Barney is an Angel Now.

[Catty1]

I hope he perks up again. Maybe he was 'off' because the TF was working its way in? The capsules might absorb a little more gradually, and be easier on his system.

HUGS to Barn-Barn!

[kb2yjx]

All paws and fingers are crossed that you will get the OK from the vet and be able to bring Barney in in front of the fire!!!When you do, give him a BIG hug from all of us!!!

[catmandu]

PRAYERS AND MORE PRAYERS FROM THE FOUND CATS AND FEEDER FOR BIG BARNEY, THAT HES HOME SOON AGAIN WITH HIS MEEEOWMIE AND HAPPY!!!

[Emeraldgreen]

Lizzie, the time that you have put in with hospice cats sounds so rewarding and I think you are wonderful for doing it. Thank you so much for sharing that story. So amazing. And, I agree, he does need some real home time and tonight we had our first fireside visit.

I didn't ask my husband, I just bundled him up like a burrito in a fleece blanket and walked in and sat right in front of the woodstove. Barney LOVED it! He watched the fire for a little while and it was so warm and he got sleepy. He was purring and put is little head down on my lap and fell fast asleep. I felt so good that he could be at peace and feel safe and be cozy. I'm not sure who benefited more, him or me! lol

About 40 minutes later, I put him back in the shop and found my husband in the den and he said "where have you been?" I had a stupid grin on my face and the cat was out of the bag. lol I told him that I had snuck Barney in and that we didn't know how long he had and the least I could do was offer him a bit of normalcy a few nights a week. He just sat there silently for a second and then said "Ya, I guess". So, it looks likes I'll be doing this some more with him. My husband is worried about the other cats but he is also unhappy because Grommies, one of the cats we adopted in September found the clothes that I put on when I go out and visit with Barney and sprayed on the socks! We've been really blessed and don't have any inappropriate pee'rs in the house and it's always been like that. I don't know how we've lucked out but we have. Gromit has never done this in the few months he's been here but I guess he could smell Barney and decided to mark his territory. I reassured Scott that I will not put Barney down when I bring him in, just hold him.

Barney had a busy day today. We finally got a reasonably warm day with some sunshine so I took him out to the outdoor enclosure. I got lots of video of it but I still can't upload videos or even pictures to Photobucket. I've received a ton of suggestions from Photobucket and have un-installed and re-installed Java and Adobe Flash and changed my firewall settings and deleted my cookies and temp files and nothing works. I can't understand why after a year of doing the same thing with the same camera it all of a sudden doesn't work. So I started a Youtube account and my videos won't upload there either so now at least I know it is something to do with my computer. I'm hoping to have it sorted out soon. In the meantime, I have a few pics that I will 'attach' to this post.

Barney seemed to like being outside but I think he was a little scared too. He has never seen my yard before so I think he was trying to figure out where he was! And the grass was wet so we didn't stay out long but it was good for him to get some fresh air. Here is a picture of him standing on a piece of (wet) driftwood in the enclosure today.

After his outdoor adventure, I gave him another bath. He did not like it and growled ALOT! It's so funny because the set up for the bath with the warm water and suds and two rubbermaid containers, the tarp, the jug to pour water over him, the towels, the hairdryer takes all this time to set up and then the bath itself is less than 4 minutes. LOL
He really does not like the hairdryer, even if I put it on a warm setting or a cool one. He attacks it wildly so I mostly towel dried him today.

And he finally got his tv set up today! We didn't have to buy a used VCR yesterday because my husband offered to give up the one in the den. We don't use it to watch tapes but we need the audio/video outlets in the VCR to connect our dvd player to because our tv is one of the old clunky ones without these outlets. He also plugs his golf video game into the vcr to connect it to the tv but today he said he could move his game and the dvd player upstairs and let Barney have the VCR.
The only problem is that the only vcr tapes we have in the house are two kids christmas tapes, the old school Rudolph and Frosty tapes. So, that is what he has been watching. LOL I will be getting a bunch more from my boss this week but for now this will have to do. And, to be honest, I don't think Barney has ever seen a tv before. You should have seen the way he looked at it when Frosty started moving around on the screen. He was really trying to figure it out. And now, after a few hours, he doesn't seem to notice it. But it does make me feel better to have it going in the background to give him some distraction from the boredom. I will try and pick up one of those cat videos that have mice and birds on them. I have one for my cats but it is a dvd.

I'm stopping the Transfer Factor for now because late this afternoon I saw that he was having diarrhea. Despite all that he has been through, his poops have always been text book. The only problem he ever had in the past was some constipation. I also started him on the antibiotics that the vet prescribed and they are different from the last. He is on Baytril now instead of Clavamox. I don't know if it is this or the TF or the combo plus all the activity today but I have to lay off it until he is feeling better.

Also, I noticed that a protruding lump that he has behind his right ear is really starting to grow. Robin thought it was cartilidge from scratching so much the first few times she saw him but at his last visit she really wasn't sure and thought it could be a tumor. Then she looked in his ear and thought he might have one in the right ear and the xrays seemed to show that too. I'm really praying that it stops growing 'out' because if it becomes an open sore, I don't know how that will be for him (painful, easily infected etc..).
I have the steroids for him (prednisilone) and the dosage is 1 tab (5mg) twice a day. That's alot for a little kitty. I can't give it to him until tomorrow though because it has to be 72 hours after his last metacam dose because they can't be given together. I'm hoping the pred will help shrink this new lump growing behind his ear. I will attach a pic of that as well.

Thanks everybody for your posts.

E.T.A. I'm soooooooooooo frustrated. My pics won't even load as attachements to my post. I tried to upload 3 at once and it just says 'uploading files' please wait. It's already been 10 minutes so I dont' think it's working. My computer has some serious problems. I think I might have to re-install Windows XP but I will have to save all my pics and documents first.

[Medusa]

Lara, this is the most wonderful post yet. To ready of Barney loving the warmth and comfort of the fire is just so heartwarming. What a wonderful moment for both of you and such beautiful memories for you. I can just picture him wrapped up like a burrito and purring away. You're giving him such a good life in a very brief period of time that makes up for so many years of neglect alone and unloved on the streets. I knew that Scott's heart would soften towards him as time passed especially now that he knows that Barney may not have much time left.

Don't stress yourself worrying about posting pix. You've got an awful lot on your plate so we all understand if Photo Bucket isn't working for you. My computer gives me grief every single day. I'll never have Blue Tooth again, that's for sure. It's nice to get videos and pix of Barney but the important thing is that he's getting the love and care that he so desperately needs and he couldn't be w/a better Mom. More gentle pets to Barn-Barn and (((HUGS))) to you and Scott.

[Randi]

I'm so glad to read that Barney was inside and enjoying the fireplace. That must have been SO special for the both of you.

Sorry to hear the lump is growing, but hope the medicine will stop it. Oh that poor boy, he has been getting so much medicine, and different kinds. I just hope he can handle it.

I bet he enjoyed the outdoors too, and I hope he will have some more little trips outside when the weather is good.

Lara, you are the best person he could hope to meet, you are doing so much to make him comfortable - thank you for that!

A pity you can't upload any videos or pictures, but don't stress about it. If you want me try, send me the pictures and I can probably upload them. You have my e-mail address. Have you checked whether the size is too big? Or if you delete a few others, perhaps it will work.

I have QuickTime, Real Player, Windows Media Player on my machine.

Lots of kisses to Barney - and hugs to you!

[Catty1]

I hope the diarrhea is just from the antibiotics (that is a side effect sometimes) and that Barney can be back on the TF at some point.

I love the fireside story! How happy a kitty is that! And Meowmie too!

More prayers for Barney.

[pomtzu]

That's great news - that Barney got to come in the house and sit by the fire with you. Have hubby take some pictures of that next time, and send them when you get whatever problem you're having with your computer straightened out. I'd love to see a shot of that, as I'm sure others would too! Bless you for all that you're doing for this sweet little guy! You're an angel on earth!

[Lizzie]

"He was purring and put is little head down on my lap and fell fast asleep. I felt so good that he could be at peace and feel safe and be cozy. I'm not sure who benefited more, him or me! lol"

Isn't that a good feeling! Like Barney, my Diego has a condition that no-one can do anything about except to use drugs for as long as they will help. (By the way, Pred. really help to shrink a facial tumor that one of my fosters had, so hopefully they will help the one on Barney's head.) As Diego is cuddled warmly into my side, I picture him huddled down, wet, cold and fearful, in some city hiding place he has found, suffering through the pain of the bb-gun pellets in his body, and then the massive wound to his neck made by a racoon (probably over food), and I look down at him and think "At least I can give you this, warmth, safety, comfort, a full tum." Somehow it's important for me to do this since I can't do anything about the condition that will kill him very soon, otherwise I'd feel it was all hopeless. I think it's something cats do so very well, take the good stuff and enjoy it to its fullest extent and suffer through the bad - especially those who have had to live on the streets.

I appreciate the fact that you are posting daily updates since I look forward to this "blog". I can only access PT at work now so I'm going to miss Barney updates for four days, but I'll be thinking about you both.