Cats in the Garden

CATS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Cats take great care of their gardens. They will keep out unwelcome guests and protect its welcome residents. Let Rocky the Garden Cat share with you his secrets which keep both gardeners and cats happy.

Here now is an outline of what we cats require in our paradise:

That no one except cat lovers enter the property. We cats read people, and we do not allow serpents to invade paradise.

That there be plenty of catnip plants to chew and to relax on. As long as we have those, we guarantee that we will never be in a bad mood.

That there be a variety of herbs for us to sniff. We practice aromatherapy, and we don't mind sharing our secrets with our human friends.

That there be at least one hill with loose soil or sand on the property where we can do our business and scratch to our heart's content without getting our living quarters stinky.

That there be lots of hiding places where we can sleep, undisturbed by pesky dogs or unwelcome humans. We cats work hard all night and need our beauty sleep in the daytime.

Would you like to hear what my gardener gets in return for her hard work?

We keep our garden rodent-proof, and we do not mind if she gets the credit for it.

We will never use flower beds as a litter box. We are terribly fussy about personal hygiene and never confuse toilet and bedroom.

CATNIP: APPETIZER OR DESSERT?

A cat's garden would not be a garden without catnip. Plants are generally available in pots in nurseries, and is also available by seed. Look for "catnip" (Nepeta cataria) or "cat mint". Like most plants, they will grow bushier and stronger if you pinch out the tips a couple of times while growing. You can dry the "pinchings" for your kitty's toys.