Barney is an Angel Now.

[kittykatharine]

That is so wonderful! Barney looked so happy to be in that red hoodie ;-). What a cutie, That was the nicest care package ever Jenn!! You are quite the saint! Now barney has a whole bunch of treats and toys to make this little gy as happy as happy can be.

[Randi]

Aww, presents for Barney. Isn't that red sweatshirt cute on him! I bet he'll soon get used to the heating pad - and love it!

Good thoughts for Barney and lots of kisses also.

[kb2yjx]

I am sure glad we cannot read Barney's mind as he sports his new jacket!!!

[Emeraldgreen]

My computer is finally fixed. Turns out the majority of my problems were connected to my Norton antivirus and I just needed to un-install it and replace it with some other virus software that is less crippling for my computer! Out of nowhere it wasn't allowing me to upload pics or videos to photobucket or youtube and a few times it wouldn't let me attach a picture to a post, though I was able to finally do that the other day.

Triple thank yous are in order!! Thank you Kb2yjx and Mary(Medusa) and Mary (Purr_Tender). I received two cards with donations in the mail today and when I called the vet today to ask what they charge for a box of syringes the receptionist told me that a donation had been made. Thank you guys and thank you everybody for all of your help, now and in the past. Everyone has been so great and Barney is well set up for a good long time, or for however long he has. I feel very blessed that his care will not be expensive with the continued treatment of insulin and prednisilone and food. We are just about to open the bag of food that Momtomany donated a few weeks ago and that should last at least a month. I know there are some folks on here who are struggling with pets in need and Barney has already been so well looked after by his huge Pet Talk foster family and he is going to be safe and cozy and well fed until he lets me know it's his time to go. Thank you everyone for helping making this guy so comfortable. I will be sure to keep him that way for as long as I can (meaning as long as he is not suffering) and you have made that possible. He and I could not ask for more.

I've uploaded the video from his outdoor adventure last week and will post it below. He hasn't been out since because it has been raining every day. I have forgotten what the sun looks like. lol
Barney was motoring around pretty well I think. I'm planning to take him out a few times a week so he gets some exercise (weather permitting). And the best part of the video is that you can actually SEE HIM!! All my videos are so dark because I'm using a camera that doesn't have light for videos, just for pictures. But since he is outside you can really see him.



I've been bringing Barneybear into the house to sit by the fire a few evenings a week and he just loves it. I asked my husband to take a picture of us (as Pomtzu suggested ) and it is below.





Here is a video of Barney in the workshop and the vcr set up for him with Frosty the Snowman playing.



We went to town today and stopped by the Salvation Army and found some great videos for Barney. They were super cheap (one was only .39 cents!!) and they are just perfect for him. One is about lizards, another is about baby birds and the other is about frogs and butterflies etc.. I'm sure the people shopping there thought we were strange! We were looking through the shelves of videos and we were each finding videos for him and shouting out "OMG, this one is perfect! A lizard video!!" LOL Thankfully I don't care what they think.

Here is a pic of some of the videos we got for him today.




Wow, video overload in this post but they got a bit backed up with the computer issues I was having.

Barney has another week or less of Baytril and he is still getting 5mg of Prednisilone twice a day. The insulin injections are going okay but he growls when I get him on my lap in preparation for the shot. He's been trying to bite me more now than ever, even when it's not shot time because he thinks I'm always trying to give him a shot, even though I'm mostly just trying to pet him. But, then I'll climb into his enclosure to sweep and clean his litter box and collect his dirty food dishes and he rubs up against my legs and when I sit down, he crawls into my lap and does head bonkies against me. If my hands move in any kind of 'suspicious' manner, he goes after me though. lol What a guy. Gotta love him.
My husband is growing fond of him and he goes into the shop multiple times a day to change videos for Barney (up until today, he was changing the videos from Frosty to Rudolph but thankfully there will now be a better variety) and he has climbed in there to clean his litterbox and give him fresh water and sometimes pets him on the head. I've never asked him to do any of this. I always thank him though and he says "well, how can you not want to help him, look at him?!?" lol He is a bit wary of Barney's biting though and when he pets him, it's just a few quick strokes on the head. The funny thing is, that I think he REALLY likes my husband, maybe even more than me!! (darn it!! lol). Whenever he opens the door and comes into the shop, Barney POPS UP and meows and goes right to the side of the enclosure where Scott is standing. He does do this with me but not with the same gusto he does with him. lol
Maybe the 'caregiver' (and I use that term lightly) in Barney's past was a male. In any case, I'm grateful that they have struck up a friendship because it is so much more comfortable for me to take care of Barney and have him in our lives when we are both on board with it.

Angela is coming over at 1:00 tomorrow to see Barney. I will take a few pics!

p.s. Jenn, the self heating pad is great and Barney is cozy as a bug in a rug. Thank you.

[Medusa]

What an absolutely wonderful update! All things considered, Barney actually looks healthier except for his eyes, which reveal how sick he truly is. He sure does have a good life, though. Boo was sitting on my lap while I was viewing the video and he looked at me as if to say "Why don't we have one of those enclosures?" Barney looked like he enjoyed his little romp but I'm sure he's had enough of the outdoors considering that it's been so rough for him. I'm willing to bet that he likes his snuggle time by the fire w/you much better, Lara. I knew that Scott would come around, too. After all, Barney can tug at the heartstrings. You sure have made his last days, however long they are, cozy and secure and full of love. I'm proud to know you, girl. Gentle pets and (((HUGS))) to you and Scott.

[columbine]

I've tried not to get too wrapped up in Barney's story, but it's a lost cause! It's great to see him filling out and looking more comfortable. Hey, Barn-Barn - keep eating lots of yummy food! I bet the shots won't bother you as much when you're a bit heavier!

Love, Columbine

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I am sorry I dont post often, I really want to but I am so busy sometimes, I just say a prayer instead!

Anyways, Barney looks WONDERFUL! I LOVE his enclosure (wish I could get one for myself!) And he looks so comfy and sweet.

You made out like a bandit Barney! Look at all of those goodies.

Have you ever thought of buying him the video catnip vhs? I only have the dvds, but the tape is VERY cheap on ebay. Also, I have 2 music cds, made for cats. It really helps mine! One is called cat naps, the other I bought at Petsmart for 7 dollars.

My cats have 3 dvds.. 2 are video catnip and then some other one made for them. Bet he would like them!

Anyways, he is so lucky to have a devoted meowmie to care for him! And he could NOT be any cuter

Keep going strong Barney!

[Emeraldgreen]

What an absolutely wonderful update! All things considered, Barney actually looks healthier except for his eyes, which reveal how sick he truly is....
You sure have made his last days, however long they are, cozy and secure and full of love. I'm proud to know you, girl. Gentle pets and (((HUGS))) to you and Scott.

Thanks Mary. I agree, he's got the eyes of an old man whose been through alot, physically and more. I hope I can have another few months with him but we'll just take it one day at a time. The right side of his head is swollen now more than before. It's kind of like his tumor (that the vet thought was the enlarged thyroid) which is on the right side has joined up with the tumor behind his ear and it is much more noticable now.

Columbine wrote:

I've tried not to get too wrapped up in Barney's story, but it's a lost cause! It's great to see him filling out and looking more comfortable. Hey, Barn-Barn - keep eating lots of yummy food! I bet the shots won't bother you as much when you're a bit heavier!

lol! Barney has that effect! I just don't get how he didn't win someone over all these years but I guess no one stopped long enough to give him a good look and get to know him.
That is a good thought, if he manages to gain a bit more weight, the shots should be easier to administer. And as Mary (Medusa) wrote in an earlier post, the prednisilone should help with the weight gain as well. I will have the clinic weigh him when I bring him in to be boarded for a few days later this month and will let you guys know.

kt_luvs_kitties wrote:

I am sorry I dont post often, I really want to but I am so busy sometimes, I just say a prayer instead!

Prayers are so appreciated Katie, thank you for thinking about Barney. Prayers going out to your Andy too!

Have you ever thought of buying him the video catnip vhs? I only have the dvds, but the tape is VERY cheap on ebay. Also, I have 2 music cds, made for cats. It really helps mine! One is called cat naps, the other I bought at Petsmart for 7 dollars.

I would like to get Barney one of those tapes and will keep my eye out for one but the VHS tapes are harder to find these days. And now that I've found the lizard and frog videos, I think they will entertain him pretty well. I know what you mean though, those cat videos are so great. I have a dvd one for my house cats called 'Kitty Goes Hunting and Kitty Goes Fishing' and it has hamsters and birds and fish and butterflies and some of my cats are quite interested in it. Others don't even notice it though, not sure why! lol I also have a bunch of other dvd's that I alternate for them including old tv shows (Beverly Hill Billies, Dick Van Dyke and Alice), these ones are always really cheap at the store. Right now they have the Yule Log video playing. It's just like they have a fireplace going in their playroom and you have the option of choosing the crackling sounds or you can select the music option which is quite peaceful.

I think the music cd's for Barney would have been a wonderful idea but unfortunately he is deaf so he wouldn't be able to hear it but I do hope the videos will entertain him a bit.

Randi wrote:

LOL about the videoes you bought for Barney, he will surely enjoy some critters on the TV.
I hope it continues to go well with his shots and medicine!
Lots of kisses and gentle scritchies to Barney, and hugs to you!

I'm sorry I can't contribute with more, but I have a horrendous dentist bill to pay soon.

Oh my gosh Randi, you have donated multiple times already! And thanks to you and everyone else, he is doing just fine and is well taken care of. Thank you so much. Prayers and good thoughts are all that Barney needs now.
I hope that you are able to tackle the dentist bill that is upcoming. I'm thinking of getting dental insurance for my husband. He has periodontal disease and just went to a specialist. He is due to go in for 2 cleanings one week apart in February and they will be 3 hours long each time at 150.00 an hour. I'm hoping to get the insurance lined up prior to the cleanings but I think there might be a 3 month wait before it kicks in. Do you have dental insurance in Denmark?


Purr_Tender wrote:

The videos you picked up for him are so cool!! Are you sure they didn't have stickers on them that said "Hold For Barney"?!

LOL!! That is what I was thinking!

Wow, that enclosure is great. Is it for your house cats? I have been wanting to build something like that for my crew, especially after my Molly was killed a couple of months ago. I want them to be able to get fresh air and exercise. When I do let them out the first thing that they always do is starting grazing. I've had a couple of people that were suppose to give me a quote on building one attached to the cat cottage but I never heard back from them. I'll try again in the Spring to find someone.

Yes, we built the enclosure a few years ago when we moved here. We built the dog 'yard' first and then decided to take a 1/4 of the dogs space and make it for the cats. A friend of my husband's helped us and we used fencing that has holes that are about 2 inch squares for the sides and chicken coop fencing for the top that we connected with wire (but if we build another one if we move, I think I would use fish netting or deer fencing on the top because when it rains, it gets a bit rusty. The deer netting would work just as well, if not better). We used 6 foot fence poles, the ones that look like giant pencils and dug holes about a foot and a half deep to put them in. Then when we were done, we walked around and looked for any potential escape spots and put rocks and pieces of drift wood to close them up. In the summer, we put a huge blue tarp across the top of one end so they have shade and we also put one of their really beat up cat trees in there which they like to sit on. The enclosure is about 70 feet long and about 20 feet wide but if we build another one in the future, I think I would like to make part of it tall enough for me to get in and stand up. It is hard on the back to carry them out there in their carriers and then bend over to get in there to let them out and then round them up. I would also make it closer to the house next time! LOL It is about a 100 feet from the house so it's kind of a pain to get them out there. I bought a dolly last year and I stack their carriers on that and wheel them out. It is hilarious and I'm sure my one neighbour who has a bit of a view of our place must wonder what the heck is going on!
Here is a video of the enclosure in the summer. We let the grass grow a couple of feet tall inside because the cats like to race through it and hide and stuff. I do take the weed whacker in there once a month during the summer though and cut a path for them so they have some areas that are clear. It's really dismal right now and the cats don't go out much this time of year.

[Purr-tender]

My heart sunk when you said the side of his head is more swollen. That doesn't sound good at all. Are his tumors cancerous or is his cancer in his lymph glands? Since he does have cancer I guess surgery to remove some of the tumors, when he is stronger, is not an option, right? Do his ears still bleed since the vet cleaned them?

I can just picture you with a dolly load of cat carriers that is funny, but it works! Do you treat the grassy area with any kind of flea and tick repellent before you put the cats out there, or do you just use Frontline or something like that on them? I want my enclosure to attach to their cottage so I can put a doggy door in so they can go out whenever they want to. I would probably lock the door at night to be safe. I have an acquaintance whose husband built an incredible enclosure attached to one of those sheds that look like a little house. It has hollow logs and dead trees cemented in place. She insulated the shed and had electric run to it. In fact they are in the process of building a second "cattery". I don't have that kind of money but I took some photos of it this Summer for when I finally get mine we'll have some kind of an idea what to do. Thanks for sharing the video of yours, it looks like cat heaven.

Mary