The moggy that stole hearts
It’s true what they say about cats.
Dogs have masters and mistresses, and cats have slaves.
The latest to fall victim are Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker and wife Penny.
They’ve adopted a moggy of dubious origins but of undoubted charm and a high opinion of himself.
Saying Monty is a maine coon, the largest of the domesticated breeds of cat, could be a stretch.
He could just be a very large and attractive moggy.
But handsome he is. Everyone falls under the spell of Monty.
The couple got him from Gore SPCA.
‘‘It’s great that people adopt young cats and dogs, but it’s nice if you can adopt an older animal,’’ Hamish said.
Monty is 14.
‘‘That’s why we adopted Monty. He had been there a year, and had obviously been a wellloved cat, and we wanted to give him a loving home to live out his days.’’
Well, to be fair, it was Penny who really wanted a cat. ‘‘I’m definitely team-cat.’’ But she had to convince her husband. ‘‘Penny had been at me. I wanted a dog because I’m a dog person.
‘‘I wasn’t a cat man.
‘‘But Penny and Monty have changed me.’’
It was love at first sight. ‘‘I’d ruled out a cat for so long,’’ Hamish said.
‘‘Now the cat rules you,’’ Penny added.
Hamish has quickly learned that cats own you; you don’t own them. ‘‘He’s become the third person in our relationship.’’
Monty gets the warmest, most comfy spot on the bed or couch.
‘‘He rules the roost, and takes the prime position in front of the fire,’’ Hamish said.
Monty settled quickly into their home. They kept him inside for the first five days, and finally Hamish convinced Penny that Monty could be let out.
‘‘Penny missed the moment of letting him out – it was like missing your kid’s first day at school.’’
Monty walked out confidently, had a wander around and made himself firmly at home.
He even comes when he’s called, and follows them around outside like a dog.
If he was a human, he’d definitely be a boss, Hamish said.
‘‘I reckon he’d be like Dan Carter – a real cool cat,’’ he said.
‘‘I think he’d be a king – he’s very regal,’’ Penny said.
And they’d definitely be his subjects.
‘‘I wanted a dog because I’m a dog person. I wasn’t a cat man. But Penny and Monty have changed me.’’ Hamish Walker