What do you think?
Rate this book
The Nine Lives of Montezuma
Like his namesake, the great Aztec king, Montezuma is a survivor. Everyone knows that cats have nine lives, but this ginger tom proves that the old saying is true as his adventures taken him into the world beyond his farmyard.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
27 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Michael Morpurgo
630 books3,035 followersSir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 17, 2015
I read this last night in an attempt to get my sleep back to normal hours (we'll see if it worked this evening!). As far as I'm concerned, Michael Morpurgo can do no wrong. I've been reading his books since I was a kid and I'm not sick of them yet. I love his way of taking historical situations and making them interesting for kids (and adults!), without dumbing them down at all.
This isn't one of his historical novels, but I still loved it. A story about a beloved farm cat and his 9 lives. Short enough chapters that you could quite easily read it out loud in short installments, but long enough to make me feel sad when it all ended.
I'm planning on giving this to Bookfrogster. I just read Varjak Paw which she lent me (also about the heroics of a cat, although slightly more mystical than this one), so hopefully she'll enjoy this one too.
This isn't one of his historical novels, but I still loved it. A story about a beloved farm cat and his 9 lives. Short enough chapters that you could quite easily read it out loud in short installments, but long enough to make me feel sad when it all ended.
I'm planning on giving this to Bookfrogster. I just read Varjak Paw which she lent me (also about the heroics of a cat, although slightly more mystical than this one), so hopefully she'll enjoy this one too.
June 18, 2010
Have you ever read a bad book by Michael Morpurgo? I have to tell you how much I enjoyed this wonderful little book about the trials and tribulations of Montezuma the farm cat and his nine lives. It's quite large print and only took me an hour or so to read, but it really is one all you cat lovers mustn't miss. He's the most wonderful little character - this man really knows cats! - and his every adventure is a joy (I loved the baked bean tin story...) and those that are more traumatic have you on the edge of your seat with tears in your eyes. And as for the end...cried my eyes out! Don't miss this little gem.
March 15, 2024
Don't pick up a Michael Morpurgo book - especially one about a cat - unless you want to sob eternally.
December 22, 2015
ELA Writing Prompt
(I found this book in my library, I didn't not explicitly look for it).
This book is about a cat’s nine lives, each one being a new chapter (the cat doesn't die 9 times). In the beginning we are introduced to a cat in a barn who almost dies, gets rescued, picked up by a person, and now lives in their house. The plot is the adventures that the cat, Montezuma, goes on: fighting another cat, becoming lost, being chased by a dog, etc. In the end Montezuma, now old and venerable, sits most of his days, and looks back nostalgically at his idyllic days as a young cat.
I think this is a good book all around. Childish as it seems, it was quite enjoyable to read, except for one thing. Every time I did sit down to read this, I would only read small ‘portions’ at a time. Instead, with most other books (good ones) I read more. I think this might be because the paucity of cliff-hangers, and their effect on me (I like them very much). Another reason to this is because, the story is not that suspenseful, and this might be because it was not meant to be suspenseful, yet, I still feel this way. Other than that, this book is quite entertaining, and I recommend to people who like cats.
In conclusion, I think this book is good, I gave it four stars hence. I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend this to any cat person, or people looking for a casual read to enjoy on the couch. I was not as consistent with this book, like I said before, yet it was still enjoyable. The ending was satisfying, and I enjoyed it. Another reason I so much enjoyed The Nine Lives of Montezuma is because it's not Dora the Explorer, and it was very descriptive and for the last time... Enjoyable.
(I found this book in my library, I didn't not explicitly look for it).
This book is about a cat’s nine lives, each one being a new chapter (the cat doesn't die 9 times). In the beginning we are introduced to a cat in a barn who almost dies, gets rescued, picked up by a person, and now lives in their house. The plot is the adventures that the cat, Montezuma, goes on: fighting another cat, becoming lost, being chased by a dog, etc. In the end Montezuma, now old and venerable, sits most of his days, and looks back nostalgically at his idyllic days as a young cat.
I think this is a good book all around. Childish as it seems, it was quite enjoyable to read, except for one thing. Every time I did sit down to read this, I would only read small ‘portions’ at a time. Instead, with most other books (good ones) I read more. I think this might be because the paucity of cliff-hangers, and their effect on me (I like them very much). Another reason to this is because, the story is not that suspenseful, and this might be because it was not meant to be suspenseful, yet, I still feel this way. Other than that, this book is quite entertaining, and I recommend to people who like cats.
In conclusion, I think this book is good, I gave it four stars hence. I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend this to any cat person, or people looking for a casual read to enjoy on the couch. I was not as consistent with this book, like I said before, yet it was still enjoyable. The ending was satisfying, and I enjoyed it. Another reason I so much enjoyed The Nine Lives of Montezuma is because it's not Dora the Explorer, and it was very descriptive and for the last time... Enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2012
Michael Morpurgo really can do nothing wrong in my eyes. He is a wondrous author, and even though his books are aimed at children, I have not yet come across anything that he has written that I've not enjoyed
The reader falls in love with Montezuma, the farm cat who lives life on the edge! We all know that cats are supposed to have nine lives and this little book recounts each of Monty's near escapes in detail. Yes, I cried - throughout the story and especially at the end, but I loved every page.
The reader falls in love with Montezuma, the farm cat who lives life on the edge! We all know that cats are supposed to have nine lives and this little book recounts each of Monty's near escapes in detail. Yes, I cried - throughout the story and especially at the end, but I loved every page.
October 2, 2012
I don't like cats but as I read this story to my two beautiful boys I grew to become rather fond of little Monty, so much so that as we sat and read the final pages I cried and I could barely get the words out. Just beautiful. Morpurgo is wonderful at story-telling for children, I particularly love how he doesn't 'dumb-down' or patronise children by shying away from difficult life-issues, all of which he deals with sensitively and positively. Wonderful.
July 19, 2015
It is said that the cat has nine lives..... But this cat... He is magnificent,He is brave.No other book explains so much like this book.
July 29, 2020
I loved it ! Its a pleasure to read these kind of books.
February 2, 2020
Such a sweet book! I ❤️ wildlife and I have two cats!!! If you like wildlife and cats this is a book for you!!!!
April 1, 2022
Il a été captivant
December 21, 2024
2.5 - 3 stars!
Light entertainment with a sad but hopeful ending. Does what it says on the tin. Not Morpurgo's best work but good nonetheless.
Light entertainment with a sad but hopeful ending. Does what it says on the tin. Not Morpurgo's best work but good nonetheless.
June 3, 2025
A beautiful children’s book about the 9 lives of a cat
October 3, 2018
Outwardly this is a book for very young readers, with short chapters, large type, a great deal of white space and beautiful black and white pen illustrations. Yet the language is sophisticated; it would even be difficult to read out loud to a young child as the flow would constantly be interrupted to explain unknown words and the theme of death is already broached on the second page; what could be more emotive than a dead kitten? It would be interesting to know what age group Morpurgo was writing for.
This is a book that doesn’t shy away from the negative side of animal husbandry and wildlife. Animals die, farmers aren’t overly sentimental and they can be ruthless about what to do with unwanted kittens (and it’s not the animal shelter). This is definitely not a book for sensitive children, or adults, for that matter. It’s not just an animal book, either. As the cat grows older, so do the farmer’s family he lives with. There are also a couple of interesting side characters, particularly the tramp, Syd. I’d like to get to know him better. There is also an extremely odd scene with a girl who is playing as a nun and wants her mother to join in, calling her Mother Superior; a rather strange aside.
For me, this book had a special feel because it has characters with the same names of two of my children. Mind you, one of them was a cow! Also something happened while I was reading it that has never happened before: all three of our cats, who barely tolerate each other, came and sat on me at the same time! One at my feet, one curled up on my lap and one on my chest. The magic of Montezuma.
This is a book that doesn’t shy away from the negative side of animal husbandry and wildlife. Animals die, farmers aren’t overly sentimental and they can be ruthless about what to do with unwanted kittens (and it’s not the animal shelter). This is definitely not a book for sensitive children, or adults, for that matter. It’s not just an animal book, either. As the cat grows older, so do the farmer’s family he lives with. There are also a couple of interesting side characters, particularly the tramp, Syd. I’d like to get to know him better. There is also an extremely odd scene with a girl who is playing as a nun and wants her mother to join in, calling her Mother Superior; a rather strange aside.
For me, this book had a special feel because it has characters with the same names of two of my children. Mind you, one of them was a cow! Also something happened while I was reading it that has never happened before: all three of our cats, who barely tolerate each other, came and sat on me at the same time! One at my feet, one curled up on my lap and one on my chest. The magic of Montezuma.
October 5, 2025
Beautiful sad book. Tears were had.
April 28, 2021
This was a book I thought some animal lovers in my classroom might like but the first chapter is so full of difficult and obscure vocabulary I doubt they’d stick with it. It almost seems the rest was written by someone else because the weird vocabulary dropped off. Easy read about many close calls for a tough farm cat.
April 26, 2020
Disclaimer: Biase.
This is one of the first books I've picked out from the library myself and willfully read.
This book follow a cat's life from its traumatic start in a forest abandoned to growing up in a farm and finally returning to the otherside. It taught me the wonders and hardships of having a pet and also really got me invested in the tiny but brimming world of Montezuma.
Although I can tell it's not a perfect book(such don't exist) or even a perfect portrail of a cat's life or having a pet, I still have this book put close and dear to me heart for it's power of getting me completely invested in immersed into a book for the first time in life.
This is one of the first books I've picked out from the library myself and willfully read.
This book follow a cat's life from its traumatic start in a forest abandoned to growing up in a farm and finally returning to the otherside. It taught me the wonders and hardships of having a pet and also really got me invested in the tiny but brimming world of Montezuma.
Although I can tell it's not a perfect book(such don't exist) or even a perfect portrail of a cat's life or having a pet, I still have this book put close and dear to me heart for it's power of getting me completely invested in immersed into a book for the first time in life.
July 24, 2017
I liked this story actually and rated as 4 stars but Michael Morgupurg had written it very long i can give a short cut
Its about a farm cat which had kittens all died except one many animals tryied to kill it but couldn't. Then the cat died and only kitten was left. A boy found the kitten , took home and called Montezuma ( Monti shortly) Monti grew up strong and big and became a hunter in the farm was also a dog Sam who fighted with Monti till blood . Monti went to vet twice also he was lost many times but once he was lost for weeks but once a neighbor saw a cat which looked like Monti dead when the boy took it he saw it didn't have the same pattern on neck as Monti had finnaly at the end a vet came with Monti and the boy and Monti both became old the boy had a wife and Monti was very old . At the end Monti dies and a neighbor she-cat born kittens one looked exactly like Monti. Each chapter was about Monti's nine lives
Its about a farm cat which had kittens all died except one many animals tryied to kill it but couldn't. Then the cat died and only kitten was left. A boy found the kitten , took home and called Montezuma ( Monti shortly) Monti grew up strong and big and became a hunter in the farm was also a dog Sam who fighted with Monti till blood . Monti went to vet twice also he was lost many times but once he was lost for weeks but once a neighbor saw a cat which looked like Monti dead when the boy took it he saw it didn't have the same pattern on neck as Monti had finnaly at the end a vet came with Monti and the boy and Monti both became old the boy had a wife and Monti was very old . At the end Monti dies and a neighbor she-cat born kittens one looked exactly like Monti. Each chapter was about Monti's nine lives
January 13, 2015
The book, "Nine Lives Of Montezuma", by Michael Morpurgo is a very interesting book. I rate this book five stars. It is about an exciting farmyard with this wonderful cat named Montezuma. It tells you about his life from birth to death. I really enjoyed this book because the descriptive writing Michael used makes you feel as if you are in the story. The one character I really liked was the little boy that looked after Montezuma. He was always very loving and careful with animals. The setting of most of the book was outside, either in the barn or out on the street when the little boy took Montezuma for walks. The one thing that I loved was that the boy and Montezuma were very affectionate with one another. If you are a cat person, I recommend you read this wonderful book.
October 19, 2020
Sorry I really wanted to rate this higher. It's a case of it's not the author's fault it's me. I was given this as a gift because I love cats, and the writing was actually good, but in parts it was so sad and left me feeling upset and a bit depressed at the end. I'm a happy ending kind of girl. Some people probably won't feel it was sad, and I see it has a lot of good ratings on here, but unfortunately it's not my kind of book.
January 6, 2018
I don’t remember when I read this, but I was young. It must have been pretty damn good because it actually inspired the first fanfiction I ever wrote: The Nine Lives Of Wontezuma. It was about the titular character’s three kids, all given some variety of his name. 🤔 Shout out to my primary school English teacher for turning me into the writer and illustrator extraordinaire I am today, eh? ;)
August 24, 2017
I cried and cried and cried. My very first cat had just died so it hit home with 1000× more potency. Nevertheless, it is a good read to teach children about the goings-on of life and death. But don't be surprised if afterwards they beg you for a pet.
January 1, 2018
I really liked this story. I could tell it would be sad, going through the nine lives of a cat.. but the lives were often amusing mini-stories. There is also a nice twist at the end which makes you feel a little bit better.
June 3, 2017
Lovely vocabulary and a short read. In parts it is very sad. I would maybe advise this for a more mature reader.
November 10, 2024
Totally worth the time.
"....Matthew never played with him. For him, Montezuma was no plaything, just a companion that he liked to be with. He felt no proprietary rights over the cat. It was not his cat; he was MONTEZUMA and that was enough"
The whole plot got me glued till the end. Its a story of the nine lives of a gingery farm cat. I personally loved the way the cat's relationship with Matthew's father grew from "...they could live together if they lived apart" to "the two grew old together and a bond of great sympathy grew up between them as the years went by....they would lie down together... reflecting on their early days". Though the ending got me teared up but every single chapter is filled with adventures, emotions and feeling of attachment between Montezuma and humans around it. Its not how the cat overcomes challenges but how it builds his reputation that makes him known in the entire lane by the end of the book. The way that he gets through death is worth reading and the ability of the writer to give no hint about the ending of the book is definitely praiseworthy.
"....Matthew never played with him. For him, Montezuma was no plaything, just a companion that he liked to be with. He felt no proprietary rights over the cat. It was not his cat; he was MONTEZUMA and that was enough"
The whole plot got me glued till the end. Its a story of the nine lives of a gingery farm cat. I personally loved the way the cat's relationship with Matthew's father grew from "...they could live together if they lived apart" to "the two grew old together and a bond of great sympathy grew up between them as the years went by....they would lie down together... reflecting on their early days". Though the ending got me teared up but every single chapter is filled with adventures, emotions and feeling of attachment between Montezuma and humans around it. Its not how the cat overcomes challenges but how it builds his reputation that makes him known in the entire lane by the end of the book. The way that he gets through death is worth reading and the ability of the writer to give no hint about the ending of the book is definitely praiseworthy.
September 1, 2024
To think of all things - a book about a cat with “nine lives” or as I would put it nine near death experiences would make me question my own mortality and have an even grander appreciation for life. As well as how many lives do humans even have ? How many times did I escape death through infancy to adulthood ?
I am mostly indifferent to animals but Monte holds a special place in my heart just like Mathew’s dad.
This was an excellent listen, I could really imagine myself being there as an observer while Montezuma was experiencing little and grand adventures. The brotherly relationship with Mathew was beautiful. The cycle of life is truly a bittersweet thing. The ending when they planted an Oak Tree on top of his grave was a beautiful send off and left me feeling nostalgic.
I am mostly indifferent to animals but Monte holds a special place in my heart just like Mathew’s dad.
This was an excellent listen, I could really imagine myself being there as an observer while Montezuma was experiencing little and grand adventures. The brotherly relationship with Mathew was beautiful. The cycle of life is truly a bittersweet thing. The ending when they planted an Oak Tree on top of his grave was a beautiful send off and left me feeling nostalgic.
April 6, 2019
It is very easy to picture where it is set, the book left me with a clear image in my head of where Montezuma lives. As it is a Morpugo book it was pretty sad, but I liked Montezuma so much it kept me reading and wanting to know what happened next. Montezuma is an amazing cat who could even survive a fight with a dog and there were other touching moments where a man helped the cat after it got glass stuck in its and couldn't finishing the road. Whilst sad as described, there are always such heartwarming moments his books, which are always so beautifully written.
October 7, 2020
This is a sweet story with lovely illustrations, which I enjoyed as an adult reader. However, I don't think I'd choose it for kids. Although it had humor and warmth, the book, after all, does focus on the poor farm cat's many near death experiences as he uses up his nine lives, which gives a morbid cast to each chapter. Now I know death features into most Morpurgo novels and is a fact of life for which kids must be familiar and prepared, but I don't think I'd choose a book for kids in which you know every chapter is going to be about something bad; one with more balance would be preferable.
May 25, 2023
Simple. The book was simple yet it was very interesting. It has a huge potential of capturing the reader's mind and has shown the timeline of a being's life. Doing this (Showing the life of a being in a book) is an incredible feat.
The book has many twists and turns. It is so deep and has so many mood swings and emotional outbreaks, that it is just so beautiful.
Everything that is about life is in this book. This book is life and is an excellent book for young readers.
It is a treasure. A beauty
The book has many twists and turns. It is so deep and has so many mood swings and emotional outbreaks, that it is just so beautiful.
Everything that is about life is in this book. This book is life and is an excellent book for young readers.
It is a treasure. A beauty
February 19, 2022
It does one good to read books like this from time to time. The language is so clear - not basic, but simple, with just the right word chosen in every sentence to convey the concept without losing the reader in a thicket of descriptive prose. The story is a simple one - a young boy discovers a kitten on his farm, and together they live a full life, full of adventure and misadventure (hence the title). An easy read that accompanied me through a day of travelling.
April 15, 2024
Another fantastic book from my childhood days that was read to me as I could not read. I didn’t learnt to read until I was about 12/13.
Once I learnt how to read Morpurgo’s books were like nuggets of gold to me as I got along better with animals than people.
I’ve started reading them decades after first reading them and am finding I love and enjoy them just as much as I did the first time I read them.
Once I learnt how to read Morpurgo’s books were like nuggets of gold to me as I got along better with animals than people.
I’ve started reading them decades after first reading them and am finding I love and enjoy them just as much as I did the first time I read them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews