catmando.blog

There is no doubt cats are interesting.  I don’t care if you are a cat lover or not, I’m sure you still find them interesting.  I saw this post on social media not that long ago and knew exactly what this cat was doing.  The caption was something like, “The world’s laziest cat.”

I don’t think it is lazy.  For instance, have you ever woken up to find a dead mouse, bird, or even a random sock at your doorstep, on your floor, or even on your bed.  You’ve likely asked yourself, “Why does my cat do this?”  It might seem gross or even a little creepy, but believe it or not, your cat is doing this for a reason, and it usually comes from a place of love, instinct, and care.

First and foremost, cats are natural-born hunters.  Whether they live in the wild or in your cozy home, they still have strong hunting instincts.  This behavior dates back thousands of years to their wild ancestors, who had to hunt to survive.  Domestic cats may not need to hunt anymore, but the instinct is still very much alive.

So when your kitty brings you a freshly caught mouse, she’s acting out this deeply ingrained instinct.  In her eyes, she’s doing something good.  She is showing off her skills and sharing her “catch” with you.

Now, believe it or not, this is your cat’s way of saying “I care about you.” In the wild, cats often bring food back to their kittens or other cats they care about.  By bringing you a “gift,” your cat might be treating you like family or a fellow kitten or companion who needs to learn how to hunt or who could benefit from a snack.

In short, this is cat-speak for, “You’re important to me.”  It’s not the kind of gift we’d put on a wish list, but from a cat’s point of view, it’s thoughtful and generous.

Another reason your cat may want to share with you is, sometimes, your cat sees you as the helpless member of the family.  You don’t hunt and you don’t chase mice.  So your cat might think you’re just not very good at taking care of yourself.  She may bring you prey in an effort to help you survive or to teach you how to do it for yourself.

This is especially common in female cats, who tend to do more of the teaching and nurturing.  If your cat brings you live animals, she may actually be trying to train you how to hunt!

Thankfully, not every “gift” is a mouse or bird.  Some indoor cats will bring toys, socks, or even scraps of food they’ve found.  These are symbolic gifts that still come from that same instinctive place, but your cat is adapting to the environment.  She’s doing what she can with what she has.

You might be asking yourself, “What should I do, if this happens to me?”  As odd as it might seem, try not to scold your cat for bringing you these gifts.  Instead, gently praise her and then remove the item (preferably with gloves, if it’s a real mouse!).  You can redirect the behavior with interactive toys and plenty of playtime to keep her mind and instincts stimulated indoors.

Just remember, it may not be the kind of present you were hoping for, but when your cat drops a gift at your feet, it’s actually a compliment.  In her eyes, you’re family and she wants to take care of you the best way she knows how. That’s love… with whiskers.