I have the loveliest childhood memories of my father reading bedtime stories to me and my favourite was Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (I loved Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows too and always wanted to name my house Toad Hall). Being a cat person for as long as I can remember, Bagheera was of course the character I cherished the most and wondered why we all couldn’t have large, black panthers as our loyal and wise guardians. So you can well imagine that the moment I saw Bagheera, the all black kitten available for adoption on Chrystal’s blog, I was a goner!
The name Bagheera however does not exactly flow off the tongue and the other day when Robert called him Bags, I was convinced we had to change his name. I immediately thought of Kipling, as an homage to the author who penned Bagheera and the fact that the name shortens nicely to Kip sold me on the idea.
Kipling also wrote The Cat Who Walked by Himself, a story about how animals became domesticated while the cat’s true heart remained untamed! I have always believed that when a cat or kitten comes to live in our houses they bring a little wildness into our lives.
As for Bagheera's second name, it was very difficult to see our all black kitty during the drive home to Canada from Ohio which was at nighttime. Out of his carrier and moving around against the dark interior of our car, he was only a little slip of a moonshadow....
As for Bagheera's second name, it was very difficult to see our all black kitty during the drive home to Canada from Ohio which was at nighttime. Out of his carrier and moving around against the dark interior of our car, he was only a little slip of a moonshadow....
Therefore felines of all ages, I would like to present Kipling Moonshadow: aka Kip :-)
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| Hi there |
44 comments:
Aw, that's a sweet name. Love the Moonshadow! Except now I have that song stuck in my head, lol.
I know shortening Bagheera is inevitable, but I probably would have gone with Eerie, which some might say goes with a black cat.. :)
He looks like a happy boy there, I hope he's settling in well!
That is an especially inspired name! If my human ever brings home another kitty, she should ask you to give it a name!
Wow ! That's cool name !
My mom got no idea about the name, you can see from my name...MOL
Ah hes such a cutie.I loveee the name too.My daughter and her boyfriend are looking at black kittens.Shes thinking of the name Gatsby.Which I love.Thanks for sharing.
It is so nice to have a name with Great Meaning. Kip, you are a super handsome panther cat.
My first humans named me Simba after Simba in the Lion King, of course. Sort of common and ordinary. But it turns out I really AM pretty leonine.
Hi Kip, what a lovely story behind your name!
Kipling/Kip is a great name and fits nicely. Much better than being called "Bags." LOL.
Kip looks like he's settling in nicely. Is he still confined or has he met any of the gang yet?
What a wonderful name! Very fitting!
Purrs,
The Chans
I knew there was a name change in the works!!! LOL! Bagheera is very elegant and exotic, but it's just hard to say when you want to get their attention.
Kip works perfectly, especially since the other guys have nice boy-names. And he is truly a Moonshadow.
Love the eyes! Looks like he's already happy in front of the camera.
Hi there Kip!
You look very happy and you have a very cool name.
Kipling Moonshadow - what a great name for the "new boy" we hope he is settling in well.
Mum now has that song "Moonshadow" going round and round in her head and we have our paws in our ears!!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
What a lovely name change - and well thought out. I love Bagheera as well, but it really doesn't pass the "can you yell it?" test. :) Love Kipling Moodshadow.... congrats handsome boy!!
First of all, congratulations on the new addition to your furmily!
I think you've chosen a wonderful name for your new black house panther! Kipling Moonshadow is very sophisticated and etheral in combination -- and the shortened Kip is simply sweet. I love all the thought you put into naming your kitties.
Kip is a handsome young boy. I hope he can soon join the others and look forward to seeing pictures of all of them together!
We love Kip's new name!! We know he will be very happy in his new home!!
Yes, yes, yes, Kip is purrfect!!! Howdy Kip!
Me thinks Kipling (Kip) is purrfect. Me would hates to be called Bags! Wes has fond memories of Kiplings stoires too. Me thinks Mommy should get the books out of the basement and read them to us!
Kisses
Nellie
That's a nice name, and he's a handsome boy.
Yup Kip is a wonderful name and oh so much better than Bags. Too funny. But the new name is just perfect. He truly is a cute and wonderful looking black kitty. Has he met any of the others yet?? Have a fun day Kip.
What a Purrfect name !!!
And, thank you for taking him in and giving him a new start on life.
Hi thee sweety ~ we LOVE yoor noo names! xx
And we are so thankful yoo gave this sweet little kit the chance of a noo life too. xx
What a wonderful name you got, Kipling! Welcome to your wonderful Forever home!
Hey, Kipling. Looks like you are settling in fine to your new home.
Love that one white wisker. Is one of your eyes green, or is our browser getting funky with colors?
Ok Kip you are most handsome no matter your name but I DO BELIEVE KIP fits you purrfectly. Well done Mom. Dad told me it took longer for them to name me than it did my human sissy. MOL
Madi aka Madison
PS We love your header!!
By the way, Kip's headlining the LOLSpot today.
what a beautiful perfect little boy. Thse eyes are stunning. Are they two differing colors as they appear to be here?
Hello Kipling Moonshadow! What a lovely and poetic name for you. Perhaps sometimes you may even be called Kipper, which is kind of cute,too! Happy settling in, Sweetie!
What a wonderful name, love it! I agree, so much thought and special consideration went into naming this special kitty and that warms the heart! Welcome Kip, you are a gorgeous panther and you have the most amazing forever home! What a sweet picture of you. Can't wait to hear more updates!
We love it and we also love your story!!!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Aww, we wuz the name - and the story of how it came to be, even better! Hello Kip! Hi new friend!
Hugs!
=^~^=
Kippling has the sweetest face! we love his name and bless you for opening your home to him.
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
"Kipling Moonshadow" (Kip) what a wonderful, poetic name!
Loved the background story as well! This is purrfect! He is soooo handsome!
Hi little one! Welcome to the family. Hey, your mum was right, you have a white whisker like me! I can tell we're going to be friends.
Aww ~ sweet kitty! There's always room for more love in the house ~ fantastic!
Happy Weekend Cat!
xo Catherine
Oooh - hey there Kip! You look gorgeous and we know you're going to be happy in your new home!
Hallo there, Kip! We think your name is just purrfect. :)
Mieow Kip(for short),,,,, ^..^
Don't wurry we all haz lotz ov namez too,, sum nice.... sum not so nice ^..^ We luv All your namez... da mom really likez da Moonshadow one :)) and don't you wurry you be runnin around and cauzing mayhem in no time ^..^
You certainly good looking mancat ;)
Welcome ~
Headbuttz to All ~
Kip (inspired naming, Cat), you are one handsome panther fellow and have chosen a great family. We know your four brothers will make you feel right at home before you know it.
Purrs,
Lizzie & 3 kitties
Hello,
Maybe this message will appear! :-)
Kip, you stole my heart! These eyes! And you look as if you took some weight in the meantime...
Good luck for the "tribal" life with the other four, but they seem so nice that I think everything will go well very smoothly...
Kisses,
looloo
PS I am very frustrated my post welcoming you did not appear a few days ago :-)
Hi Kip! I think Bags is also a cute nickname but I love your new name!! I hope you'll adjust to your new home soon.
Hi Kip!! We love your new name and you are one handsome kitty!! We just know you will get along well with your Brothers!!
Your TX furiends,
We loves the name Kipling Moonshadow and what big eyes you have Mr. Kip.
Purr-fect choice!
Purr-fect choice!
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