Garden Photo of the Day

The cats of Atlock Farm

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Michelle Gervais

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Photo: Michelle Gervais

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You all must know I'm a sucker for any pets in a garden. A few weeks ago I visited an author at Atlock Farm in Somerset, New Jersey, and got a huge fix! There's a big, happy family of cats at this awesome nursery (I wanted to buy one of EVERY PLANT THERE), and while they may be effective rodent control, I have a feeling they're more valuable to the staff as comedic relief and for random sessions of cuddling. If nothing else, they sure know how to strike a pose. Here is a selection of my favorites. Please forgive the blurriness of many of these shots. It's tough getting clear shots of moving targets in low light! But some of them are still worth sharing. I swear, if they hadn't already been spoken-for, I would have gone home with a kitten...

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Comments (11)

pattyspencer writes: Love the pics! A couple of the cats look like the ones I have. Posted: 11:26 am on August 5th

smedavidson writes: I also love my cats helping me in the garden - my trio of red tabbies. another 3 cats stay in the house and watch through the windows. I understand what MaineAmy is saying, but I think that the bird catching (not hunting) can be reduced by putting bells and other noise makers on the cats' collars. the 3 tabbies have licenses and bells on their collars and as quiet as they may try to be when sneaking up on a squirrel or bird, the noise gives them away and they have yet to snag one or the other. seems to work for us so others may want to try it.
Thanks so much Michelle for the great garden kitty pix! Posted: 12:50 am on August 3rd

sheilaschultz writes: I can see why you would have taken a kitten home given the opportunity, they are pretty darn cute! Posted: 10:03 am on August 2nd

MiMi_ writes: I agree with Maineamy and KidsnPets. Keep your cats inside. If you must let them go out, do this at night when the birds are asleep. I love cats (have four) and birds (have birdbaths, birdfeeders and birdhouses.) Posted: 9:56 am on August 2nd

maineamy writes: Outdoor cats are not great garden accessories. They kill birds, too many birds! Birds have so many stresses and this one is totally preventable. If you have a cat and are feeding it, it does not need to hunt for food. Cats are not native animals and are the equivalent of serial killers in the neighborhood. Please, readers, consider this before you add yet another pest to your garden. Posted: 9:25 am on August 2nd

KidsNPets writes: Thanks for showcasing feline helpers around the garden. As an avid gardener I look forward to your daily photos and as a pet columnist, those that include pets are even more special to me. The one thing I would encourage is that ALL cats be spayed or neutered. This is particularly important for cats that allowed to be outside.
There tons of stats about how many kittens a single unaltered cat can produce. Most of these stats are questionable and intended to shock so I will refrain from using them. I will, however, say this, death by injection is the number one cause of death to pets in the US today. We currently kill roughly 4 million pets every year in our shelters. Easily 3/4 of these are cats. As a former shelter director, I know first hand, most are nice, friendly, lovely animals. If you let your cats outside, please make sure they are spayed or neutered. Posted: 9:21 am on August 2nd

wittyone writes: There nothing like having knowledgeable supervisors stationed around to keep the peons on task. I have a great foreman (Handsome) who keeps me on my toes. Posted: 8:50 am on August 2nd

SunnyDispo writes: I just love these pix. I had a cat once who was always great company when I gardened. As I moved around the yard he'd study me from various shady locations, or sunny spots if it was a cool day. Occassionally he'd present me with a vole or some other small creature, like he knew they would destroy what I was trying to create. I agree with Reeni, I also feel the need to rush out and adopt one, or maybe four! Posted: 8:25 am on August 2nd

reeni writes: Great photos Michelle. Thanks for sharing them with us. Now I want to go get a kittie (or two or three) for my garden. Posted: 8:00 am on August 2nd

elizh writes: This is great. These guys really DO know how to strike a pose. Posted: 7:48 am on August 2nd

kbaumle writes: Awwww! Michelle, except for one, I swear these photos could have been taken at my house! We have six outside cats and two inside and the gardens and house wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks so much for sharing these photos of the furbabies! Posted: 7:21 am on August 2nd

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