Cats in the garden on video: hunting, curiosity, plants and the seasons. Each clip comes with what is happening on screen, why the cat behaves that way and what it means for you and your garden.
The cat stretches along the trunk and scratches the old bark hard.
Why cats do this
Scratching sheds the old outer layers of the claws, stretches the back and legs and leaves a mark: the scratches are visible, and glands in the paw pads add scent. It is a need, not a whim.
What to do
Indoors, offer a scratching post with the same height and texture as the favorite spot: upright, stable and taller than the stretched-out cat.
The best places for a post are by the door and near the bed: cats scratch when they wake up and when they come back.
In the garden, keep an old stump or log, and wrap the trunks of young trees in burlap up to paw height.
A white cat watches birds in the branches through the window and makes short clicking sounds with a twitching jaw.
Why cats do this
Cats make this chatter when they see prey they cannot reach. There is no settled explanation: it is linked to hunting excitement and frustration. It is normal behavior, not a sign of illness.
What to do
Watching birds is good entertainment for an indoor cat, but the window should be closed or fitted with a sturdy cat screen: an insect screen will not hold a cat.
After a watching session, play with a wand toy and let the cat "catch" it, so the hunt has an ending.
Hang bird feeders high and away from bushes where an outdoor cat could lie in wait.
A cat in Laos sits by a wall and paws at a garden lizard without a serious attack.
Why cats do this
The cat is testing its prey: can it bite back, which way will it run. Playing with prey is a normal part of hunting, not cruelty, and punishment will not stop it.
What to do
Lizards, toads and slugs can carry parasites, and some toads have toxic skin. If your cat drools heavily, vomits or paws at its mouth after a hunt, call your vet.
An outdoor cat needs regular deworming: ask your vet for a schedule.
Do not put out slug and snail pellets: they are more dangerous to a cat than the slugs are.
A black-and-white cat makes its way along a flower bed, sniffs and chews catnip, then settles into a nearby pot.
Why cats do this
Catnip contains nepetalactone, and many cats react to it: sniffing, chewing, rubbing and rolling. The response is inherited; some cats have none at all, and kittens usually do not react. Interest fades after a few minutes.
What to do
Our plant guide lists catnip as a plant that calls for some care: eaten in large amounts, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Plant catnip on its own or under mesh: cats trample and dig up the clumps.
Dried catnip in a toy gives the same effect as the plant and is easier to dose.
A cat in the Ljubljana Botanical Garden walks through the grass past planters, stretches on a log and runs off across the lawn.
Why cats do this
The cat is patrolling its territory: checking scents, leaving its own, stretching and scratching. Everything in a garden is new, and everything is worth a taste.
What to do
Gardens and parks grow plants that are deadly to cats: lilies, foxglove, yew. An indoor cat should not roam there unsupervised.
Walk your own garden with our plant guide and start with the "Deadly" section.
If your cat has eaten something and you do not know what, photograph the plant and start with our "My cat ate a plant" checklist.
A cat called Winnie hunts moths on the lawn behind the house at dusk: she freezes, watches and pounces.
Why cats do this
Cats hunt at dusk, when their eyes work well in low light, and small fluttering prey triggers the whole hunting sequence: watching, stalking, pouncing. Hunger has nothing to do with it; a well-fed cat hunts just the same.
What to do
On summer evenings moths fly toward the light through open windows, and the cat follows. Fit windows and balconies with a sturdy cat screen.
Do not treat the lawn and flower beds with insecticides where your cat roams: it catches and eats insects and licks its paws.
An evening session with a wand toy gives the same outlet for the hunting drive.
A red-and-white cat lies on a warm porch in the evening sun, grooming its coat for a long time.
Why cats do this
Cats spend a large part of the day grooming: it cleans and smooths the coat, calms them and cools them down. They choose warm sunny spots themselves and come back to them every day.
What to do
Whatever lands on the coat and paws gets licked off: lily pollen, fertilizer, path treatments. This is the main route of poisoning in a garden.
Cats with pale ears and noses can get sunburned: leave them some shade on hot days.
If your cat licks one spot bald or stops grooming altogether, have it seen by a vet.
A kitten sits under a not-yet-decorated Christmas tree, studying the branches and reaching for a teaser toy.
Why cats do this
A tree is a new tall object with swaying branches that can be climbed, and shiny decorations look like prey. Interest in it is natural, especially in young cats.
What to do
Use a heavy stand and tie the tree to the wall: a cat can climb up and topple it.
Skip tinsel and garlands of thread: swallowed strands are dangerous for the gut. Hang glass ornaments higher up.
Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia in holiday arrangements also call for care: check them in our plant guide.
An Ocicat on a leash sniffs the ground by a tree, climbs the trunk and jumps back down.
Why cats do this
To a cat, a tree is a lookout and a refuge: it can see everything from up there, and nothing can reach it. Wanting to get higher in new territory is natural.
What to do
Walk your cat in a harness, never a collar, and get it used to the harness indoors first, a few minutes a day.
Do not let it climb high, and make sure the leash does not snag on branches: the cat could end up hanging from it.
Before the walking season, get vaccinations up to date and treat for ticks and fleas.
A black-and-white cat drinks rainwater from a puddle on the ground.
Why cats do this
Many cats prefer rain or running water to a bowl: it has no smell of detergent or chlorine and it is cooler. To a cat outdoors, a puddle is an ordinary watering hole.
What to do
Puddles near roads, garages and cars can contain antifreeze. It tastes sweet and is deadly even in small amounts: if you suspect it, go to a vet at once.
After fertilizing or spraying the garden, water in puddles and rain barrels can be contaminated too.
Put a clean water bowl in the shade in the garden and change it daily, so the cat has less reason to look for puddles.
An indoor cat on a windowsill watches a ginger street cat through the glass and paws at the pane.
Why cats do this
To an indoor cat, the windowsill is part of its territory, and a strange cat outside is an intruder. Some cats just watch; others get stressed and start marking indoors.
What to do
A window where your cat sits should be closed or fitted with a sturdy screen: an excited cat may jump.
If your cat gets stressed, frost the lower part of the glass and do not feed stray cats near the house.
Clear the windowsill your cat uses of risky plants: check them in our plant guide.
