'He is a special needs cat': Bobcat who was injured as a kitten and cannot be released back into the wild gets adopted and instantly forms ameowzing bonds with the family deer, dog and house cat

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 22, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Every cat deserves a chance. That is something that we stand by here at ICHC. And that very much includes cats and big cats whose lives have gone… a little differently than others. Not everyone gets lucky in life. Some big cats face some difficulties right away, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve to live as good a life as they can live. And that is where we step in - to try to give them that life. 

Thankfully, there really are some incredibly good people out there. We have seen so many instances of people helping big cats in need. Like this injured bobcat who became the best foster momma to a whole bunch of other kittens thanks to the humans who adopted it. Or this this rescued black panther who became best friends with a Rottweiler that his humans paired him up with. Or this injured bobcat who couldn't be released into the wild who found out that fennel is the best toy ever and got an endless amount of it from the humans taking care of him. 

They all deserved a chance, and they all got it. The same way that today bobcat, Benji, did. It's always fun to see an oldie but goodie story get some renewed traction online, and we can see why this one hit again. It's incredibly wholesome. 

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    Nature is Amazing @AMAZINGNATURE This is Benji, the bobcat. He suffered a stroke at birth and he is a special needs cat 3:27 PM • Apr 15, 2025. 3M Views 351 13.3K 71 0:00 / 1:21 60K 3.8K
    via @AMAZlNGNATURE, Benji The Bobcat

  • Benji the bobcat was adopted at 4-weeks-old by this lovely family, after having had a stroke when he was born. He has a few medical complications - like the right side of his mouth sagging sometime and a deformed rear right paw, so unfortunately, he could not be released back into the wild, but other than these small things, he was happy and healthy. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10496248576
    via Benji The Bobcat

  • This is a very old video actually, all the way back from 2014. In the last update that we got from Benji's owners, he was unfortunately no longer with them. Due to the laws changing in the state, Benji was taken in to Noah's Lost Arc exotic animal rescue in Berlin Center, Ohio. It was a heartbreaking moment for his family, but he was well taken care of there. The sanctuary has many animals with special needs, and Benji got to hang out with other bobcats. On top of all that, his owners were allowed to visit him any time they wanted. And he was clearly very happy to see them. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10496248320
    via Benji The Bobcat

  • He was bottle-fed by the family as a baby and cared for by them for many years. During his time with them, he hung out with their family dog and cat, but he bonded especially well with Anthea, a deer, and they lived together for four years. Below are a whole bunch of photos of this adorably unique family growing up together. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10496248064
    via Benji The Bobcat
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    BIO
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    Schannels
    via Benji The Bobcat

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    via Benji The Bobcat
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    AUSTRALIS
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    ANTARCTI AUSTRALIS GEOGRAPHICA TER
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    LIVE
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    BU LIGHT
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    via Benji The Bobcat
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    via Benji The Bobcat

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aww wholesome adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted bobcat story big cats Cats rescue
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