Why do cats bring home mice and other little creatures uneaten? Do you think its 'cause the treats at home taste better than wild kills?
2007-08-06 14:05:00 · 19 answers · asked by Laura 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Wait a minute, Sararoy! I HAVE TWO CATS THAT ARE KEPT INDOORS!
I am asking a question for fun and not to get some totally random pointers!
2007-08-06 14:19:53 · update #1
Because cats don't always hunt to eat. They hunt because it's their nature to hunt. Also, they like to leave "gifts" for their humans.
My kitty used to be an office cat. We needed a mouser, and she was great at it. She always left them for the people she liked, which I became one of once she got to know me. Eventually, I became the one who took care of her all the time, and most of the mice were left for me. She left them mostly dead, then all dead, then headless.
I asked a friend of mine who'd always had cats and was involved in the Humane Society what that meant. Why the progression. She said she wasn't sure about the headless, but there was a reason for the mostly dead then all dead. My kitty was telling me she loved me, but I was a moron. The first one was mostly dead so I could finish it off and have a lovely meal. The second one was all dead so I could have a lovely meal, but since I was too stupid to figure out how to finish it off myself (I turned girly and called a guy in) she would just kill it for me!
Now that she's a house cat and has no more mice to kill, she leaves me her favorite toys where I can find them.
2007-08-06 14:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by Jareth's Trousers 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is because they love hunting but if they have already eaten they just are not hungry anymore and leave it there. My cat will actually meow until I come and see it (even though I really would prefer not to) and she is not happy until I praise her about it. My husband thinks that she leaves it there for me and that my cat thinks "ungrateful cow" when I don't eat it. Also don't worry about what people say about your cat being outdoors. Cats love being outdoors. My cat is an outdoor cat. I know they can have a shorter life but they have a better life because they enjoy it more. I think that for them being inside is like being in prison. Would you rather have a short free life or a long life in prison? They can also get hurt inside like stepping onto the stove when it is on and they can get killed if they chew through a live electrical wire. Anyway, your cat, your decisions!
2007-08-06 22:31:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only speculate what goes on inside their furry heads but I think they leave you things they do not know how to or do not want to eat. Cats may be hard-wired to chase and catch but they may not be hard-wired to kill or eat what they have killed.
They need to be taught how to kill by their mothers, by watching another cat or animal or stumble upon it by trial, error and accident. They also need to be taught or learn what they have killed is edible and tasty.
Some rodents appear to be tastier than others and some of the tiniest may just be too lacking in meat for a well-fed cat to bother with. I don't know if a cat's maternal instinct confuses oversized human beings with kittens or that a cat is altruistic enough to share something tasty with anything or anyone else. I don't see them dumping their kibble onto the floor for us to eat.
I can see them wanting attention and praise for what they have accomplished.
2007-08-06 21:28:28 · answer #3 · answered by WooHoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They bring home uneaten vermin to offer to you as a food (the way a feral cat would do for it's offspring)...it is your cats way of taking care of you by feeding you. Take it as a compliment because your cat wouldn't do this unless s/he loved you and cared about your welfare. You should never punish your cat for this because that can be frustrating and confusing for them.
2007-08-06 21:12:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I bet they're saying "look mom! I caught something!!" kind of like a trophy and they expect praise. My outdoor cat Pickket used to bring half eaten mice or birds on the welcome mat outside ,(my mom wasn't too happy) and my indoor cat Sandy plays with any mouse she finds untill it dies of fright or passes out, she never eats them. She must think it's an awsome toy we got her. It's kind of funny.
2007-08-06 22:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by Catmaniac8x 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats bring home "treats" to their owners. Its their way of doing their share for the pride. Always reward your cat for their effort. Never yell or punish them.
2007-08-06 21:09:02 · answer #6 · answered by quest4lucidity 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats who do this are proud of their abilities as predators & bring their catch home as a sign of love.
I suspect that when cats play "fetch" with their humans the motivation is similar-- they're bringing us a gift of love.
2007-08-06 22:09:15 · answer #7 · answered by Catkin 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The cat is trying to tell you that they are valuable as house guardians.
They want an increase in wages and bring the evidence of their worth.
Give the kitty a special treat and a nice rub down.
Buy them a cell phone.
dave
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2007-08-06 21:29:32 · answer #8 · answered by dave777 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a cat that killed mice bluejays bats chipmunks andsquirrels they cant go to a store and buy you a present so that is their way of saying thank you and it shows you have a kitty who is a good hunter
2007-08-06 21:25:50 · answer #9 · answered by thehoopersericsue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a cat brings home a dead animal, it's a sign of love and respect to their owner. It just means they love you :-)
2007-08-06 21:08:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋