For about 4 years I gave up gardening. My mom had passed away and it left me severely depressed. Gardening was something she and I did together since I was a child. When I finally decided to start up on the garden again I noticed that the animals had made trails all around our yard. Instead of digging these trails up I let them become natural paths in the garden. They still use the paths and rarely trample on the flower beds themselves.
(Mika enjoying a stroll through the garden.)
Last winter there was a sever wind storm that knocked down a rather large tree. My dad cut most of the branchs off and was waiting to get his chainsaw blade sharrped before attacking the trunk. I noticed how much the cats loved the fallen tree. They would run and jump on it to evade pursuing pooches, lounge like leopards or use it to sharpen their claws. I decided to leave it and plant flowers around it for them.

( The cat lounging station )

( Phinnaeus taking a dirt bath in the path they made through my mound garden...I did not plan it to have a path right down the center but they thought it would be a good idea. )
Last winter there was a sever wind storm that knocked down a rather large tree. My dad cut most of the branchs off and was waiting to get his chainsaw blade sharrped before attacking the trunk. I noticed how much the cats loved the fallen tree. They would run and jump on it to evade pursuing pooches, lounge like leopards or use it to sharpen their claws. I decided to leave it and plant flowers around it for them.
( The cat lounging station )
( Phinnaeus taking a dirt bath in the path they made through my mound garden...I did not plan it to have a path right down the center but they thought it would be a good idea. )
If you have pets and it doesn't look too horrible then do try to incorporate things in the garden that they can use. After all, they use the backyard more then we do anyway! :)