Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Benji and the Vole
I’ve never been happier to see a vole disposed of. Especially when my newly tri-pawed cat did the job.
If you are sensitive to this sort of thing, read no further, I understand.
Benji has healed up nicely from his surgery and we are allowing him outside more often during the day, without monitoring his every movement; that was never going to work in the long run. For as long as we’ve had him (8 years next month) he has loved the outdoors, resting in the garden beds, lying in the grass, watching the birds go by, and pouncing on small critters that sometimes make their way into our yard.
Today I was in the kitchen looking out the window and there he was, as fast and agile as ever, making short work of a vole. In the past I might have intervened and try to save the little varmint, but not this time; Benji was in his glory!
The next two photos are blurry as I tried to catch him in action, and didn’t have time to adjust the settings.
When Benji and the vole were through, he brought his trophy to the back door, laying it at my feet, through the window. (I got a picture of it toes-up but decided to spare you.)
Now just so you know, voles are considered pests in the garden, digging holes and tunneling underground in the yard.
Even so, I like (most) all creatures and root for their survival. But today I was happy to see that Benji was back, happy to be a cat, minus a leg or not.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Oh wow, he’s back to normal it seems! He is so cute, even with only three legs! I love the action shots, blurry or not. I’ve had Foster for 8 years starting next month too. How did all this time go by so fast? 😮
Thank you! He really is so cute! And I was so happy to see him so happy being a cat again!
I feel sorry for the tiny Vole, but Benji was only following his instincts.
Best wishes, Pete.
In the past I would try to divert his attention and let the vole escape. But they are pests in the yard, and I was so happy seeing Benji be his old cat self again, I let this one be sacrificed.
Bravo Benji!!! I’m thrilled his catness is intact and his hunting prowess as keen as ever.
Thank you! I was thrilled too!
Wow, what a great recovery Benji has made 😲
Truly amazing! I was thrilled to see him so happy behaving like a normal cat.
Go Benj! What a boy, not letting a minor thing such as a lack of leg hold him back!
Yes! I was thrilled to see he’s back to his old cat self and so happy!
what a good fellow.
Yes, indeed! Thank you!
Voles are such a pest in the garden!
So I guess I don’t feel too bad about his demise! Especially since Benji had such a great time!
If it were a bird, I’d feel otherwise! 😉
Me too! I’m still protecting the birds!
👏🏼
Way to go Benji! If I didn’t live on the other side of the country, I would hire you. 🙂
Thank you! They wouldn’t last long if I was there! 😺😸
Benji – deadly killer! Good to see he’s back to normal. Animals can be amazing in how they adjust.
Truly amazing! He’s so happy outside and seeing him catch that vole was just like old times.
Who needs four legs, Benjie purrs! Glad to see him in action and getting that vole! Great action shots, Susanne! My dog is quite successful at catching voles here too. He just doesn’t play with them 😁
Thanks, Terri! I was thrilled to see Benji back to his old self! He was so happy to be outside and hunting again!