The Cat - A Gardener's Friend

    Are there any stray cats hanging around your garden. Don't chase them off! Cats are natural predators and will kill mice, moles, rats, and even small rabbits that would otherwise eat your garden produce. And, not to mention, cats also provide fertilizer for your garden.
    Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, has cats on their payroll as part of their Pest Management Program. The cats are fed, given medical attention, and provided with shelter for their service of keeping the gardens free of rodents.
    We visited Longwood Gardens and observed this cat program in action. At dusk, a bunny hopped into one of the vegetable gardens, stripped a leaf off of a plant, and started to nibble on the leaf. A cat came patroling through the garden, noticed the intruder, and gave chase. The end result was one less rabbit to eat the vegetables and a nice meal of rabbit for the cat!