Barney is an Angel Now.

[Emeraldgreen]

Okay, this is going to sound silly but Barney just did the most amazing thing! I was in the shop just now to give him one more meal and tuck him in for the night. I had the top of the enclosure off and I was scraping the old food off his plate into the garbage just as my husband walked in. He said "hey! look at Barney!" and I turned around and saw Barney standing on the green crate I have inside the enclosure so I have something to step down onto when I climb in. He was standing on the tips of his tippy toes and had his front paws on the top of the enclosure gripping like crazy and his little froggy grumpy face was looking at me with these heart grabbing eyes that looked like they were going to pop out of his head because he was trying so hard. It was like he was saying "I can do it foster meowmie, watch!" and he pulled him self out!! I couldn't believe it. I scooped him up before he could fall and just hugged him. He seemed to realize his great accomplishment because he started purring away and doing paddies in the air with his feet. He's still scrawny and sickly but he is improving, I just know it! I wanted to cry but I was thinking my husband would think I was nuts. LOL He thought it was amazing too considering the shape he's been in since we've known him.

I took this picture earlier today.
This is the top of the enclosure where he climbed out:



And I brought in an extra light so the movies wouldn't be sooooo dark. It's a bit better now.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Oh my! He is so cute! I must have missed this thread because I never visit this section.

Thank you for taking him in and showing him love. He surely would not be here if it was not for your kindness... So many dont find loving people soon enough.

I dont have time tonight to read all of the posts, but can you tell me what exactly is wrong wth him? Besides that he is a old man, I can tell that from his face

[krazyaboutkatz]

He sure is looking a lot better and seems to have much more energy too. I hope he continues to improve.

[Medusa]

You sure know just the right words to say, huh, Lara? Reading your description of how he strained to pull himself up was heartwrenching but it made me so happy at the same time. To see him play was icing on the cake. I had to chuckle at his reaction to the scratching post, as though he was saying "I may be sick but I'm still a cat. I'll use it if I feel like it." LOL Mighty prayers headed your way, Barney and Lara and Scott.

[lvpets2002]

WoW Barney you have improved so so much.. I just want to snatch you up & give you bunches of whisker kissess & huggss.. I sure hope you get to stay there & it be your furrever home.. If not we have to sneak you in a carrier & bring you to Tx.. So glad to see you doing so good & well..

[Randi]

Aww, it's good to see Barney is a bit better. His eyes are fairly bright and the fact that he is playing a bit and interested in climping out is great! And he certainly enjoys his food - it's just fantastic!

Do you sit with him in the crate sometimes? It looks like he can't get enough attention. LOL!

I so hope he can get his ear sorted out soon and will keep getting better. Please give him lots of kisses from me - and thanks for all the loving and care you give him.

Will you let me know whether you got my last envelope - I thought it would have arrived by now. I sent it tuesday last week.

[Emeraldgreen]

Aww, it's good to see Barney is a bit better. His eyes are fairly bright and the fact that he is playing a bit and interested in climping out is great! And he certainly enjoys his food - it's just fantastic!

Do you sit with him in the crate sometimes? It looks like he can't get enough attention. LOL!

I so hope he can get his ear sorted out soon and will keep getting better. Please give him lots of kisses from me - and thanks for all the loving and care you give him.

Will you let me know whether you got my last envelope - I thought it would have arrived by now. I sent it tuesday last week.

Hi Randi, I haven't received it as of yet but yesterday was a holiday. Our mail comes to the post office around 1:30 each day so I will check after work this evening and will let you know asap.

I do climb into the enclosure a couple of times a day and sit in there with him. Sometimes I just hold him and other times I use small scissors and trim the mats while he is occupied with eating or drinking. But I can tell that he is needing more exercise and stimulation by the way he tried to climb out of there! So I will begin taking him out more and maybe walking him on a lead or putting him our smaller outdoor enclosure. I have a big one for my other cats but until I know he is FIP negative, I don't want to put him in their enclosure.

kt_luvs_kitties wrote:

I dont have time tonight to read all of the posts, but can you tell me what exactly is wrong wth him? Besides that he is a old man, I can tell that from his face

The vet is unsure of his age because his 'old man' appearance might have been caused by starvation.
He has hyperthyroidism which he is now on 1/2 a tab of Tapazole for and diabetes which we are trying to reverse with diet right now. He is FELV/FIV negative. He has/had a raging infection somewhere in his body that the vet thinks is most likely his ears that he is on Clavamox for (another 5-6 days to go) and he has a polyp (or tumour) in his left ear that requires surgery at some point. Other than that, he's in good shape. lol Seriously though, he's really coming along. I think he is gaining weight, his energy level is up and his ears do seem somewhat improved. My hope is that the upcoming bloodwork shows definite improvement as well.

Catty1 wrote:

hope he can get his ears cleaned soon.

Me too! I'm going to work in an hour and my boss called me to tell me that the quote arrived by fax from the vet regarding sedation and ear cleaning.

Medusa wrote:

You sure know just the right words to say, huh, Lara? Reading your description of how he strained to pull himself up was heartwrenching but it made me so happy at the same time. To see him play was icing on the cake. I had to chuckle at his reaction to the scratching post, as though he was saying "I may be sick but I'm still a cat. I'll use it if I feel like it." LOL Mighty prayers headed your way, Barney and Lara and Scott.

LOL! That's funny. I reread it after I posted it and thought, these words do not do justice to how sweet his determination to get out really was. But it sounds like you got a good idea. I might try and get it on film tonight because he was sort of trying again this morning.

Thanks krazyaboutkatz and lvpets2002 for your words of encouragement too!

[Catty1]

OH my! How sparkly and bright his eyes look! He IS more active! And to see him play...OMG...mighty killer of dragged toys!

And he pulled himself OUT of the pen! Wow! And sounds like he was rightly proud of himself!

October 14:


October 16


WOW!

I hope he can get his ears cleaned soon.

Hugs and cuddles to Barney!

[Moesha]

I love reading Barney's updates. I'm so glad that there are signs of improvement with him. Keep us posted and I'm going to try to make another donation soon.