Voles, The Gift That Keeps On Giving

In our housing development we've had a problem with voles the past few years.  Actually thinking back I think it's been most of the time we've lived in our house.  I'm not really sure what they are, maybe a cross between a mole and a mouse?  Anyway they are annoying little rodent type creatures that burrow holes and tunnels all over your yard.

Yesterday the kids were headed outside to play some army game (Xander thinks he's a Marine), on the way out of the door they spied a vole on the driveway.  In the past few weeks there has been a couple of days when Felix spent some extended time outside.  She really hates being outside unless we are out with her, but sometimes she will run out when we get home and we forget to let her back in before we go to bed.   As a source of amusement, she will typically catch a vole or two and leave it like a trophy on the front steps for us to witness in the morning as we leave for work.  It's afforded my kids many minutes of glee to see the bloody carcases in the morning.  Naturally when the kids saw the vole they decided that Felix needed to come outside and catch it. 

Felix doesn't really like the kids.  I think she feels offended that the kids dared to invade her space, technically she was there first. She was born shortly after we moved into our house 10 years ago to one of our other cats.  She's become fairly cranky in her old age, she likes to sit at the bottom of the stairs and swipe at the kids when they come down.  It's hilarious because of course Paizley is a typical girl and loves Felix to death.  Paiz came up to Steven the other day and said "Dad my kitty would be sad if I didn't have hands",  which I don't know is an accurate statement because I think Felix would be just as happy if Paizley left her alone.

Anyway I keep getting off on tangents, the kids tried to coax Felix out of the front door.  She was interested enough in what they were doing to follow them as far as the door.  Try as they might they couldn't get her to go outside, so they took her food dish outside and of course that cat can't pass up food.  About fourteen seconds later the kids came running back inside all upset because Felix wasn't stalking the vole.  Steven had to explain to them that Felix doesn't appreciate an audience to her jungle cat ways.  The kids came back inside and tried to watch through the window.  Felix was having none of it so after 10-15 minutes they disappointedly let her back inside.

I'm wondering if the real reason voles were created was to provide me with 20 minutes of entertainment on a Sunday afternoon.