Chester’s First Kill

A Nice Cat

Chester was generally a very well-mannered cat who was nice to everyone. When he wrestled with his best friend Marvin, he always let Marvin win. When Stevie wanted to sleep on the favorite chair in the house, he would let her have it. And when he wanted to get a human’s attention, he used his voice instead of his claws. However, when it came to hunting, Chester was not so well-mannered.

When Chester watched birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and mice from the catio his face turned puffy and he ignored everyone. He couldn’t hear the humans calling him for dinner or feel Marvin’s paws pat him as Marvin tried to engage him in games. Chester was single-minded. 

It was on his 6-month birthday that Chester made his first kill. He had been out in the catio all day when an unsuspecting mouse walked in seeking shelter from the rain. Chester pounced on it right away and bit into the poor creature, spurting blood all over his face and the deck. It died instantly. 

Chester brought his kill into the house, leaving a trail of blood where he walked. Marvin was excited and tried to get the mouse from Chester, but Chester growled, announcing his possession of the mouse. Chester played with the mouse for hours, batting it around, chasing it, and picking it up in his mouth whenever Marvin tried to get close to it. 

It was not until midnight did Chester settle down from his adrenaline rush and give up the mouse to Marvin. Marvin eagerly picked up the mouse and brought it to his bed. Unlike Chester, he wasn’t interested in playing with the mouse. Marvin had other plans. One little bite at a time, Marvin ate the mouse, until there was no mouse left, not even a tail.