Question on Merging and Animations

I recently saw some nerubian workers on this site, and it helped shed some light on what to do about a modeling road block I've come across.

My Goal: To make a new worker model, turning the villager kid into a feline that has the animations to mine gold, chop lumber, and attack even though he'll meet his most certain doom.

The Method: Either have someone do it for me for anything (cough.. ANYTHING) or just at the very least steer me in the proper direction of making such a model.

Someone just gimme a little advice.. I don't want my workes to look like they're having a staring contest with the tree or something.