Into the Archives V - Monty, the Gentle Cat

by Mousie, aka Gentle Mouse - feisty and timid chronicler of mischief

Well, friends.  I think now I've found my voice I kind of like it.  Move over boys. I'm enjoying having the floor.   Think I'll keep it as long as possible.  So here goes.... 

​In the past, if you remember, the boys went into the archives and wrote about PussPuss and her love of fishing and Malcolm, Grammy's clothes horse.   Well, I've been delving into the boxes and decided to talk about another cat.  Like me he's gentle.

​I'm going to tell you about one of the original Mischief and Mayhem crew - Monty.   Montague, or Monty as Grammy most often called him, was rescued by Grammy just days before he was to be euthanized. 

He had been adopted with his brother as kittens by a young family.  The brother was a short haired, confident cat who would bully his gentle, long-haired brother whenever he visited the litterbox.  Now, at first Grammy was upset that he'd do that to wee Monty but, we cannot fault him on this... animals know when another animal is weak, defective or ill. And Monty definitely had his challenges. Then, his family had a new baby and decided it was too much to deal with Monty's issues too.  So, they returned him to the vet to give him a better life elsewhere, or to euthanize him if a home couldn't be found.  What a sad decision when he was barely out of kittenhood. 

​So, how does that fit in with Grammy?  Well....

​After PussPuss passed at age 14+ Grammy and Malcolm struggled with the loss.  Gone was the feisty, social butterfly, leaving behind a sweet, easy-going boy who doted on his feline companion and a Grammy who missed her feistiness terribly.   Life went on but the zest had gone out of M&M Central.

​Then, a few months later a friend mentioned that there was a kitty sitting in a cage at her vet's office.  This kitty was gorgeous, had issues and needed a home soon or he'd be euthanized.  ​Grammy got this feeling in her heart that this was a kitty that needed her, and maybe she and Malcolm needed this kitty too.  She slept on it... for a couple of nights but the feeling was so strong that she just HAD TO go check out this little fellow.  She made arrangements to go across town to the clinic to pay him a visit.

​Of course, you know the inevitable happened.  Grammy walked in, was escorted to a cage and decided - on first sight - that he was coming home with her.  As she chatted with the vet techs about his issue a paw reached out and patted her shoulder.  That would have clinched the deal had Grammy not already decided.  Interestingly enough PussPuss was 14 months old when she tapped Grammy on the shoulder and was instantly adopted; Monty was 14 months old when Grammy went to see him and was tapped a second time.  As I said... it was inevitable. 

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Of course, WE think Grammy had made up her mind before she even went to meet him.  She had a carrier, a blanket and treats with her.  But, knowing Grammy, are we surprised?  Not in the least!  

​The little duffer was given kisses, popped into the carrier and brought home to meet his big brother. And what a home-coming it was.  Malcolm stepped out of his basket and sauntered over to examine the fluffy furrball with a, 'Hey, welcome home!  Come snuggle in my basket with me.  There's room for two!'

​Monty, a little surprised at the warm welcome and not knowing what to do with such a greeting from a fellow cat, decided he'd better sniff out the new digs first.  Hmmm!  Two litter boxes! Food and water in the kitchen.  Nice warm blankets, chairs and beds to snuggle on... Is that toys I see?  Looks kinda okay.   Oh, and I really like that basket the old duffer was sleeping in. 

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Looks like something I could stretch out in.... much nicer than that cage at the vettie.    I think I'll join the old boy.
hmmm!  I could have some fun with him too.  Stodgy old fellow!  I think I'm going to like it here. 

​Turns out that Grammy got him his own bigger bed and while he loved it too it was more fun to tease Malcolm and stretch out in HIS basket pushing him into the corner.  Malcolm unperturbed would just move over and settle down.  No problem.  He loved to cuddle.

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Check out the new bed.  And look at the face on silly Monty.  I think he loves it..............

​Now, I read that Monty had issues... and one of those was his fear of the litter box.  Turns out whenever he needed to do his business his brother would chase him out of the box so he did it outside the box.  Grammy had been forewarned so kept puppy pads and newsprint around the box.  And 'they' were right. sort of.  He was a good wee fella and always peed in the box but pooped outside but very close to it and always on the puppy pads. He was trying to be a good boy.

​Malcolm was such a laid back kitty that in time and with a strategic placement of the litter box Monty began to use the box consistently.  It only took 6 or 7 months...  but finally he had overcome that obstacle.

And he had other issues. The one we knew, others we found out later. One of these was a retained milk tooth.  And as cute as a button as he was, he wasn't all there... in the noodle.  Despite being checked by the vet prior to surgery to remove the tooth and being told his heart was strong... Monty's heart gave out.  He went into congestive heart failure from the anesthetic... and Grammy had to let him go.  It was the only thing to do hard as it would be on Grammy and Malcolm.  Their 18 months with Monty were filled with love and neverending entertainment. Wonderful memories! 

​Now, the fun side of Monty.... as I said, he wasn't all there in the noodle.  BUT, Grammy loved that about him.  He would do such silly things... kittenish things, even though he wasn't a kitten anymore.  Come to think about it.... he wasn't much different than Sweetie is now and she's six.  Maybe he was all there, just that like Sweetie  he never lost his zest for life.   Like her he loved mischief. 

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He would race around the condo, up and over furniture, bouncing on Malcolm and Grammy when they least expected it. AND he loved to chase anything that twitched... a string on a stick, a bit of loose fluff (and he had lots), even his own tail, bouncing and rolling in somersaults in his attempts to catch them.

His favourite toy was a little brown mole.   This he would groom for hours. It's a wonder that it wasn't threadbare.  (Yes, I saw it.  Grammy saved it,  gently wrapped and placed in the box).  Then he would give the little mole a toss and chase it, skidding across the floor until he thumped against the wall.   Surprise on his face Monty would look over at Grammy and Malcolm as if to say, What?  What you two laughing at?  I meant to do that and then he'd turn to nonchalantly groom himself. Seconds later, having forgotten what just happened, he'd repeat the toss, skid and thump against another wall. It seems he never tired of this game. 

But to Grammy his most endearing qualities were his willingness to be cuddled and to be brushed.  While he wasn't a lap cat, he did love short cuddles.  Grammy could pick him up, and he'd wrap his paws around her neck and snuggle in for a purry moment. 

Long, lithe and supple it was all Grammy could do to hang onto him for more than a short cuddle but pull out a brush and he'd settle right down for a long leisurely groom.  Ahhhh bliss.   Yes it was, for both of them.   

That was Grammy's gentle Monty.

​Friends, comments are welcomed. Please let's keep it light and fun.  

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