I feed 3 feral cats who hang out in my neighborhood, and occasionally they'll bring me a small dead animal and put it by my feet or on the porch. They never let me pet them or touch them, but they let me get really close. They're kind of b*tchy to be honest, and ungrateful that I'm feeding them. I don't mind feeding them because I love animals but these cats aren't friendly at all. They hiss at me even when I bring them food sometimes. Sometimes they do bring me dead animals though and I was wondering what it meant. I'm sure they mean something by doing that?
2007-12-22 18:06:05 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
It's a gift and it's a touching thing for them to do. It's their way of saying thankyou for you feeding them.
When they hiss at you, it might not be totally personal - they are understandably scared even though you haven't given them cause to be - other people might hurt them or harass them every day, causing them to lose their trust in humans.
Keep feeding them - it's a very kind thing you are doing.
2007-12-22 22:11:22 · answer #1 · answered by k.t. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are showing you their accomplishments and giving back to you and contributing to the food bank. What makes you say they are ungrateful???? Just because they are showing gratitude in the way you feel they should does not mean they are ungrateful. They bring you dead prey. By you not being able to pet them is part of their survival instinct. I'm sure they have not been treated kindly by humans and are leery of them, even though you provide nourishment for them. Hissing is probably a routine with them no matter what. A nervous tick you might say. Apparently they trust you enough to get "close", but survival is the utmost on their minds. Don't feel offended feel privileged that they allow you to get as close as you do and they take the food you provide. This is a big step in the animal world. They feel safe enough in your yard to come and eat. Keep in mind animals do not think in our terms. We always have to think in their terms in order to live together.
Vet Tech
2007-12-22 18:28:48 · answer #2 · answered by Delilah 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just shows they've noticed you don't hunt much. They feel sorry for you. Cats don't get 'gratitude', why would they? They live for the moment; just because you were nice yesterday doesn't mean you will be tomorrow. Plus they have better things to do than worry about humans. You just got the leftovers. Shame to waste.
2014-08-08 01:33:54 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My cats never do that with mice but they are mostly house cats, but one of them always brings a glove or sock or something small and fabric like to me and meows, it's a different kind of meow it's repeated over and over with the glove in mouth, I know it's a gift and it's as if he is trying to get everyones attention even the other cats.
Maybe if they lived in the wild he would be out at night and bring a midnight snack back to his family or friend. Each one seems to have a specific talent or ability for example one watches the birds and makes chattering noises at the birds another like I mentioned brings little gifts like your feral cat another is big and bulky and he is the front man if any other cat comes in the garden he is leading the pack towards the intruder, as if they were meant to be a cog in the pride machine like a pride of lions hunting in social groups, but I am aware they are quite solitary in the wild as far as I know but I can't help but think that some things that may not be today were at some time and they are still left over instinctually even if other aspects of life change.
And I like to also think that when I'm looking at my cat I'm looking right at his ancestor from say a thousand years ago. Not specifically 1000 years ago but a cat who looked identical to him and shares dna from a very long time ago it's just a feeling I get it makes me realize how special they are, you know it's almost like looking through a window into the past almost like time travel just for a split second, and then imagining one of my ancestors maybe throwing a scrap of food to the cat and having a relationship maybe similar to the one you have with the ferals.
I think quite deeply about things like this and it all seems to make perfect sense to me as I observed a litter of cats through their life from new born to adult and all the social aspects and behavior around other animals and situations, they are really amazing, especially the natural instincts, the little things they do that no one taught them to do, so amazing.
By the way the hissing is a defense mechanism they are fearful of humans and probably not without reason, some humans do it too and like the hissing it can be a defense mechanism, like "be scared of me" and "please don't hurt me".
2007-12-22 19:03:06 · answer #4 · answered by Übermensch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If their feral, i'd say their bringing it to as a present... will they let you take the dead animal from them?? my cat brings me mice when he catches them in the barn.... to show me what a good cat he is... and he usually gets treats... so he's used to being rewarded for his work....
2007-12-22 19:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny's Girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only way of preventing your cat from killing birds is to maintain him interior the abode, and not in any respect permit him out returned. basically to permit you recognize, I stay in a huge city, and there are hundreds of pigeons that stay in the city besides. They defecate on each little thing. the abode that I stay in is surrounded by grass, timber and timber. certainly one of my cats, that's an in-door purely cat, escaped as quickly as, and stayed away for 7 days and nights. while he back, he developed a lump decrease than his chin that had an abscess. I took him to the vet. The vet took a biopsy of the lump. while the lab outcomes got here returned, the vet instructed me that my cat had a tumor decrease than his chin and on his tongue. He operated on my cat, and stated the tumors have been very complicated to get rid of, yet that all and sundry the tumors were effectively bumped off. The lab pointed out the tumors as having been led to by the funghi modern in pigeon droppings. Our house is surrounded by pigeons and their droppings. curiously, my cat had basically inhaled the dried pigeon droppings, and that's how the tumors developed. One solid rationalization why cats could desire to be saved indoors. And definite, birds carry illnesses which will properly be decreased in length by cats and different animals.
2016-10-09 02:33:49 · answer #6 · answered by lansey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats do things on their terms. They are wild but acknowledge the relationship. Cats only bring presents to friends. Trust me, they appreciate the food but just aren't the domesticated type you're used to.
2007-12-22 18:15:53 · answer #7 · answered by towanda 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cats or any animal , hunt for their prey. Since you are a " Mother". to them or ( he/she ) they want to contribute to the pack or the family. When they bring a dead animal there showing you they caught somthing and they look for praise.
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2007-12-22 18:12:28 · answer #8 · answered by Alexis 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When the cat brings you dead prey its their way of saying you are a poor hunter and are not capable of hunting for yourself. Its just their way of saying you better start chasing birds.
2007-12-22 20:45:26 · answer #9 · answered by jarrett n 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When a cat brings you something like that it is a gift to you.
2007-12-22 18:11:16 · answer #10 · answered by bjsuno 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋