My name is Colby Jack!

Monty & Colby's story:

In December 2024, Tiny Cat volunteers trapped Monty (white and orange), Colby (orange), and their mama (who has since found her forever home!) in the alley where Tiny Cat Animal Rescue began. (If you've read our Origin Story, you'll know this means these two boys and their mama were living in the alley where Paige and Ben's cats were dumped. In fact, their mama is the calico that volunteer searchers kept thinking was Winky! And yes, this means we also have trail cam footage from their time on the streets!!)

Monty, Colby, and their mama were fostered together for around two months before going to separate foster homes to better accommodate their individual socialization needs. When Colby's foster family ended up adopting another Tiny Cat, Colby moved back in with his brother. This quiet pair has made such incredible progress in Tiny Cat's care, and we're so excited to see what their future housecat life looks like.
What my foster says about me


Meet Monty and Colby—shy brothers with BIG hearts. These two boys are on a beautiful journey as they learn to trust humans, and watching them blossom has been incredibly rewarding.

Monty is an absolute LOVE—although he would hide and run when I first started fostering him, he's living his best life now as a housecat. He's curious, gentle, and quickly proven he is a certified snuggle bug. (He just came into the room as I wrote this, and hopped right on my lap, where is he now happily purring. When I stop petting to type, he just gazes up at me lovingly, waiting for more!)
Monty's progress has been remarkable. Though he still likes to curl up in cozy corners, he happily comes to greet me now in the hopes of a pet or cuddle. He frankly seems confused if I'm near him and not petting or cuddling him! Monty loves to sit on my lap while I work as it provides the perfect platform for full body stretches. He likes to sit in my office chair when I'm not there, as if he is waiting for me and doesn't want to miss the opportunity for prolonged lap time. He even stays put—if I put him down on my chair to go grab something from the fridge, he waits for me to come back, and then scoots over so we can sit together. It's ADORABLE.

Monty enjoys naps in the crook of my arm, face kisses, and riding around in a baby wrap strapped to my chest. (Ok I don't know if he enjoys that last one, but he tolerates it!) He recently discovered toys, (including his own tail), and although he isn't the most coordinated or athletic, he's got the best sportsmanship. (His lack of coordination unfortunately means half of his churus end up on the ground, but at least he gladly cleans up his mess.) Monty also LOVES being brushed, and when he sees me with his favorite brush, he comes right over to my lap for spa day.

Colby is more shy than Monty, but I think he's on his way to being just like his brother—good things take time, and he has been and continues to be well worth the wait. Colby may have experienced trauma on the streets because he was truly just so terrified of people when we first got him. It's clear he wants to trust and love a human, and with patience, love, and churus, he’s made amazing progress in just a month, and we continue to make progress every day. Colby also loves other cats—he gets along well with our other cats and whenever they are around, his playful side really shines. We think that the affection that Monty and our other cats show us is rubbing off on him, and that being around other cats gives him confidence and makes him feel more comfortable!

While Colby still isn't the first to run up to greet you, he will never say no to a Churu, and as he has become more confident, he has started to seek out gentle attention and play more freely and vocalize to express his contentment. He will approach for pets and bump his head into my hand, and gets excited when I walk into the room now that he's learned I'm the food lady. He starts to lick his lips and enthusiastically bunt me as if to say thank you. It doesn't sound like much, but it is SO special to watch him learn to trust. Even his eyes have softened! And once you scoop him up, he relaxes and is surprisingly content being held (even more so if there is a blankie and Churu involved). Every cat is different—some take weeks, others take months—but with consistency and kindness, shy cats like Colby will blossom into an affectionate, trusting companion. I'm sure of it.

Who my foster would pair me with:
Someone who is willing to be patient with shy kitties that is looking for a little loyal sidekick. For Monty, you must want a lap cat because he wants your lap. Colby has done extremely well being kept in a small room with Cat TV and a regular schedule, and may do best with someone who has experience socializing cats as Colby is currently being socialized using the "wallflower" technique, which lets the cat set the pace in a controlled environment. Overnight we have Colby contained in a small room with his brother for comfort. We've made him feel safe by giving him places to hide, but to encourage instead of force interaction, we limit the places he can hide and run (thereby eliminating any need to chase him to spend time around each other). His small room is a comfortable bathroom with scratching post, cat tower, soft bed, food, water, litter, and Cat TV in the background. Besides churu and cat tv, the key has been letting him get used to our presence without pressure and ensuring he associates our presence with only good things (e.g., food, quiet voices, gentle, brief pets, slow blinking, slow moving, and offering a finger to sniff). After a few days of this, he started approaching me when I came in the room, and he now leans into head scratchings and up to butt scratchies.