Poor Ozzy. He hates the camera so.

I managed to get one shot of him where he isn't pulling his head away in terror, only to get a shot of his chin that happened to be full of blackheads that particular evening. Most of the shots look like Calvin & Hobbes family photo where Calvin is making a horrid face. How such a cute cat like Ozzy could look so unhappy?

Don't believe me?

Because it has been a while.

Lately, Monty has enjoyed taking over the sleeping spots of his brother and sisters. Sasha has enjoyed the old couch, so naturally Monty moved in. Fortunately, it is big enough for both of them.

And it is too hot to goof around, says Sasha.

But never too hot for Ozzy to roll, especially by the AC vent.

Coco, wary as ever.

Bored now.

I think Monty is happy here.

Two Friday's ago, I went to the pet store to pick up a giant bag of food for our Hoovers. A local rescue team, Four Paws usually has a couple cats in the store who I stop by to pet and encourage them that they'll find a good home soon.

Monty, one of two orphans, raised his nose to nudge my finger through the bars of the cage immediately. He was an active, loving little guy who was quick to follow me with his eyes and direct his head to my extended hand. I'm not typically a sucker for this type of display; while I'd gladly take all the cats in the store home, I figure the friendly ones are destined to find owners soon enough.

It wasn't until I read the printed story of Monty that I became compelled by the guy. While most cats are rescued from a dire state (Coco was alone only two days after birth; Oz was saved only a day from being put down at a pound), Monty had simply been exiled from his home for not being "outgoing" enough.

As I've said more than once since then, if not being outgoing was a valid reason for being thrown out of a home, I probably would have spent my whole life in a cage at a pet store.

Perhaps needless to say, this got me good and spun. One day later I had Nicole at the store to bask in Monty's loving attention; two days we had an application in; three days I convinced Four Paws that Monty would have a good home with us; and in four days he was living in our spare bedroom.

Ozzy approaches Monty cautiously, but for the most part they seem friendly together.

Sasha is more hesitant that I would have thought, watching the BigBlackFurry beast from a safe distance.

Coco's just a spaz. She always will be.

Monty is fitting in with the crew very well. He is more loving that we ever could have imagined, and while outgoing might not be a valid description for him, he certainly likes to follow us everywhere, seeking attention at every turn. His introduction to the house has been intentionally slow, but everyday he is more comfortable and we are happy to have him.

"Who is in that room?" Ozzy asked.

From the collection:

Reaching a new level of cat nerddom.