Senior stray animals often face tough lives. Some have always been strays, while others are abandoned when their medical costs get too high.
Thankfully, kind people open their hearts and homes to these animals.
![](https://iheartcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/barnaby-elder-cat.jpg)
Barnaby, a stray cat in New Jersey, found one such kind person. This poor cat was in bad shape—he had a bad eye, was very skinny, and at 15 years old, he was considered old for a cat.
Not many people wanted to help him, but the Voorhees Animal Orphanage did.
They gave him food, water, and a warm place to sleep.
The shelter soon realized that Barnaby’s chances of being adopted were low because he needed a lot of medical care. Adopting him would be too much for most people.
![](https://iheartcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/barnaby-elder-cat-1.jpg)
But then Dr. Ed Sheehan and his wife, Clare, contacted the shelter. They wanted to treat Barnaby at their clinic and were also interested in giving him a forever home.
When Ed met Barnaby, they bonded immediately. Barnaby made Ed smile and laugh, and Ed knew he couldn’t live without him. What started as a plan to help Barnaby turned into a perfect match.
Ed decided to adopt Barnaby and brought him home. After being adopted, Barnaby transformed into a happier, healthier cat.
![](https://iheartcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/barnaby-elder-cat-2.jpg)
The love and care he received made him feel young again. It showed that having someone care for you can heal a broken heart.
There are many senior cats like Barnaby who need our help. By adopting older pets or making their lives comfortable, we can make a big difference.
Dr. Ed did this for Barnaby, giving him a happy life until he passed away, knowing he was loved.