He was a stray from Buffalo, NY. He had already been adopted once and brought back, something about an allergic family member. His days at the shelter were definitely numbered.

Though we live in the southeast, we had to take our Smokey to New York for a kidney transplant. The veterinary surgeon had identified two possible donors at the Buffalo SPCA, a black and white mix and a pale orange tabby. Since we had already decided to name the donor after his home town, we chose the buff colored boy with the big 'N' (for neutered) tattooed inside his left ear. On the day of Smokey's transplant, two cats were saved. One got a forever home and the other got a much needed kidney. Buffalo traveled south just a few days after the surgery, not quite a year old and still very much a kitten to us. He and Peyton formed a life long bond during that 10 hour drive. He joined our other 12 indoor-only cats without a hiss or a swat and he and Smokey quickly became best friends. There was an attachment between them that went much deeper than their special kidney connection.

It didn't take long for his name to be shortened to Buffy. Soon after that, the title of H.M. was added, not because he was royalty (though we surely thought he was) but because he was definitely High Maintenance. Because he enjoyed the screen porch even in the winter, his full name eventually became H.M. Buffy of the North. He was a very smart boy. When he had to take daily medications, he quickly learned that when our reminder alarm went off, it was time for his pill. He would appear immediately no matter where in the house he might have been and had no trouble adjusting when we bought a new talking alarm clock. Likewise, when you called him, his head would whip around like Linda Blair in The Exorcist and he would come immediately. This was not a shy, retiring feline who was seldom seen and never heard but he did enjoy a nice nap under the comforter. We were always careful to avoid sitting on the lump in the bed. Another favorite sleeping spot was on or in a paper grocery bag.

H.M. Buffy really liked his family, both feline and human, and he wanted to be with us all the time. He demanded attention and his humans and house mates always responded. He could balance on his hind legs for quite a while, waiting for someone to give him a head rub or a high-5, a game he would play relentlessly. He used his paws skillfully and we always smiled when he relocated his food bowl. He was a lap sitter, nose licker, bed warmer and a good teacher. He was also an excellent retriever and, after catching the kitty tease, he would drag it and the pole around the room before returning it to us for more of the same. Buffy had quite a vocabulary that would rival the most articulate Siamese. He had a sentence for every occasion from "Treats, please" to "Kitty tease!" He would often sit in the middle of a room and sing his entire repertoire. He had an enchanting grin that truly seemed to reflect the exceedingly happy cat that he was.

The Buff Stuff was definitely no ordinary feline. He was both a donor for Smokey and an affectionate friend to every member of the extensive feline family he found at his new home - and, he outlived them all. Then, as he welcomed younger cats into the house, he became Uncle Buffy to all the junior felines. We promised him a transplant if he ever needed it but he thrived for 16 years with only one kidney that didn't fail him. It was his big, loving heart that finally brought down this strong, amazing boy. Cardiomyopathy was discovered in 2007 and congestive heart failure resulted in January, 2010. Though we thought this diagnosis was an immediate death sentence, he continued a completely normal and active life under the care of our wonderful internal med vet. The required medications were hard on his lone kidney but his creatinine never went into the CRF zone. We were able to give him four more years of quality life, just like he gave Smokey.

All cats are special but Buffy was also a hero. He will always be in our hearts as he rests peacefully with his many buddies.

There is now a huge hole in the home where he once was.

Sandy and Peyton Carr
the2carrs@verizon.net