Saturday, December 22, 2007

"Monty"

So most know that we picked up a stray on our way through Montana. It was a little silly but leaving the feline behind in the sub zero weather and starving would have been a death sentence for sure. The rest area we found her was inhabited only by truckers who did not seem the type to take pity on a sorry looking kitty. It was also dark and the only rest stop for miles and miles. We coaxed her to us with food and placed her in one of the cat carriers placing both of ours in the other one. She was starving, so thin you could circle your finger around her tummy and she ate like she had never had food in her life. She never meowed and even took to the leash very well which was very necessary because pooping in the kennel was NOT an option! We quickly named her Monty for the state we found her in and the name has stuck.
After getting here we were able to see that she is a Siamese long hair with BIG blue eyes. She is friendly but does not trust easily and I can not blamer her. After giving her a bath we have found one really bad scar recently healed (still fur missing in a big patch), a wound still healing and bad frostbite on her nose. Her harness that she was wearing had rubbed off all her fur on her chest and she was skin and bones.
She has begun to fatten up now that she has food and doesn't quite gulp it up like she first did when we picked her up.
We have come up with all kinds of stories about this mysterious little Monty while sitting in the living room during the evening. The latest is that she was attacked by a giant squirrel and since she has no front claws to defend her self she must have fought an amazing battle. While we will never know her true struggles we are mostly sad at the family she has lost.
She has found a home with my uncle and even doesn't bother his cat like ours do! She loves to snuggle at night and has a funny way of meowing when you pick her up. Our cats don't really like her but who can blame we are theirs!

3 comments:

Stan Harrington said...

Hoping this finds everyone well. Are you sure that "Monty" is a cat? Both you and Heath were raised in Alaska and not use to the wildlife in Montana. Monty could be "pole cat" which is a member of the skunk family, although they do not resemble a skunk. A "pole cat" can easily be mistaken for a domestic cat. They are fighters, but like their relatives, their best defensive weapon is an odor that they can spray to chase away their foe, the smell is similar to that of a skunk and that is why they are biologicaaly related. Until about age eighteen months, they are defenseless, at that time the hormones in their bodies create the spray and is connected to their sexual desire. "Monty" is a cute name, there was a famous cowboy by the name of Monty Montana, born in 1910 and passed away on June 21, 1998. He appeared in a number of John Wayne movies. He was also in the inaugural parade in 1953, riding his horse and roped President Eisenhower when he was riding in his convertible. He was also well known in the rodeo circuit where he would entertain with his roping tricks on horseback. He appeared in more than 60 annual Tournament of Roses parades in Pasadena, his silver saddle was his trademark. Now you know everything that I know about "Monty the Polecat". Give Heath and the kids a hug for me and take care of each other.

real eyez said...

I HOPE she is a cat! Although before I bathed her she did smell kind of funny!
The kids are doing well and can not wait until Christmas morning and have even been caught in the middle of the night snooping around their presents! Sissy claimed she had a tummy ache so I guess she thought the pepto was hidden somewhere in her presents!
Butch got a call from "Santa" the other night regarding his poor sleeping habits and gently reminded that in order to receive his presents he would have to be good!
Also the nick name given him will serve him well down here. He also has a cousin, a girl non the less, with the same name. My Aunt and Grandma approached me with the question on how we would call each of them come Christmas day. I told them his nick name was Butch and that they could just call him that!
Wishing you guys a Merry Christmas from ALL of us! Although I am sure the kids will be calling you shortly!

Stan Harrington said...

Hey, "Butch" is an honorable name, is his cousin the same age? What do you mean they are trying to sneak peeks under the Christmas tree? I cannot believe a little one, for that matter a big one, for that matter an adult would not try to sneak a peek and do a little rattling! Thre is so much tempatation for little ones at Christmas, gifts laying around, candy dishes, eggnog, but that is what Christmas is all about. Poor sleeping habits, hey the kid has a good idea, I find myself laying in front of the furnace on a regular basis! Let them know that Grandpa is making candy today and have no one to lick the pans! I guess "Dutch" will have it all to himself. Did the Christmnas shopping for Goldie and Ruger yesterday, they are going to be sporting new collars - Ruger is getting a camo collar although he looks nice in the ribbon the kids tied around his neck, he is still wearing that. Today, we plow snow! It finally came! We will be having a family party at Shanes on Christmas eve and on Christmas morning, we will break traditon and drive to Anchorage to spend the day and evening with all up there, looking forward to that. Take care and hugs to all.