Project Fish has started

[Kaz]

We had some newts in our pond, they seemed ok with the fish so hopefully yours will be too

[meriad]

Oh, interesting point Frank - hadn't thought of that. I'll set it up tomorrow morning and see what gives

Thanks Kaz - I'm hoping that these newts will be fine; they fascinating creatures.

As for my menagerie - I know and I love every minute of it and I do consider myself really lucky to have them all visiting. The one I'd love to have more of, but it's just not feasible with the cats - is birds. Karl and Nadine's cat went missing over a month ago and the amount of birds they now have is amazing

[Kaz]

Yes cats do tend to scare off the birds

On a serious note though, I hope the missing puss shows up!

[meriad]

thanks Kaz. Sadly we suspect Merlin was hit by a car the morning he disappeared and wasn't able to make it home. Unfortunately where Karl and Nadine live it's quite rural and they have two large badger sets really close by. And whilst a badger will not kill a cat (it would be very very unusual); unfortunately if Merlin had been hit and was dead then the badger (or a fox) would have what they do.

Merlin is chipped and if he is still alive then it's because someone has taken him in but not to a vet for a chip check; but we all do suspect he was the victim of an RTA It was so heartbreaking at the time and it still is; and whenever I go there I always still automatically look out for him and I do still hope and pray for a miracle that we see him again

[saundra]

i would forget when to feed them and who eats what

[meriad]

i would forget when to feed them and who eats what

Saundra; now that I have a routine it's fairly quick. The issues is when I go on holiday trying to find someone willing to feed the various creatures

[Workingman]

I remember when Samantha, one of our black cats, went missing when we moved house. I drove all round the local roads to see if she had been hurt. She was always a roamer and we eventually suspected that someone had taken her in, but it was the not knowing which hurt the most.

I have just been reading up about newts. They are apparently fine where there are places near water for them to hide - low shrubbery, log piles and so on. Birds and grass snakes are their worst predators as can some cats, but if the cats are not worrying them they will be fine. One thing I did learn is that the Great Crested Newt is protected by law and you are supposed to inform people if you have one. I think I would be tempted to just let things carry on as they had been.

[meriad]

Exactly Frank - it's the not knowing that is just the worst

Re the newts; the two that I saw were just regular newts without a crest; thankfully. Would rather not have to get the law involved LOL. Bad enough when one of the cats bought home a mouse and I was't 100% sure if it was a Dormouse which I gather is also protected.... A stern word was had with the cats

[Kaz]

Oh I am so sorry Ria, and yes it really is the not knowing that is so upsetting

There was a huge and very expensive (and unpopular) housing development near here that was halted by the discovery of one very rare newt. I have it on good authority that the newt found its way to the setting with a little local help

[meriad]

There was a huge and very expensive (and unpopular) housing development near here that was halted by the discovery of one very rare newt. I have it on good authority that the newt found its way to the setting with a little local help

The development that was going on where I live was held up by about 9 months because of bats. Good though that these protections are in place