The Eclectic Reader

In April of 2012 The Eclectic Reader catapulted into a partnership with the Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay/Neuter Clinic.

The Eclectic Reader began accepting donations of used books for this local no-kill cat rescue. The bookstore performs all cleaning, pricing, and inventory work and displays them for sale. When the books sell, 50 percent of the proceeds are then donated to the cat rescue.

The Fort Collins Cat Rescue takes in abandoned or surrendered cats and places them into loving and permanent homes. The shelter also offers low-cost spaying and neutering of cats and dogs, and low-cost vaccinations. The services provided at the clinic focus on pet overpopulation and disease prevention.

Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay/Neuter Clinic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you wish to make a donation of books we have tax forms available. Books accepted by appointment only. 970-493-7933.

For more information on the cat rescue call 970-484-8516 or go to www.FCCRSNC.org

In support of my belief that all bookstores need to have cats, I began my search for the perfect candidate during the summer of 2012 when Fort Collins was ravaged by heat, drought, and the horrific High Park Fire. The cat that seemed to possess the friendly “meeter and greeter” personality necessary for work in a bookstore turned out to be a big 14.2 pound orange male from the Larimer Humane Society.

With gratitude to all the firefighter-heroes trying to save our burning state, and as an homage to Ray Bradbury, who died in June, the orange kitty was named “Montag,” after the firefighter in Bradbury’s book Farenheit 451. At the beginning of this dystopian future novel a firefighter’s job is to burn books – because ideas only upset people. Eventually Montag wants to see what’s in those books, meets some book people, and goes over to the good side.

Monty is also our “fire cat” because of his big paws. The Fire Cat by Esther Averill is an I Can Read juvenile picture book written in 1960. It was an all-time favorite at my day care center. It is the story of Pickles, an alley cat who has big paws and wants to do big things, but he just can’t stop being naughty to little cats. He tries hard…but. As the story progresses he is adopted by the fire department, learns to be a fire cat, and goes with the firefighters on calls. He learns to control his behavior and becomes a hero in a dramatic rescue. Monty is a polydactyl six-toed cat. And he wants to do big things.

Monty is featured on the Larimer Humane Society’s 2013 calendar for the month of December.

Monty is unusually fond of children and enjoys being around them. He appreciates visits from his special friends. He often surprises customers by climbing in their laps.