Bagheera

Tomorrow we start our farm for real.
Our first animal is getting picked up at the local SPCA.

Yep, we are getting a barn cat.
A black, male we are going to name Bagheera.
After the black panther in Disney's movie "The Jungle Book"

The Youngest and I made the decision yesterday that we were going to use only Disney character names when naming animals on "Between Here and There Farms". 

I think the Day-Care kids will like it and find it easier to remember who's who when they are named after characters that kids already know. :)

Just thinking about having a black cat named Bagheera made me look up the SPCA's web-site and just like I had heard, they do have a Barn Cat Program. Feral cats or partly wild ones that wouldn't make a good house cat are given to those who promise to provide food, water and shelter from the elements. 

Well, we have three great out-buildings and lots and lots of mice!! So he will hopefully find this to be a place he is happy to call home.

He comes neutered and "fully loaded" with all his up-dated shots etc. for the low, low price of free!! That's something we can afford!! :)

We have already gotten the "Goat Shed" ready. (No, there are no goats in it yet, but we have to label the out-buildings with something. The Barn, The Wood Shed, and the Goat Shed (which will hopefully have goats one day) 

Although Bagheera won't know or probably appreciate what we did to prepare for his arrival we got out there and removed any garbage left by John Smith, made a cozy "nest" for him out of a box, towel and snuggled it into the fluffy pile of hay. Bared up any holes or gaps that looked like a cat might try to squeeze through and now we wait until tomorrow. The plan is to keep him barred in the shed for a few days until he realizes that these new humans equal "food" and hopefully he'll acclimatize enough to stay with us.

I have never thought of myself as a cat person, and although I know that this half-wild fellow most likely won't be the type to curl around our legs purring I am so excited about getting our first ANIMAL I can hardly stand it!! haha :)  I have complete trust in our Resident Animal Whisperer. If The Youngest can't make him tame enough for a pat now and then or a scratch under the chin, than there ain't no one who can. 

And he'll have something to hunt on his first day, The Youngest scared up a real, living mouse while cleaning out The Goat Shed. What a surprise! 

You Go Get 'Em, Bagheera!!! 

And in case you were wondering what we would have named an orange cat? 

Why, Thomas O'Malley of course!! O'Malley the alley cat. :)