Mama and Papa: Ploughshares Nursery's Pest Control Cats

While some businesses have turned to mouse traps and rat poisoning to get rid of rodents, Ploughshares Nursery has been guarded by the watchful eyes of two felines: Mama and Papa.

Known as the "rulers of the nursery," the cats can often be spotted sunbathing or nudging against customers' legs, purring for a petting session.

They have been around for more than five years and hunt anything from mice to gophers according to nursery staff.

"We have no rodent problem here," said Peggy Kass of Kassenhoff Growers, who sells some of her plants at the nursery. "They're definitely earning their keep."

Ploughshares Nursery is a social enterprise of Alameda Point Collaborative. It is a sustainable nursery that specializes in edible plants, drought-tolerant plants and native plants. For more information on the nursery, visit www.​ploughsharesnursery.​com/