Garden Companions
It’s nice having garden cats, it seems that whenever I’m working in the garden there’s a cat nearby. They bring me gifts of mice and voles, they happily roll in the catnip I planted for them.
When I’m spending LONG hours in the garden like I am this time of year, it’s nice to have the cats to keep me company.
Do you have any pets that “help” you in the garden?
Filed under Around the Garden | Comments (3)
Susie, I have one feral cat that roams the neighborhood since I’ve started gardening Terra Nova Gardens. She had two kittens one year but that’s the only time I saw her with babies. I didn’t see her last year and thought maybe she was killed but then just a couple days ago there she was again walking past the front of the garden. Now that I have the garden fenced in, I don’t see as many wild animals as I used to see. Even the wild turkeys are only one or two instead of a flock of about 20. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. To me it’s a sad thing to steal land from the wild life, but then they are a greedy bunch and always want it all. They still have many times the area of my little garden to roam through.
I’ll have to replant some things as a hail storm came through a couple days ago and destroyed every thing above ground. Tomatoes got hit the worst but I have 38 tomato plants in the wing just for such an event. I won’t be getting my first tomato on July 5th like last year but maybe more toward the end of July. Potatoes of course will survive. The sweet corn planted wasn’t above ground just yet so that was good. I didn’t have the green peppers out yet so that was good as well. It’s just a normal year of gardening with volatile weather. I have learned to always have plants in reserve to replant if necessary.
Have a great garden cat day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
Rosie, our barn kitters, loves hanging out with us when we are outside. She was supposedly a feral cat, but I’d say she’s just skittish. When I don’t pay enough attention to her, like when I’m digging or seeding, she’ll come up behind me and give me a love bite on the leg. We have a buff Orpington roo, Roobawkca, who likes hanging out with us too. For the most part he is good about leaving the garden alone, he just likes company. Then if the sheep have access to the pasture next to us, they’ll come and visit us while we work. They’ll get trimmings and weeds too. It’s fun to have a supportive group to cheer you on.
to Whit's comment
Hi! I love reading your blog and have for years but don’t think I’ve ever commented. I love my cats so much, but was curious about how you handle yours using your garden beds as a litter box. I’m a little freaked out at the thought and didn’t know what you did the keep them from using edible garden space for their potty. If you have any ideas that would make me feel better about cats + garden in the future. Thank you!
to Sarah's comment