The Story of Barbar and Billie: How Two Cats Changed My Life

Life has a strange way of painting its canvas—sometimes with heartbreak, sometimes with joy, but always with meaning. For me, two tiny brushstrokes in the form of cats, Barbar and Billie, have brought colour and comfort during some of my darkest and brightest days. Their companionship didn't just change my life; it completed it in a way I never could have anticipated.

How Barbar Came into My Life

When I was 18, I experienced a kind of heartbreak I wasn't prepared for. My first cat, Jasper, was bitten by a spider while my mum was overseas. I came home to find him sick, confused, and struggling. I rushed him to the vet, holding onto hope, only to face the hardest decision of my young life—saying goodbye. Alone in the house, I admit, I cried like never before.

It was during this time that a family friend, Rita, sent me a picture of a little black cat in Robina and encouraged me to go meet him. I agonized over the thought—was I disrespecting Jasper's memory? Was I ready to get vulnerable again?

Eventually, with my best friend Luli, I went to see this little black cat. That was the start of Barbar's journey into my life, over 11 years ago. What I didn't realize at the time was that Barbar wasn't just a pet—he was my grief counsellor (whether he liked it or not). His quiet, aloof nature gave me comfort when I needed it most. Whether it's a cat, dog, bird or other animal, it's amazing how their simple presence can help you forget all the things going on inside your mind. From then on, Barbar has always been there—whether he knew it or not—as the silent, steady presence in my life.

The Loss of Jane and the Start of Billie

A few years after Barbar came into my life, I rehomed a beautiful little stray named Jane. Jane was delicate but strong—she was "daddy's little girl." She struggled with medical issues from the start. Her body would scab up from flea bites, her nose always runny, and she battled FIV. But no matter how sick or small she seemed, she filled wherever I was with love.

When Jane was just six, she developed breathing problems. I remember the vet's words so clearly: it was cancer, a tumour growing in her throat and nose. Saying goodbye to her broke me. I grieved not just for myself but for Barbar, who had lost his friend. In that moment, I felt I had failed her, even though I know I did everything I could.

Weeks later, when the house felt unbearably quiet, my best friend Jesse introduced me to a shelter on the Gold Coast. I wasn't ready for another cat. Or so I thought. I agreed to foster a tiny tortoiseshell kitten named Daisy. She was shy, skittish, and fragile—and I foster-failed almost immediately.

That's how Billie entered my life. Small, feisty, and endlessly affectionate, Billie has been my shadow ever since. She's my little girl, my talkative tortie who follows me around the house, chirping away like she has endless stories to tell. I love her more than I can put into words. In this, I also have immense gratitude for Jane, opening the door for Billie – without her passing, who knows what would have happened, or where Billie would have ended up.

Life with Barbar and Billie

Barbar and Billie are so much more than cats to me. They've been my companions through heartbreak and success, grief and joy. They've turned ordinary days into memories I cherish. Life hasn't always been easy—there have been late-night vet visits, storms where I've worried they were terrified, moments when I couldn't find them in the house only for them to appear out of nowhere, acting as if nothing happened.

Raising cats, I've learned, is a little like raising children (I assume). They demand attention, they have quirks, and they give back so much more than you ever expect. Barbar, with his stoic confidence and ability to nap anywhere, brings a quiet sense of calm. Billie, who's sitting in the corner of my office as I type this, brings a kind of joy that makes everything else melt away.

My wife, when we first met, didn't like cats. But Barbar and Billie had other plans. She's now utterly obsessed with them—because once you see the love, comfort, and hilarity cats bring, you can't help but fall for them. The same goes for all animals, with their unique quirks.

Why We Need Stories Like This

These experiences with Barbar and Billie are why I'm so passionate about animal welfare and adoption. I believe every shelter animal deserves the chance to bring this kind of love into someone's life. It's why I co-founded COMPETIBLE—to connect people with the animals that will change their lives for the better.

Shelter animals aren't broken; they're waiting. Waiting for someone to see their worth and give them a home where they can do what animals do best—heal, love, and bring joy. Barbar and Billie have taught me that animals don't just fill the spaces in our homes; they fill the spaces in our hearts. Laugh at that cliché line all you like, but once you experience it, let's have a coffee and laugh together about how great animals make our lives.

A Final Thought

As I look around now—Billie nearby, Barbar asleep somewhere with access to his automatic feeder (though he'd tell you it's never fast enough)—I can't imagine life without them. They've added colour to my world, comfort to my hardest days, and joy to my best ones.

The journey hasn't always been easy, but it's been worth it. I'm grateful for every moment, every purr, every meow, and every nap in a sunny corner. Life wouldn't be the same without Barbar and Billie, and I wouldn't want it to be.

To anyone who's ever considered adopting a pet, let this be your sign. They might just change your life, the way Barbar and Billie changed mine.

With love and gratitude,
Zach, Barbar, and Billie