Bagheera or Road Kill?

So my mom found what she thought was a dead kitten on the side of the road. Then she realized it was breathing, barely. She picked up the small black bag of bones and the little creature responded by only opening its eyes for a second. She, being a sucker just like me, took the pathetic creature home. Soon, after much attention, it started to move but could not walk because it was so weak.

Here comes the good part. She, of course, can not have a cat in her apartment, the cat shelter wasn't taking on anymore cats, and animal control is putting 90+ cats asleep per day here. I told her I absolutely would NOT take it. That's how I ended up with both my dogs. . .poor little strays no one else wanted. I couldn't do it again, don't have the space or money to nurse another animal back to health just for it to become feisty and tear up my house. . .not again. But it needed food, so I'd swing by the store on my way and pick some up for it.

Then I saw this emaciated and injured little thing. It looks like something tried to eat him. His flesh is torn on the side and top of his face and the wound is too old for stitches now. So, yup, here I am the ultimate sucker, with this pathetic little black cat and vet bills I can't afford.

Anyway, if I'm going to be spending all this time and money on it, I need to know what name to curse every time a new vet bill arrives. Since it was dead (we thought) on the side of the road, we thought it might be funny to call it Road Kill. However, after all it has been through, maybe it deserves a more dignified name like the black panther (leopard) on Jungle Book, Bagheera.

So what do you think? Road Kill or Bagheera?

Fred is not an option. That Rob, always stirring up trouble.

Trish I thought about calling him Roady, but I've also called him Baggy Bottom (close to what Jay said) a couple of times. I think my daughter is leaning toward Bagheera and my son, Road Kill.

Soccermom, thanks. . .I didn't know there were such generous people here. You're actually not the first to offer, but I am sincerely impressed by your desire to help. My vet is letting me pay monthly payments instead of one lump sum.

Goodyear *shakes head* Bad, bad pconsidine

This pic doesn't really show the shape he's in. I really need a new camera. On the other side of his face, he has a big chunk of flesh missing, on his throat he has another wound, and on the top of his head, he has a group of scab/scars along with various scraps and cuts all over. I think he was almost dinner for some animal at one point.

If you look close, you can see his hip bones protruding in back.

The vet said he probably would have been dead by yesterday evening if my mom hadn't found him.

Well, it looks like his name is Bagheera.

Thanks for helping me decide (and we are keeping Road Kill as his middle name, but he'll never be humiliated by being called that in front of others ).

Today he was actually able to jump up on my bed and he has lots more energy. He followed me all over the house like a little puppy when I was getting ready for work and he is just starting to meow occasionally. I felt so bad leaving him this morning because he tried to follow me out the door.

I know it took both my dogs (yup, both sick/injured strays no one else wanted) months to have their real personalities start shining through. . .I'm not sure how long it'll take Bagheera, but I'm thinking he'll adjust a bit quicker than they did.

Thanks again!