Barney

My name is Barney, and I may not look it but I can be very ferocious (when I deem necessary). I love my Mommy and Daddy, but I have a hard time trusting others. That may be because I was left alone in an office building and then rescued from an elevator shaft when I was just a few months old.

I spent 3/4 of my life with my little sister Penelope. She was brought home for me when she was just 6 weeks old and I was 5 years old. I was lonely and she turned out to be the best companion. When she first came to our home, I hit her on the head for 3 days and then I started grooming her. I became like her Mom (even though I am a boy). Unfortunately Penelope got very sick last year and had to leave us. Penelope was very sweet and docile and put up with a lot of my nonsense, unless, of course, I pushed her too far. We all miss her very much. She was a favorite of our friends at St. Marks Vet, because she liked visiting there more than any other patient. Everybody there took extra time to pet her.

In case you haven't done the math yet, I am now 19 years old and I haven't changed a bit. I still love to play with my toys and chase shadows (real or imaginary). I also like to snuggle very much-I can be very sweet when I want to be. If I think I have been left alone I cry REALLY LOUD. I often make up games for my Daddy to play with me. I get him to play fight and then I hiss and run away (he can be so easily manipulated). One time when I decided it was nearing the end of our play session, I hissed (I can be so scary) and proceeded to run off of the bed. (That's how the game is played). I got my hind foot caught in the wrought iron footboard. I was stuck hanging upside down. Boy, was I frightened. That really hurt! Thank goodness my Daddy saved me.

I now have early stage kidney disease. The doctors at St. Mark Vet put me on fluid therapy early on even though I put up quite of a fight. Well, thanks to them (and what one might call early intervention), I am getting better! My Mom says I am bionic. Doctor Haddock says it's those feisty ones that always rally.

We live upstate New York now, so I have more room to run around. I still come back to St. Marks Vet to visit (and for medical care), even though I prefer not to see people who aren't in my family. I am not like my sister Penelope. When I want to be left alone, I bite them.

All in all, I am a happy cat and I feel good.