Date: 3 Mar 2020
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Poor Little Raja
In our last newsletter we told you about little Abu, a Baby-Purrrson that Kristi rescued from the woods where he had
been surviving along with other feral cats: his little sister and his Mom who
was badly injured in a car accident. We received messages from our customers
asking if we were able to rescue the other two cats...
For the past few days Kristi, Jamie and Onika have been trying to capture
them... The feral cats didn't want to come to humans, they were hiding away.
The ladies were able to trap Abu with a tuna can... then tried and tried again
with the other two with no luck... Even tried to call Animal control asking
for help catching the animals so we could give them medical help. We were
told that they don't trap cats! ("unless it's a cat-hating neighbor going
against a crazy cat lady" - Crazy Cat Lady's comment). The girls continued
their efforts again and again, with treats, traps and different capture
plans... day after day.
Unfortunately, the sick mother-cat did not survive and we found her
yesterday with her little baby crying over her cold body.
Kristi was able to grab the tiny kitten who was even smaller than her
brother Abu. She named her Raja - a friend of Abu. Raja said that her poor
mother's words were: "Go to that lady, my baby, she looks kind. It's my time to go
now, and you will be in good hands..."
The little Raja was in very poor shape herself, with eyes full of tears.
She was covered by fleas, and looked like passing out from anemia. Her paw was
injured and infected, and her little nose... first we just thought she was
pig-nosed! But her nose is also swollen. Kristi rushed her to the vet where
Raja got treatments and meds. She got much better the same day and finally
stopped crying. Raja finally recognized her brother Abu and cuddled with him.
Now Raja is on her way to recovery and will be sending her updates soon!
Thank you everybody for supporting us in helping PeopleCats. Every dollar you spend on TopTropicals plants is split between plant growers and PeopleCats who help us become better people.
Check out the Video: and more Cat of the Day stories.
Date: 3 Dec 2019
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Bagheera
Bagheera and Mowgli are Kristi's PeopleCats, originally they came together and they stick together. As little kittens, they were raised by Moe, the Mama-cat. Although she is not technically their Mom, but... she is a Mom for everyone!
Bagheera was born with his brother at a gator farm. He was too little to leave his mom, but he needed out. Bagheera is one of the sweetest boys we know. When he was a baby he could not sleep without laying on Kristi's face, both paws stretching across her mouth. Now he's a big brave boy. He rules the inside PeopleCats, stealing food from his human's plates and asking forgiveness at night when he lays above your head with his hands on your face. He's a reminder that we are all still little kittens on the inside...
Bagheera's new nicknames are Mr Biggs, Biggie and Biggy Biggy Biggy!
Check out and more Cat of the Day stories.
Date: 12 Jul 2025
PeopleCats.Garden Official Cat Feeding Policy
PeopleCats.Garden Official Cat Feeding Policy
⬆️ PeopleCats.Garden Official Cat Feeding Policy
Updated whenever the cats decide it's outdated.
🐾 1. Feeding schedule
- Cats are to be fed when hungry, which, according to them, is always.
- If a cat claims to be starving five minutes after eating - believe them. You're late.
🐾 2. Approved food items
- Gourmet kibble that costs more than your lunch
- Wet food served at room temperature, on a ceramic dish
- Treats (because they did a thing)
- That expensive tuna you bought for yourself - it's theirs now
🐾 3. Prohibited food items
- Anything labeled "vet-approved"
- Leftovers (unless you're trying to insult them)
- Generic brand food (how dare you)
🐾 4. Feeding etiquette
- Do not make eye contact while they eat. You'll break the spell.
- Food must be served with a verbal offering: "Here you go, dinner is served, Your Majesty."
- If multiple cats are present, they all want what the other one got. Rotate plates. Begin again. Forever.
🐾 5. Midnight snacks
- Yes.
- Don't ask.
🐾 6. The "empty bowl" rule
- If a bowl is 70% full, it's 100% empty.
- Refill immediately. Apologize for the oversight.
🐾 7. Human consequences
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in:
- Judgmental stares
- Paw-swat to the face at 3 a.m.
- Strategic hairball placement
- Passive-aggressive purring near guests who like dogs
❗️Note: All policies are subject to change without notice, based on the whims of the feline board of directors.
🐈 PeopleCats.Garden #PeopleCats
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 23 Nov 2025
📅 Mark Your Calendar - Holiday Plant Market
Holiday season in Florida means sunshine, green leaves, and cats on patrol. On Saturday 12/13/25, our PeopleCats are hosting a special Holiday Plant Market at TopTropicals, 9 am to 4 pm. This is not a regular nursery day. This is the one where you grab a donut in one hand, a mango tree in the other, and try not to trip over a cat giving you a tour.
We are bringing out the best plants we grew all year: big fruit trees with real branches, flowering and fragrant beauties, rare collectors plants, and vines that are ready to take off as soon as you get them home. December is perfect planting weather in Florida, so while the rest of the country is scraping frost from windshields, you can be choosing which banana, mango, or jasmine will perfume your yard next summer.
Holiday extras: 30% OFF online prices, free plant with purchase, 5 to 10 dollar specials, mini donuts and holiday treats, iced tea and citrus water, tropical Christmas music, and raffle prizes. If there is enough ripe fruit in the morning, we will set up a tasting table too. Our PeopleCats will be on duty all day, rearranging plants, checking on visitors, and occasionally allowing themselves to be petted between tours.
Event discounts and specials are valid at both locations:
- Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River Blvd, Ft Myers, FL 33905
- Sebring Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL 33875
Save the date, tell a friend, and plan your plant hunting route now. Come celebrate the holidays the Florida way: sunshine, rare fruit trees, happy cats, and a car full of tropical plants going home with you.
Facebook event page - Download invitation
Date: 17 Mar 2026
Move Over, Paddy: Why March 17th is Actually the International Day of the Cat Lady
March 17th - International Day of the Cat Lady, Gertrude with cats
When you think of March 17th, you probably think of green beer, shamrocks, and parades. But while everyone else is toasted to St. Patrick, a subset of gardeners and feline enthusiasts are celebrating a different icon: St. Gertrude of Nivelles. She 's the 7th-century abbess who skipped the noble marriage proposals to become the unofficial Patron Saint of Cats, Gardeners, and anyone who really, really hates mice.
🐾 From Noblewoman to Monastery Boss
Born in 626 AD (modern-day Belgium), Gertrude wasn't your average medieval teenager. When her family tried to marry her off to a rich duke, she famously told them she’d rather be a bride of Christ than any man on Earth.
She eventually ran the Nivelles monastery like a pro, turning it into a 5-star medieval hub for travelers, scholars, and pilgrims. But it isn't her hospitality that made her an internet icon 1,300 years later - it’s her "pest control" skills.
🐾 The Mouse-Hater’s Hero
Look at any medieval painting of Gertrude, and you’ll notice something weird: mice are literally climbing up her staff. In the Middle Ages, mice weren't "cute Disney sidekicks." They were grain-destroying, plague-spreading menaces. Gertrude became the go-to saint for:
Protecting the harvest from rodents.
Keeping the pantry mouse-free.
Calming the nerves of people with a serious case of musophobia (fear of mice).
The Logic: If you’re the saint of mice, you’re naturally the BFF of the creature that eats them.
🐾 How She Became the "Cat Lady Saint"
Interestingly, Gertrude wasn't "officially" the saint of cats for most of history. That title actually went viral in the late 20th century.
A 1981 Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog highlighted her rodent-fighting reputation, and the world’s cat lovers basically said, "Hold my catnip". The association stuck instantly. Today, she’s the patron saint of the "Original Cat Lady" aesthetic, celebrated by anyone who knows that a home isn't a home without a feline supervisor.
🐾 A Big Day for Green Thumbs
If you’re a gardener, March 17th is your "Green Flag" day. In European folklore, St. Gertrude’s feast day is the traditional start of the planting season.
- 👉 Pro-Tip from the Middle Ages: If the sun is out on March 17th, it’s a sign that your garden will thrive all year. If it’s raining? Well, maybe stay inside and pet the cat.
🐾 The Perfect Trio: Cats, Gardens, and Gertrude
There’s a reason plant people and cat people are often the same people. Cats love a good garden patrol - they nap in the mulch, stalk the butterflies, and ensure no chipmunk dares to touch your tomatoes.
At TopTropicals, we take this tradition seriously. Our PeopleCats are more than just pets; they are the furry CEOs of the nursery, supervising every seed we plant and every leaf we prune.
- 🐾 The Feline Patrol: For keeping our gardens mouse-free.
- 🐾 The Gardeners: For braving the dirt to grow something beautiful.
- 🐾 The Abbess: For being the coolest historical figure you'd never heard of.
🐾 Meet the PeopleCats:
The furry supervisors of the garden world!
🐾 This March 17th, Wear a Little Extra Fur
Whether you’re Irish or not, take a moment this March 17th to raise a glass (or a bag of treats) to St. Gertrude.
This year, let’s celebrate:
📚 Learn more:
St. Gertrude of Nivelles: Patron Saint of Cats, Gardeners, and Those Who Fear Mice!
#PeopleCats #Horoscope #Fun_Facts
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