Hello gardeners! It’s been a busy springtime, and our garden cats Mama C and Fern have been hard at work keeping out the pesky pests that used to decimate our community garden. Rabbits, mice, rats, birds, you name it, are no match for our wonderful cats. The proof is in our garden plots full of lettuce, swiss chard, herbs, tomatoes, etc.

Fern with Dr. Barb — Fern at her recent visit with Dr. Barb 😻

Fern just had a checkup from Dr Barb of Buckeye Mobile Vet, and is healing nicely after getting all her teeth removed last summer. She’s gained weight now that she’s able to eat without the pain she was experiencing. She’s happy and comfortable, and having the time of her life romping around the garden with Mama C.

Many people have expressed how much they love when Mama C comes over to say “Hi” when they’re gardening, or that Fern looks much better, and what a joy it is to have the cats around. Mama C and Fern are not just the Guardians of the Garden, they’re the Greeters of the Garden, the Darlings of San Carlos, and an integral part of our garden community! With that in mind, I’d like to share some “Dos” and “Don’ts” about the best ways to interact with our garden cats.

DO: Give the cats their space, but feel free to pet them if they approach you. This will always be Mama C! She’s a very sociable and friendly cat and loves a nice pat. Fern prefers to keep her distance.

DO: Fill their water bowls! There are a few water bowls around the garden, and their favorite is the one under the picnic table. This gets shared with dogs too, and can get dirty very quickly. Filling the bowls with fresh water is a great way to help out.

DO: Fill in any gaps you notice along the field side fence with a rock or a brick. This keeps out the skunks! We try to keep up on this but things shift around.

DON’T: Please don’t give the cats treats! We feed them a healthy diet with their nutritional needs in mind. Many cat treats are really kitty junk food. A few treats here and there are OK sometimes, but we can’t have an unknown number of people giving them treats.The Cat Care Committee knows when to give them an extra snack. If you enjoy bonding with the cats over a tasty bite, please consider joining the Cat Care Committee!

DON’T: Please don’t approach or pet the cats when they’re sleeping or relaxing. This can be very alarming to a skittish cat like Fern. The girls work hard and need lots of rest. Cats sleep 12-16 hours a day!

Don’t: Please don’t try to pick up the cats or put them on your lap.

We’re always happy to answer any cat related questions. You can find me or another Cat Care Committee member in the garden most days.

And, thanks to everybody for always closing the gates! That’s a really important part of keeping our cats safe, and we appreciate you.

Happy Gardening!

-Leanne, Cat Captain