Further Monty progress

[givemushypeasachance]

Last night Monty honoured me greatly by actually lying down on my lap for the first time ever - since Christmas he’s been coming for cuddles and happily dozing next to me, but while he's happy to walk across me to get from one side to the other he never settles. I thought he might just be one of those cats that prefers not to lap-sit, but this looks like another step forward in the development of our relationship!

I was particularly impressed since I had to drag both boys off to the vets for their second FeLV jabs in the morning, and Monty had been less than pleased when I stuffed him into a carrier 12 hours earlier. After last time when I had to chase him round the kitchen for ten minutes, I tried to be quite decisive early on and scruffed him to get him in the box. He wasn't happy but think it was less stressful in the long run - though he was extremely vocal in his displeasure the whole way there and back (quite as a mouse while actually in the vet's office though I note!). He was accepting strokes again the minute I let him out though; bless his thankfully very forgiving fluffy little cotton socks.

Why was he in the carrier for 12 hours, give ? I'm perplexed.

I'm not surprised that he accepted strokes directly though - every time you bring him home again, you're re-affirming his trust in you. With his character and after his history, it was always unlikely to be an overnight conquest.

Oh no, sorry - I meant the shoving into the carrier had taken place about 12 hours earlier since it was a 9am vet visit! We were all done and back home by 9:30am - the vets is only about a mile away, and faffing about with parking and carrying two heavy cats in through the silly buzzer-operated security door seems to take longer than we're usually in there for!

My Mum has always tried to avoid being the one who takes her cats to the vets and she bribes my Dad to do it whenever possible; the same with taking them to the cattery when they go on holiday, though she's happy to be the one who picks them up! That's using the logic that she doesn't want them to hold a grudge. Since it's just me I have to be bad cop as well as good cop, but hopefully the latter will win out.

Ah.

I've taken your attitude very much with my lads. No cozening or sweet talk - just in the carrier and shut the door. (It helps that I use a very generously sized carrier with a nice fluffy (and washable) towel in it - I suspect too many people use small carriers which the cat finds uncomfortable.) Works fine.

No wonder he's becoming so bonded to you, you put so much time and effort in. Wasn't he the angry owl?

You wait, you'll soon be annoyed that you can't make yourself a cup of tea, or turn over in bed because he's constantly lying on you.

Monty was indeed the angry owl! He still has quite an intense stare, but it's impact is lessened when he's doing it while rolling around on his back and purring like a steam train... I'd say he's quite an independent cat and takes himself off in the morning to happily do his own thing outside all day, but if I'm around and he pops in then he rightfully considers that I should drop everything to give him a fuss. And if I try to brush my teeth or get dressed in the morning without stroking him at the same time then he'll jump on the bed and meow at me or nip at my legs until I do!

Yeah cozie it's a reasonable sized carrier I've got and I put a towel in there as well as covering it with another one. Monty always pees in it, whether through general stress/dislike of the car or in protest. It's not helped that he prefers to go outside so normally he holds it all night despite several nice clean trays being around the house that he happily used when on house arrest, and the first thing he does when I let him out is to go pee at the end of the garden. Instead I'm corralling him in a box and driving him to the vet just at peeing time...

Sounds as if he's still got a good few insecurities? Keep on with the TLC I think.

MCat wasn't all that socialised when he came to live with me. A few years later, he flumps on the floor demanding strokes, miaowing at me.

He still has a crazy, psychopathic stare though, and will still bite (strikes like a snake) whilst sitting on your lap, happily purring.

I call it angry love.

Oh yes he's definitely still got some areas where he's a kitten-in-progress; being picked up is one. I try to lift him at least once every day, or a couple of times during a particularly good cuddle session - just picking up and putting back down again then fussing him, or lifting him up onto a chair for more strokes. He's not keen but we're working on it!

Then there's dealing with people who aren't me. Since it's a bit of an imposition to get my friend to visit and be shut in my spare room with two annoyed cats who hide and glare suspiciously at her for hours at a time, we've only done that the once so far. Rolo eventually napped and allowed himself to be petted, which was a first! Monty stayed down the side of some shelves the whole time... But otherwise if anyone visits both cats hide under the bed or refuse to come in the house at all, and they're making no progress that way. We'll see how it goes there.

Aww, angry love - I like that term!

Monty does bite a bit while being affectionate, not usually hard though - more pinching, or holding skin between his teeth. But he's very forceful; his head rubbing isn't a little "boop" or a brushing past, he properly bashes his head hard into me, like a little fluffy mountain goat having a head-butting showdown. It's not just a now and then while properly into a petting session either, that's how he does it every time. Maybe that's his version of angry love; it's certainly intense love!

Hah! When Seniorboy lived with my Mum, he stayed out of the way of 'strangers' (ie people who weren't my Mum) for more or less 13 years. I think I'd take the long view, give.

(He's a little more sociable since he came to live with me. A little.)

The nipping is what's known as "love bites". They do it as a prelude to amorousness. Next thing, he'll be humping your arm. Especially if your wearing something fleecy.

At least you know he luffs you.

My friend and my sister have both expressed a great desire to pet Monty and coo over the magnificence of his fluffy mane and giant tail, but short of drugging him into unconsciousness I don't think it'll be happening anytime soon! (She says, luxuriating a little in being the only one permitted such an honour. )

I think Rolo has bit of an amorous relationship with a sheepskin rug on the sofa. At least if he's doing it while I'm sat next to him I can pretend I don't see it - if Monty tries it on with a jumper I'm wearing I'll see how far denial can go...

Just don't wear a floofy onsie the same colour as him.