The Cat Burglar and a New Name

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

I know this is an odd quote to start out a blog post, but you will understand by the end of the story.  If you have been reading back on our posts you have seen that a female cat (her name is Tux) was dumped and we were caring for her.  We finally were able to catch her, but not before she became pregnant.  Two days after her capture she had 4 adorable (and rotten) little kittens.  We brought the kittens in the house in the beginning of October to get them accustomed to humans, dogs and other cats.  The more socialized the easier it will be to find them homes.  So now that you have some background on to the tale.....

The kitten in the photo above is Paws, or at least that use to be his name.  He "earned" a new name by his antics.  Then new name is very fitting, but I get ahead of myself.  This story starts back when the kittens first came in the house.  

Paws was the first kitten to get a name, it was pretty simple, he has 4 white paws.  He was also the first one to receive a name because his 3 sisters have similar markings to each other.  It makes it hard to tell which one is which.  The first week the kittens were in the house we did not let them out of their cage except to wander around the bathroom.  Then we extended their freedom to the bathroom and bedroom.  Finally at 4 months of age they had the whole house to run and play in.  THAT is when things started to happen.....it was little stuff at first that would come up missing.  Push pins were the first thing to disappear, then he moved up to anything that would fit in his mouth and easily carried.  He would "stash" stuff all over the house.  Peter and I were getting ready to write a blog post about our little cat burglar when he earned his new name.

About a week ago we caught him stealing money.  Quarters to be exact.  So that is when he earned his name.  I have a friend who explained to me that she held off naming animals so they could "earn" their name.  I see the logic in that now because his new name is so fitting to his personality.  You might think it weird to change an animals name, but he is young enough that he really doesn't know Paws yet.  But his new earned name is so HIM.  

The quote above should have given you a hint, but if not here is another hint....
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“You have nice manners for a thief and a liar," said the dragon.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

Yes! Paws new name is Bilbo.  As in Bilbo Baggins the main character from "The Hobbit".  Not saying that our Bilbo is a liar but he is a thief.  If he could speak, I wouldn't put it past him to be a liar too.  But just like the beloved hobbit, my Bilbo has a heart of gold underneath all of that orneriness.  

So welcome to the family my little Bilbo.