Barney - my cat and companion

I got Barney in 2004 from the Lothian Cat Rescue -a local cat shelter for strays and unwanted cats. I had lost my previous cat, Scruffy, to illness and felt the need to replace her so took myself off to have a look at the poor wee cats in need of a home.

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The strange thing about my visit to the cat shelter was that I was the one under scrutiny! Had I had a cat before? Could I offer a cat a garden to roam around in? Would I be likley to outlive the cat (Jeez!)? and so on. Having satisfied the staff that I was not from a low class restaurant looking for a cheap way to offer new exotic dishes to the customers, I was allowed to view the cats needing to be rehomed. It wasn't that easy though to choose one. "That one scratches furniture?" "These two come as a pair!" This one doesn't like men!!" (How does a cat know if you're a man - after all it's not always that obvious with some people!). "This one is diabetic and has special needs" "That one bites and doesn't use its litter tray" (I didn't ask what it did use.) there seemed to be something about each cat.

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The very last cat I looked at was Barney. They thought 'he' was a 'she' but subsequent 'investigation' by the vet revealed his true sex. Not that the giveaway evidence was there for long as the vet set about removing it. Barney, as they subsequently named him, looked so much like Scruffy that I knew he was the cat for me. He had been picked up as a stray. I just couldn't believe that somebody would not want to look after such a beautiful animal. I had to wait two weeks though before I could get him home in case his previous owner came to claim him. No-one did so I took him home.

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He soon settled in although initially it cost a bit of money to replace the bed linen! Since then he has been as good as gold. He never bites or scratches and loves being the centre of attention. I've got some friends to whom that could apply (including the bit about the bed linen!). Barney likes to be out at night which suits me. I don't know where he goes or what he gets up to but I have seen a few tell-tale birds' feathers in his coat on occasions.

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It's a strange thing that you think you've trained a cat but in reality the cat has trained you! He knows how to get more/different food and how to get me to open the door etc. He hasn't quite managed to get me to beg yet but I think he's working on it. Anyhow I love him and wouldn't be without him. His demands are few and he doesn't answer back. I can go out without worrying about his welfare and he doesn't cost much to look after - well not that much.

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If you don't have a cat and you're thinking of getting one, do it! But ask the guys where you get the cat for as much information as you can before you make a decision. Some of the nicest looking cats can be pure lumps of evil. I know because the cat from just up the road is a nasty piece of work. It's always looking for a fight with other cats and it's always hanging about the neighbourhood terrorising any other moggy that crosses its path. Steer clear of this kind of cat or resign yourself to expensive vets' bills!