I have often wondered where my four cats go during the day and what they get up to. We see them as quite domesticated but I have recently become aware that at least one is capable of killing and eating its own food. The others don’t seem to know what to do with a dead bird or mouse and see it more as a play thing. I would love to know how far they roam and where they go.

I found this experiment particularly interesting, it followed ten different cats putting GPS tracking devices and micro cameras on them to see what they did. All the cats had different territories, some stayed very close to home just frequenting their own garden, whilst others went as far as seven acres. I doubt mine go that far but I would probably be shocked as exactly what they do get up to.

This is interesting it’s a zero tolerance approach to dog poo which has been implemented in a Spanish town. The system involves parcelling up dogs mess and sending back to the dog owners who have failed to clean it up. The campaign has been a huge success and has seen a 70% drop in the amount of dog mess found on the streets. I wonder if something similar could work over here. I guess the main issue would be tracking down the perpetrator.

The Scottish wildcat has long been under threat of extinction mainly due to problems with the species interbreeding with domestic moggies. A scientist who has developed a genetic test to identify pure Scottish wildcats has now warned that the species could be extinct in as little as two years. Some scientists have now called for the remaining individuals to be trapped so the species can be preserved. It is thought less than 100 now remain so unless action is taken soon it might well be too late too save the species.

I have often wondered whether I could put my cats on the treadmill to lose a few pounds. Now a company has designed a pet treadmill aimed at cats and dogs. It is currently still only a prototype but looked quite interesting. It was built because the creator had an overweight cat that was unable to lose weight by changing the diet alone. One thing is not clear, how do you motivate your cat to exercise, perhaps a strategically placed out of reach biscuit?

I always like the cute and fluffy stories so was pleased to come across this one about a family of ducks who caused havoc in Shrewsbury. The ducks decided they wanted to have a leisurely stroll through town and managed to cause a mile long tailback in the town as drivers waited to let the ducks go past. The ducks were eventually guided to the River Severn away from the danger of the road.

This two headed bull shark was recently found by a fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico. Discovered by a fisherman when he opened the uterus of an adult shark it is thought to be the first confirmed discovery of a two headed bull shark foetus. It is thought that the shark would have died soon after birth had it gone to term.

I have read a few articles about cat cafes, places that offer tea and coffee and the chance to stroke the resident cats. They have proven to be quite popular in Japan and now it appears are coming to London. The UK’s first cat cafe is due to open in London within the next few months after members of the public donated over £100,000 to make it happen. Entrepreneur Lauren Peters hopes to open the cafe in the Old Street area of London and have the cafe open by May. She has already found 10 cats to work in the cafe from the Mayhew Animal Home in Kensal Green. Lauren believes the cafe will prove popular in London as many city dwellers are unable to have pets of their own. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

If this article is correct the latest weapon in the fight against the non native grey squirrel could be the pine marten. It seems that pine martens help to drive out the grey squirrel leaving the red squirrels to increase in numbers. In areas where there is a strong population of pine martens there now appears to less grey squirrels. The pine martens appear to eat a large number of the grey squirrels whilst the red squirrel is more agile and less likely to feed on the ground making it harder to catch.

Pine martens were almost extinct in the UK but have been reintroduced in some areas, increasing in Scotland and Ireland. Although they are still rare in England and Wales research shows they could be useful in controlling the grey squirrels numbers. Perhaps its time to introduce a few more pine martens as a natural means of culling squirrels.

Slightly more adventurous diners might be interested to see that one of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s restaurants in Devon has recently started serving squirrel. Whilst I have read of other restaurants putting squirrel on the menu it doesn’t yet seem to be a popular choice. The River Cottage Canteen in Plymouth has been serving it braised in a tomato and red wine sauce. The meat which has been likened to rabbit seems a logical choice for the menu when you consider the amount of grey squirrels that are culled each year. I wonder where I can try some near to me, or perhaps I need to take my shotgun out in the garden .

At A time when many people might be considering cutting back on certain meat products, scientists are urging us to halve our meat consumption. A UN study has shown how farming practices destroy the natural world. One thing that could avoid severe environmental damage is if people eat half as much meat as usual. The current horsemeat scandal has been seen as a good time to publicise the problems of meat consumption including the consumption of grain by intensively farmed livestock which could be better used for human consumption. The intensive use of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides is also seen as a huge risk to the environment. The answer it seems could be putting more vegetables on your plate and less meat. Alternatively eating more chicken and pork could help as these are seen to cause less environmental damage.

It’s always interesting when a new cat moves into the area. One of the first things they do is explore all the surrounding territory and work out how far they can go and what other cats are about. Our cats have coped quite well with two moving in just next door and now seem to have a tentative agreement as to which parts of the garden they use at any given time. This large white cat pictured right appeared out of nowhere the other day and breaking all the rules decided he wanted to stroll right down the middle of our garden. Our smaller white cat Ollie and his brother Oscar took offence to this and have made their feelings clear on the subject. No doubt the cat will be back and there will be many more battles before this territory war is resolved. It is interesting watching it all take place.

Ministers have announced new measures to try and crack down on dangerous dog attacks. All dog owners will now have to make sure their pets are microchipped. It is hoped that the measures will make it easier for police to trace the owners of violent dogs. Dog owners have three years to make sure they comply with the regulation. Critics say the regulations will penalise millions of law abiding owners. I would have thought, however, that any responsible pet owner would already have their pet microchipped, all of our cats certainly are. It is more likely to be those involved in breeding dangerous dogs that do not comply with the new rules.

A new study has found that British moths are experiencing a dramatic decline. Three native species have become extinct since 2000 and the population of moths in the southern UK has dropped 40% over the past 40 years. Even once common species are now in danger of extinction. It is thought the main factor behind the decline is habitat loss. I’m unsure what types of habitat moths prefer but the article suggests plants such as nettles are good for moth caterpillars, I wonder if its simply a case of concentrating on leaving more wild areas for the creatures.

If you want to make the kitty in your life happy then this cat friendly home might be for you. It features cat friendly features in every room including a litter tray in the bathroom, elevated walkways and cat tunnels. I can see how some of the features would be attractive to my cats. The design has been completed by a Japanese company who studied the interaction between cats and people before making it. In addition to the added cat features the home has cat proof surfaces which are scratch resistant and an outdoor caged area so the cats can get some air without escaping.

We get a lot of wildlife in the garden but it’s not often we have a heron. I managed to get a few pictures when this one landed in one of the trees the other day.

This is another article that highlights that the importance of microchipping your pets. Miko the cat was recently reunited with his owner after being missing for 10 years. He was last seen in 2002 when she moved house from Hutton to Brentwood and Miko ran off into fields. His owner had given up hope of finding him again but recently got a call after he was taken into a vets surgery. Miko was traced back to her by his microchip and is now back home. Where he has been for last the 10 years is a mystery but he appears well. I guess one thing to remember is to always update the details held for your pets microchips when you move house, just in case they turn up years later.

If you have an hour to spare this weekend then take time to count the birds you see in your garden as part of the RSPB Garden Birdwatch. Your results can be submitted here and will be used by the RSPB to monitor trends and understand how different birds are doing. I did mine this morning and spotted 4 blackbirds, 1 robin, 4 blue tits, 5 wood pigeons, 1 crow and 4 collared doves.

One thing I have learnt from watching the foxes is that they love snow. We don’t usually see too much of them in the garden but as soon as we have a covering of snow they come out to play. This little guy spent ages jumping around and running up and down even posing for a couple of pictures.

We have had a few inches of snow in the past few days and although it’s nothing compared to the snow we experienced a few years back, at 30 weeks pregnant it’s enough to limit me going out. The garden looks quite attractive and the cats have been enjoying the weather and pouncing in the snow. Unfortunately I have been feeling too ill the past few days to build a snowman but am hoping to get to it before the snow melts.

A kitten had a lucky escape after swallowing a TV aerial. Pictured is an x-ray of the unlucky cat before the surgery to remove the 15cm aerial. He is now back to his usual playful self.

Feeding the ducks with leftover bread is a favourite pastime for many but experts have warned too much white bread can be bad for them. It seems it can leave ducks bloated, ill and in danger from predators as it is less nutritious than their normal food. Experts have warned that ducks may even develop a craving for treats such as bread, leftover chips and takeaways and become reluctant to forage for food. People have been urged to swap white bread for more nutritious food such as grains and pieces of cut up vegetables. So next time you feed the ducks perhaps you might need to take them some more healthy snacks. 

As any cat owner knows, cats cannot be trusted. It would come as no surprise then to find a cat detained for smuggling. This cat was caught smuggling various tools into a prison to help inmates escape. The cat had several saws and drills tapped to its body. Convicts had trained him to deliver mobile phones and tools to the prison in north eastern Brazil. The cat, however, was not crafty enough and attracted the attention of guards due to its frequent visits to and from the prison.

If you have ever looked at your pets wagging tail with envy then you might want one of these. Created by a Japanese inventor it is a tail for people that wags when the wearer becomes excited. The Tailly is fitted with sensors that monitor the wearer pulse rate, the faster the heart beats the more it wags. I wonder how popular it will prove to be.

In what could be encouraging news for tigers this article claims they are making something of a comeback in parts of Asia. The director for Asia Programs at the Wildlife Conservation Society has praised India, Thailand and Russia for government initiatives which are helping tiger numbers. Six remaining species of tiger live in just 13 Asian countries but it is government commitment that is needed to make any conservation efforts a success.

In India there are strict anti poaching patrols in the Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks as well as surveillance, scientific monitoring and the voluntary relocation of people away from tiger habitats. Russia is currently drafting a new law that makes the transport, sale and possession of endangered animals a criminal offence and closes a loophole that allows poachers to claim they have found endangered species like tigers already dead. They have also announced that they will create a new corridor for safe tiger passage to link tiger breeding strongholds in Russia and China. Thailand are also taking strong measures to tackle poaching and have increased enforcement and anti poaching patrols. It’s all good news but I can’t help noticing the absence of China in the article.

Luckily our cats don’t have a taste for the Christmas decorations but it seems some people are not so lucky. This article caught my eye about a cat that swallowed a strand of tinsel. The cat needed emergency surgery to remove the tinsel from his throat and intestines and appears to be recovering well. I guess the message is clear, however, pets and Christmas decorations don’t always mix.

Claims research from the national Autonomous University of Mexico. The research has found that house finches such as those pictured have been filling their nests with cigarette butts in order to repel mites. The nicotine in the discarded filter acts as a natural pesticide against the mites as well as providing nest insulation.

Cats are not known for being the friendliest creatures but it seems some breeds are more friendly than others. If you are choosing a cat for its temperament the Sphynx comes out as the friendliest. The study recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour ranked 129 cats from different breeds according to their nature. Pure bred cats ranked better with the Sphynx coming out top followed by Maine Coons and Persians. The domestic moggy scored the lowest out of the breeds.

I’m unconvinced the results are down to the breed of cats. Personally all of my cats have been domestic moggies and whilst some of them are not the friendliest creatures in the world, others are much more amicable. I think cats like people all have their own individual personalities, just as there are arseholes in the human world, so there are in the cat world. My cat Ollie is a perfect example of this whereas you couldn’t have a more loveable cat than my other cat Willow.

Living just down the road from Tunbridge Wells I was interested to read the following article about a possible bigfoot sighting. Residents of the town claim to have seen a giant ape like beast running around the countryside. The creature is supposedly 8ft tall with demonic red eyes and long arms. The sighting is one of several in recent months although the Kentish Apeman was first spotted nearly 70 years ago. Personally I think its more likely to be man in a gorilla suit but it’s nice to see something of interest in the local news, it can be a little slow around here.

In a sign that our urban foxes might be getting braver I came across a second story about someone being mugged by a fox. Once again it appears the fox was after a bag of groceries. In this instance it allegedly appeared in front of a woman and refused to move before snarling at her. It then made off with a bag of her groceries. I must admit I find the story a little surprising. I am no stranger to urban foxes having at least four which frequently visit my garden. We and my cats tolerate the foxes and life with them peacefully without any issues. If I do happen to come across one in the garden even the biggest of the group will back down and watch me from a distance. I doubt they would ever be tempted enough by the lure of food to approach me and can only assume the foxes in these mugging incidents must be excessively hungry and unable to find food.

If you are suffering from a squirrel invasion this year then you might find this article useful. It gives advice on how to keep the squirrels away from your bird table. Tips include greasing poles with Vaseline that squirrels can use to climb up and coating food in chilli which is still edible to birds but distasteful to squirrels. It seems there is a shortage of nuts this winter leading squirrels to target bird tables and nut feeders for food. We have no shortage of squirrels in the garden but have quite an effective deterrent in the form of our cats which love to chase them. I don’t begrudge them the odd bit of food from the bird table if they can get past the cats to eat it.

If you are having a bonfire for Guy Fawkes night then it’s worth heeding the annual warning to check it for hedgehogs before lighting it. Unfortunately a nice pre-made bonfire provides a perfect environment for the creatures. Tips to follow include making your fire as close as possible to the event so that no wildlife creeps inside and giving it a careful check before setting it alight.

This is cute it’s a picture taken when a squirrel used this unusual pumpkin bird feeder. The squirrel trying to get the nuts inside inadvertently made himself a cute little hat.

Staff at Glasgow airport had a surprise when they came across a snake on one of their planes. The Mexican serpent had hidden under one of the seats on the flight from Cancun. It is thought it may have come aboard in an unsuspecting passengers hand luggage. The snake is now in the care of The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals until a home can be found for it.

I have seen quite a few articles about cat cafes being set up. I believe the first one I read some months ago was about one in Japan but it appears Russia is now offering the same with one opening in St Petersburg. The concept is the same with customers being able to enjoy a hot drink whilst petting the resident cats. Having several cats myself I can’t quite see the attraction, one thing is for sure health and safety rules would never allow this concept in the UK.

With a couple of weeks to go before Guy Fawkes night it seems some people just can’t wait to let off their fireworks. The result is one very traumatised cat. Poor Oscar hates even the slightest bang so with the fireworks set to continue for a couple of weeks either side of the big night, it seems he will be mainly living under the sofa.

I am always amused to come across pictures of vegetables that look like other things. The most recent of these is a tomato shaped liked a duck. The tomato was found in a green house in Lincolnshire where the surprised gardeners decided to take a picture of it rather than eat it.

That’s according to this article which claims 13 cats and one dog in the US are believed to caught to virus from their owners in 2011 and 2012. Although the chances of passing it on are slim researchers have said greater awareness is needed of the phenomenon which is known as revere zoonosis. Whilst many people are aware that strains of flue can move from animal populations to people it appears there is less awareness that humans can also pass H1N1 flu to other animals.

Having suffered from swine flu last year I was surprised to find our that there was a risk of me passing onto my animals. None the less I took all the necessary precautions to cut down the risk of passing it on, such as washing my hands and generally sterilising all door knobs and similar surfaces in the house. Another time I will also make sure I keep my cats at a safe distance.

I am always interested to see news about big cat sightings in the UK. The last was the Essex lion which eventually appeared to be simply a domestic cat. The latest sighting is in Bedford where two witnesses believe they have seen a lion. A helicopter with a thermal imaging camera, firearms officers and zoo workers with tranquilisers carried out a search for the lion but once again no lion was found. Police have said there is no on-going incident involving a lion. I wonder whether it was simply another oversized pussy cat.

I am always interested to see these articles about very overweight pets/ I have a fat kitty but these poor animals do make him look rather small. It would seem this cat is one of the lucky ones having shedding the pounds at an animal fit club. The cat called Fifi Bottomley  lost 22% of her body weight to become a cat half her size, pictured right. How people let their animals get to this size is unclear but like people fat animals need a good diet and plenty of exercise and perhaps a little less kitty treats.

This is interesting it’s the story about bees producing odd coloured honey. Apparently bee keepers in France have noticed that their bees have been producing blue and green honey. Whilst they were initially baffled as to the cause, it seems the bees were feeding on the residue from a nearby M&M factory. The waste products from the factory which produces the red, blue, green, yellow and brown sweets were eaten by the bees and are now colouring the honey. Whilst it may seem amusing for the beekeepers it means they cannot sell the resulting honey product.

This was the scene in an Austrian sport store when a flock of sheep decided to go shopping. The incident happened in a ski resort in the village of St Anton. It is thought one of the sheep saw it’s reflection in a mirror and went to investigate and the others followed.

This is an interesting idea and although not a new one (I believe they are already on sale overseas) new to the UK market. It’s turning discarded deer antlers into dog chews. The antlers are taken from those that are naturally shed by the deer during the rutting season. Although quite a few people commenting on the article appear not to have read it and believe deer are killed for their antlers, it is in fact simply a way of using a product that would naturally be discarded. The product appears to be quite successful and is now on sale at Pets at Home stores.

Larry the cat (left), who was previously the chief mouser at Downing Street could soon be seeking new employment after being replaced in the post. It seems Larry was simply not doing the job properly, with the last straw being when the Prime Minister spotted a mouse making it’s way across the floor whilst Larry slept.

Larry will be replaced by Chancellor George Osborne's cat, Freya (pictured right) who will now patrol numbers 10, 11 and 12. The new arrangement has been described as a job share although it seems more like a reshuffle. Something tells me Larry has been fed a little too many kitty treats and lost his hunting edge.

A real life cat burglar has gained a bit of a reputation in Luton. Denis the cat likes nothing better than to take objects home and has now amassed a haul of over 100 items. Among the items he has stolen are clothes, paintbrushes, a Barbie doll and a bath towel. I can only imagine how embarrassed his owner is. Luckily my cats don’t tend to steal things although I did once have one come carrying a whole pork chop.

That’s the warning from the conservationists who say the species is at greater risk than initially thought. A team put together by the Scottish Wildcat Association (SWA) have been reviewing more than 2,000 camera sightings, eyewitness reports and road kills. Based on this they have concluded that the numbers of pure bred cats left in the wild have fallen to as little as 35 individuals. Other research had estimated there were 150 breeding pairs left but it seems they are far less than previously thought.

The main threat to the species comes from interbreeding with domestic cats which creates a hybrid species. A number of measures have been proposed to try and save the cats, including the trapping of cats to allow blood samples to be taken to better understand the state of the population and relocating pure wildcats to areas where there is less risks.

A woman in Hampshire had a bonus in her bag of salad when she got a free frog. The salad was brought from a branch of Waitrose and stored in the fridge. The lady took a potion of salad out for her lunch and it was only later that the frog was noticed still in the bag in the fridge. I guess she didn’t follow the guidelines to wash the salad before eating it

Some stories are cute but fairly pointless. This is one of these about a cat that decided to have her kittens in a nesting box in a tree. The box was originally provided for owls to nest in but the cats decided it looked like a safe place to live. The kittens pictured here looking very cute appear to be right at home sitting in the tree.

A lady in Somerset was surprised when what she thought was badgers in her garden, turned out to be a racoon. She reported the animal to the local badger group because of it’s unusually striped tail. An animal sanctuary then put out cameras to try and identify the animal, with the resulting pictures clearly showing a raccoon. It is thought the animal might be an escaped pet as it is easy to handle. If you have lost your racoon then he is currently at the Secret World animal sanctuary in Huntspill.

This unusual pink grasshopper was recently spotted on a farm in Wiltshire. Surprisingly it is not a rare species as brown and purple grasshoppers do sometimes occur. They are, however, rarely seen, presumably because the bright colour makes them more easily visible to potential predators.

A man in Nepal took his own revenge on a snake after it bite him. After he was bitten by a cobra the Nepalese farmer grabbed the snake and killed it by biting it to death. The man was later treated for his wounds.