Little Simon is one of the kittens we hand raised this year and we didn't find a new home for him. And so he stayed.

He's got an enlarged heart and at times has a brief loss of consciousness but that does not stop him from going full force through life. He's into everything and has no fear.

In the basement we have a wading pool with the fish from our little ponds. They are overwintering inside because the ponds freeze solid until late spring and they would perish. In the wading pool are several large flat rocks so the fish can hide. There's also several varieties of plants for ambiance.

Then enters Little Simon ... literally! He wades through the pool on a daily, if not more, basis. His legs are soaked up to his belly as he wanders through the water, herding the zebra danios, guppies, swordtails. He's also pulled many plants out and brought them upstairs to show he's saved them from drowning.

In a deeper container we have the koi and goldfish. They too have plants, rocks AND Little Simon. He's often seen precariously balanced on the edge of the container watching the fish below. On Sunday I was washing the dishes that the cats eat from and went into the hall toward the kitchen.

Hmmmm. What's that on the rug? Don't remember an orange toy. ......
EEEEEEKKKKKK!

It's a goldfish!

Our beautiful chubby fantailed fellow is laying on the rug looking quite dehydrated! Surely Little Simon has murdered him.

Mike took the fish to the kitchen and turned the faucet on low and ran water through the fish's mouth. A kind of fishy artificial respiration. After some time Mike checked his patient. Still not responsive. Again under the flowing water ...

OMG! The fish moved! His body squirmed a little side to side!

OK ... I set up a tank quickly with cool water and added the dechlor. Don't know how much damage the fish may have sustained getting chlorinated water flowing through his gills for about 10 minutes. Mike put the fish into the tank and he swam a little and then floated on his side. Still alive but very weak and traumatized!

We could see he had bruises just behind his gills and on his belly. Mike took the fish out again for a few more sessions of water flowing through the gills over the next hour. After each session the fish seemed stronger although he still would float on his side.

We'd help the fish change position / float on his other side throughout the day. And then the next morning ....

The fish was at the bottom of the tank ... looking for food! He's still weak but we are hopeful he will survive. As for Little Simon ... he now wants to go fishing in the kitchen! The tank has a cover on it to keep the goldfish safe and the container downstairs is covered with a wire mesh too.

Little Simon. Our fishercat!