CATEGORIES

Plentiful Plants Await

Three must-see stops within Montreal’s botanical garden.

Grow for Impact

Try these plants for intrigue that extends beyond a flower’s petals.

Puddlin' About

The surprising reason butterflies flutter so quickly to a bit of standing water.

Make Snails Slink Away

Seven nontoxic ways to keep slugs and snails from running roughshod over your garden.

modern mini MAKEOVERS

THE SHRUBS IN GRANDMA’S BACKYARD MAY BE HUGE, BUT THEY’RE CLASSICS FOR A REASON. CHECK OUT WHAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRADITIONAL SHRUBS HAS TO OFFER.

FLUTTERING FAVES

Readers capture stunning PHOTOGRAPHS of common visitors—plus a few rarities.

Teacher's Pet, Classroom Assistant Lady Bronwyn

Most of us have had that special cat—a heart cat with whom we had a deep connection. It may have been the cat we had as a child, or the one that saw us through a troubled time, or one with whom we bonded as we exhibited at cat shows. Whether the cat found us or we sought it out, those connections cannot be denied. These are the stories of some of those special cats and what they mean or meant to us.

Gromit The Rockstar

There are very few cats, no matter how long they are shown, or what they achieve, that belong in the “rock star” category. In pedigreed cats, we have a few that have become legendary.

Conducting Cat Shows During the COVID-19 Pandemic

It was just over a year ago that we were all enjoying our hobby of showing cats. Some traveled extensively seeking high titles, and some just supported local shows. In all cases, there was social interaction with everyone, and we generally did not worry about spreading infections.

Major Tom

My first pet was a cat named “Major Tom,” or “Tommy.” He was a domestic shorthair silver tabby and white. From what I was told, my parents purchased Tommy for $1.98 from the 5 & 10 cent-store in Trenton, NJ as a young kitten after they moved into their first place.

Crosby the Blind Cat

My name is Crosby. I was born blind in a litter of barn cats in 2011 near Webster, KY. My first humans (friends of my mom-to-be) realized I was blind early on, so they took me into their home.

SO You Want to Be in Pictures?

Have you ever caught yourself wandering through a pet store and noticing all the pictures of the cats, dogs, and other assorted furry and feathered critters, and wonder, “How did they get there? My Fluffy is cuter than that. How can I get a piece of that action?”

What You Don't Know About Balinese & Javanese

Overheard at a cat show: “Oh Mylanta! Would you look at that!!!! It’s a longhaired Siamese! Oooh! And would ya look at its tail!!!!”

Up Close and Purr-sonal

Just about everyone who knows CFA knows Kathy Calhoun, CFA treasurer and Allbreed judge. She’s also a breeder of national winning Maine Coon cats, national winning American Wirehairs, Tonkinese and American Shorthairs, a former Regional Director, and one of the founders of the Basic Black Cat Club. But as busy as Kathy Calhoun’s CFA life has been and is, cats are just one part of her story.

That Kitty Mess Could Mean More Than You Think

Living with cats pretty much means living with a fair amount of kitty barf. For most of us, hearing the unmistakable sound of a cat upchucking means you drop everything and run for the paper towels. But it could also mean there’s more to worry about than the risk of stepping in goo barefooted. Determining whether your vomiting cat needs more than a cleanup depends on a number of factors. It’s best to gather as much information as possible about what’s going on before you get your vet involved. So, before you call, try to have the answers to the following questions handy.

The Street Vet

A California veterinarian makes house calls to pet owners who have no place to call home

Challenge ACCEPTED

When teenager Rebecca Kennedy decided to sign up for the Extreme Mustang Makeover, she did it because she wanted to challenge herself as a rider. But she ended up learning so much more after working with her untouched mustang.

Equine Foster Care: Do You Have What it Takes?

Have you ever dreamed of nursing an abused or neglected horse back to health and finding him a forever home? Learn what it takes to make that dream come true.

BEYOND THE SHOW PEN

Learn how youth can develop valuable life skills, become more self-confident, and gain educational opportunities by getting involved in the horse industry.

HOW MANY DAYS ARE ENOUGH?

When you send your young horse off for training it can be challenging to understand how long he needs to be there. Is it 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days? Jacob Barry breaks down the basics of colt starting and what to expect within these timeframes so you can make the best training decision for you and your horse.

GUEST RANCHES OF MONTANA'S FLATHEAD COUNTRY

EXPLORE MONTANA’S GORGEOUS SCENERY FROM THE BACK OF A HORSE, THEN RELAX AND BE PAMPERED AT THESE STUNNING MONTANA GUEST RANCHES.

From Hopeless to Healing to Healer

Two years ago, veteran Adam Halloran was spiraling toward self-destruction. Horses saved his life.

Steering Drill

PRIVATE LESSON

Safeguard Against Biting

PROBLEM SOLVED

Trying Something New

INSPIRED RIDER

A True Blessing

When a Colorado horse rescue went to pick up a new trailer, they had no idea they’d be using it that very day.

A Grizzly Encounter

On a trail near a mountain named for his grandfather, a lone hiker crosses paths with a bear three times his size—and with one enormous appetite

Camping With Your Dog

Bringing your dog on your next outdoor overnight excursion? Oh, yes! With a little planning, your canine companion will enjoy camping just as much as you. These Northern Michigan spots are perfectly pet-friendly.

43 Minutes With... Happy

Meditations on loneliness with a 50-year-old Elephas maximus.

THE ELUSIVE ‘FEEL'

It takes a great horseman to develop and understand feel. However, finding feel doesn’t come easy. Al Dunning breaks down the things you need to know, both in and out of the saddle, to develop feel with your horse, and how it’ll help you better connect with him.