite parts are:

1. That plucked-off-the-branch sound effect. It is perfection!

2. That both cats object to being plucked with a plaintive meow a few seconds afterwards, as if they realize too late that they are now separated from the tree and on their own. One wonders if they might not be quite ripe yet?

This brief video was posted to YouTube recently by Animalia Province. I am not sure if they are the actual creative source though, if you do know who made this please let us know so we can properly credit them.

Best Salesperson in the Store

@StoriesSteph on Twitter 

shared these photos of a kitty asleep on a bench at the Richardson's Garden Centre in Sunderland, England.

These photos combine a few of my favorite things all in one: tuxedo cats, garden center cats, and napping cats. Irresistible! And boy, does that rocking garden bench look comfortable!

Monarch Watch

 

Heather Andrews of The Thoughtful Gardener shared this photo. She writes: "Cookie (tuxedo) and Lynx (tiger) are two of the four 'garden supervisors' of the 2020 award-winning PHS Garden of Distinction, Monarch waystation Cat-a-pillar Haven in Mechanicsburg, PA. They love to work with their mom, The Thoughtful Gardener, and make sure that everything is just right for the upcoming Monarch Migration. You can follow their adventures in the garden as they often appear in educational postings regarding pollinators on YouTube at Garden Thoughtfully, and on Facebook at The Thoughtful Gardener."

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."

Hairy Potter

Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, a beekeeper, author, and gardener, shared these photos of her cat. She wrote:

"This is James A Mess, a one year old tuxedo rescue in Rolla, Missouri, USA. He loves to spend his days outside on my garden deck where he periodically visits his favorite pot of catnip. It's a small miracle that plant has still survived!"

"After a day of romping, James A Mess likes to take a break in one of his garden deck planter pots. I tried planting petunias in this pot, but he removed them. Guess some planters are for napping!"

Be sure to check back here next week to meet James' sister, Etta Girl, and more photos of James A Mess! 

The Mixed-up Kitty with Mistaken Identity

 

Amanda Munro of Bethesda, MD, shared this photo. She said, "Molly, who is actually a boy (my husband wasn't so good at determining newborn kitten sex, lol), was the first born to my female cat, Rosie. He is the coolest, most resilient cat around: Born to two older dog brothers, then got out over New Year’s 2020 at only 10 months old, and was missing until April, when a neighborhood post asked if he belonged to anyone. He was a mile away and has been with us ever since, now good friends with his new 'little sister,' Great Dane Sandy. We sometimes wonder if he thinks he is a dog."

Barney & Friends

This is Barney. I took these photos on a recent visit to the little plant nursery that he calls his home.

Melanie Ruckle, Proprietor/ Grower, at Putnam Hill Nursery in Forest Hill, MD, writes: "Barney is a funny little cat. He meandered over from our neighbor’s house and took up residence before it was figured out that he already had a home! Our neighbor has many cats, so when it was discovered where Barney was, she just laughed and was glad to hear Barney had found a new home." 

    "At first, he lived in the greenhouses, but soon he made his way into the house. Barney is the first cat that has lived with me that hasn’t been much of a hunter. In fact, we believe his sole purpose is to inspire feelings of love and affection. He makes friends with just about everyone. He greets me every morning waiting for lots of pets and head bumps before heading out for a long series of naps in the garden. Barney is about 5 years old."
    "At first, he lived in the greenhouses, but soon he made his way into the house. Barney is the first cat that has lived with me that hasn’t been much of a hunter. In fact, we believe his sole purpose is to inspire feelings of love and affection. He makes friends with just about everyone. He greets me every morning waiting for lots of pets and head bumps before heading out for a long series of naps in the garden. Barney is about 5 years old."
   "He’s such a cutie. An employee’s daughter started an Instagram page of him in 2018, @barneybbeezer. She doesn’t post anymore, but the page is still there." Check it out for even more cute cat photo of Barney!

Playful Pixie

Photo by Beth Wilson

Pixie is a 12-year-old tuxedo cat that lives in the UK with her human, Beth Wilson. Pixie is gaining internet fame with the playful way she engages with her plush toys both inside their home and out in the garden. 

"In summer, she likes to take them into the garden," Wilson explained to The Dodo website. "Sometimes, she just takes them for a tour and then back in the house. Other times, they get left in the greenhouse. If I put a blanket on the grass to sit on, she will put toys on it." 

You can read more about Pixie and see more pics of her at:
https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/cat-takes-all-her-toys-on-little-adventures-uk
and at Beth Wilson's Twitter account.

Surprise Plant Cutting Roots Itself

This adorable garden cat was shared by Noelle Johnson AZ Plant Lady® on her Instagram feed. 

She wrote, "As my sister was checking out her new plantings, she got a surprise.🌸😸🌼 Any surprises in your gardens lately?"

She shared that his name is Scissors and he is over 10 years old. "He is mostly an outdoor cat and loves to rest in pots ;-)," said Noelle.