He came into my life like a wrecking ball!

Rawnie shared this special memory ofje podelila ovo posebno sećanje na Monty

In November 2019, I found myself in Montenegro, traveling Europe. It wasn’t my plan— but such a beautiful country. I booked a ferry to the south of Italy but the ferry was cancelled due to a storm. I found a safe spot for 3 days, untill the ferry was going again.

On the morning of the 4th November, I opened my van and didn’t notice a little grey ball of fluff climb in. I have terriers and both hate cats, but he stood his ground and started eating their food. For 3 days he wouldn’t leave, sleeping on my bed and stealing food. He was full of fleas and ear mites, with an infected eye and just so small. He also had a circle burn on his ear. I believe it was from a cigarette. I knew I had the ferry booked and legally he wasn’t to be in it. But I was in love so I smuggled him to Italy by night on a ferry.

Straight to the vet where I found out he was 8 weeks old and only 400 grams. The vet explained I shouldn’t get too attached as he wasn’t in great shape. He ate like a horse so I felt he was a fighter. He grew and become stronger every day and had 2 dog brothers to keep him safe.

From a very young age he was off lead—he was wild and needed to have freedom, but I also lead trained him and he sat proudly on my right shoulder when tied or not sure about things. Kept on lead more with other campers about, as he had a bad habit of walking in and stealing their food. He once attacked a French cat 3 times his size that he beat up—to his owners disgrace.

He travelled though Italy, France, Spain, Gibraltar (his first steps on British soil), Portugal, back though Spain and France to England, Wales and Scotland. He climbed mountains, woodlands and traveled via kayak, what he loved. Along his life he made many people smile and fall in love with him.

He loved his van life and didn’t like houses. I planned a place at least once a week where he could be off lead and be a cat. He was often found stuck in trees and needed rescuing a lot even just 4 ft off the ground. He had the nickname “crap cat” because he wasn’t great at cat stuff and often fell off things or couldn’t jump high. It was a term of endearment. He loved hikes out and was only on lead due to dogs, not because I didn’t think he was not able to be off lead.

He spent his days playing with his best friend milo, stealing food (his favourite was bread— the only time you saw his feral side), exploring ruins and castles, he climbed mountains encouraging people struggling after seeing a cat doing it. He met people from all over the world and just loved life. He was happy, healthy and always had a full belly. He was always small just 3.2kg but had the attitude of a lion. Often known to have German shepherds in his control but was never nasty, never bit or scratched once. He was such a beautiful soul.

Last autumn on the 15th October he was off lead after being in the spot for 2 days already. Being off lead full time he climbed trees and got a few mice there and I thought he was safe. The road was over 100m away and he never went near roads. Called him in and normally Monty would come full speed but no Monty. He luckily had a tracker on and I went out expecting to get the ladders out for a Monty rescue mission but no luck. He had been hit by a car and without the tracker it would of been hard to find him. It was clear he died instantly what was the only comfort I could take from it.

I will never know what took him over there as he was very scared of cars. Can only think it was something fun. I have teared myself apart blaming myself but the only thing I could do differently would be tie him up all the time. But this is no life for a cat and from 1kg he had been off lead in many spots.

He come in my life like a wrecking ball. I have always liked cats but always been a dog person. But now am both and dearly miss my “catdog.” He lived his 9 lives out in 9 countries, met his end in France in a national forest Marais Poitevin where I buried him (I normally do cremation for my pets but this wasn’t an option due to Covid and not being able to be there). I had no spade so dug with hands a beautiful resting place where he has mice to catch, trees to climb and other campervans come so he will have company in a protected part of land so he will never be disturbed. He joined in my travels and was sadly left on my travels, leaving a hole in my heart.

He give me a new out look in life:

• Take risks
• Eat everything what makes you happy
• Be bold
• Have a shoulder to rely on
• Be open and kind to all

I hope a donation will help other cats from his own country experience love and give them the chance to grown strong and get homes and the care they deserve. As in my opinion the best cats come from Montenegro and without help many won’t get a chance of life my Montenegro got. He lived a life many humans could only dream of just wished it was many years not just one.

I couldn’t believe how many he touched across the world. People I’ve never met lighting candles for him from the U.S.A, Australia and some countries I’ve never heard off sending love and letting me know he made them smile during a time it was hard to find something to smile about in the world.