The Saga of Baron Von Shakymouse

One of the here-and-there questions posed to Sockington (and occasionally me) are about this mysterious, shadowy figure named “Baron Von Shakymouse” who seems to be Socks’ confidant, companion, toy and mentor. Some people have been curious simply because they don’t know what he is, while others think they do and want to know where they can get a Baron Von Shakymouse(tm) for their own little roommates.

The Baron is basically a small mouse-shaped toy that Socks keeps around, either trotting around with it in his mouth or wresting to the ground and leaving the scene of the crime like a triumphant wrestler. The difference between the Baron and other cat toys is he has a small item inside him (don’t ask me how this works) that makes a rattling noise. This drives Socks crazy, and when he’s anywhere in the house and Food Guy or Food Lady shake the Baron, Socks is immediately summoned. This is how they brought him to the vet the last half-dozen times.

Socks also plays fetch with the Baron, bringing him to a sleeping food person and dropping it, and then waiting for the Baron to sail through the air so he can run after his “prey”.

I don’t buy into any of this, by the way. I’m more of a fabric snake and rug kind of lady, myself.

And if this isn’t obvious, there isn’t one single Baron (although Socks may think so); he destroys them within a day, so a constant refreshing of Barons must be ensured for him. There must be thousands of half- or quarter- Barons scattered in every corner of this home. Sigh.