Why Do Cats Bring Us Gifts?
Why Do Cats Bring Us Gifts?
It's important to remember that cats are natural hunters. They have been domesticated since 10,000 years back, but their hunting instinct remains still strong; just because they're domesticated and usually get their food from a can doesn't mean their hunting instincts have faded.
They are called perfect killing machines due to their athleticism, agility, claws, and teeth.
That's great news for those who keep cats for pest management, but it's not so great when your feline friend discovers a lizard and takes it to the foot of your bed.
If you've ever wondered why cats leave "gifts" in the shape of dead animals for their owners, blame it on their instinct to hunt prey and feed their loved ones.
Why these beautiful beings bring ugly gifts like dead animals into the house is our topic of discussion. Research shows many reasons for this behavior. Let’s discuss each of these in detail:
Our cat brings us gifts to show she loves us
Cats are strange creatures. They have no other way to express their love than by bringing dead birds and mouses to your doorstep. So, don't get upset the next time your kitty friend gives you a dead animal as a gift.
Cats bring us gifts to earn praise
Some experts say that since the dead bird on your pillow is a present from a feline friend, you should respond in a quiet, tranquil manner and thank your cat for the present.
Cat brings home dead animals to add raw meat to its diet
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. Certainly, they did not survive solely on processed meals. Cats consume other animals by nature, such as birds, rabbits, and squirrels. This indicates that their natural diet consists mostly of animal tissues. So, by giving you a dead bird as a gift, your cat may be saying, "Let's go raw!" Because your cat cannot speak, she might be signaling with you in her own manner about the type of food she wants.
Cats bring home dead animals to feed their young kittens
It must be noticed everything that a cat brings home is not always a gift for us. Mother cats often kill animals and bring them home to feed their young ones. As cat owners, we can thus understand what the mother cat wants to present his young ones as food.
How to stop your cat from bringing dead animals into the house
It's a lovely gesture, but we all understand how horrible it is to be greeted by dead creatures daily, and most owners would prefer to stop this shit as. soon as possible.
Putting a bell on your cat's collar is one of the simplest ways to prevent your cat from hunting and killing wildlife. A bell will alert prey animals before the cat approaches them, giving them time to run away. In this way, you can avert the nasty sights of dead animals that your cat brings you often.
2. Do not allow your cat to go outside at specified times.
Limiting the time that your cat tends to spend outside at night and in the early morning is one of the most effective ways to prevent them from killing prey. Because during this time, small animals are often out of their shelters and more susceptible to being caught by cats.
3. Redirect cat’s energy from preying to playing through toys
Providing your cat with toys is also another effective way to avert its hunting behavior.
Stuffed mice or other mobile toys are the best ideas as they feel like prey and your cat might satiate its drive to prey by chasing them.