- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
You might love receiving chocolates or flowers as gifts. But, unfortunately, your cat doesn’t get the memo. Instead, they proudly show you tiny mice, chipmunks, or birds. But, while your cat bringing you a dead animal might not seem like the most thoughtful gift, their intentions are probably pure. “As strange as it sounds, cats bringing you a dead animal is actually a very sweet behavior,” says Joey Lusvardi, certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Class Act Cats. Your cat might be showing their affection in their own (admittedly, gross) way. Cats bring dead animals to show us how to hunt, like they would their feline family or offspring.
If you’re curious to learn more, read on to discover three possible reasons why your cat brings you dead animals as gifts. Plus, get tips on discouraging this behavior and safely disposing of your cat’s presents.
Why Do Cats Bring You Dead Animals?
Lusvardi says there are a few schools of thought about why cats bring dead animals. While we can’t directly ask cats why, he explains that one of the following explanations could be at play.
They’re instinctive hunters
Your little hunter comes by their behavior naturally. Hunting is so deeply ingrained that many cats will do it even when not hungry. So when cats hunt for fun, bringing the fruits of their labor home is only natural.
However, Lusvardi says if your cat is hungry or experienced food insecurity in the past, they may be less likely to share their kill with you and might instead hide it away for later.
They’re trying to nurture you
“Mother cats will bring their kittens dead or severely maimed prey as a way of getting them used to hunting when they’re a few weeks old,” Lusvardi explains. This allows kittens to practice on an easy target and hone their hunting skills.
So, when your cat brings you dead animals, it might be because they think you’re a terrible hunter and want to help you practice. While that might sound a bit insulting on the surface, it’s one of many ways cats show you their love.
“Being a bad hunter is a survival threat,” Lusvardi adds. “So your cat’s letting you know they want to help you survive.”
They view you as part of the group
Feral cats often live together in groups called colonies. In these groups, female cats often care for kittens that don’t belong to them, and kittens usually eat first in a social group.
By gifting you a dead animal, Lusvardi says, your cat might be trying to signal that you’re part of their group. Essentially, they might view you as part of the pack — or clowder.
Is Hunting or Bringing Home Dead Animals Risky for Cats?
While hunting and gifting dead animals is a natural behavior for cats, that doesn’t mean it comes without risks. “Cats risk getting injured depending on what type of prey they’re going after,” Lusvardi explains. For example, they might fight with a venomous snake or contract a parasite from an infected animal.
Beyond potentially harming themselves, your cat’s hunting habits could also impact your local wildlife. According to research published in Nature, domestic cats kill anywhere from 1.3–4 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion small mammals annually in the United States. This makes cats one of the country’s most significant non-human causes of animal death.
Moreover, most animals cats prey on are native species, which can have severe consequences in ecosystems that evolved without felines in the food chain. In short, it’s best to curb your cat’s hunting habits.
iStock/SunRay BRI Cattery RU
How to Stop Your Cat from Bringing You Dead Animals
According to Lusvardi, since hunting is so deeply ingrained in cats, you won’t be able to stop the behavior entirely. That said, there are a few ways you can discourage your cat from bringing you presents in the first place.
1. Restrict outdoor time
The easiest way to stop your cat from hunting is to keep them inside. They can’t bring them back to you if they don’t have access to critters outside. That said, if you still want your cat to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, you can provide controlled outdoor access as a compromise by doing the following.
- Walking them on a leash or harness
- Letting them hang out in an outdoor tent
- Installing a catio
- Supervising them while they’re outdoors
Granted, your cat might still hunt if they encounter an animal or two. But, if they’re under your supervision outside, they’ll likely do it much less.
2. Increase playtime
Alternatively, you might try to curb your cat’s hunting instinct by satisfying it in other ways. For example, breaking out a wand toy perfect for chasing and batting. By stalking and pouncing on the toy, your little hunter can engage their instincts without harming a real animal.
Lusvardi says adding just one to two short play sessions every day could help make a difference in curbing your cat’s desire to hunt.
3. Offer enrichment toys
If you’re running low on time or want a way to entertain your cat while you’re out, certain enrichment toys could help your cat entertain themselves without having to bring dead animals inside. These options include the following.
- Puzzle toys
- Balls and track toys
- Electronic toys, like automatic lasers
iStock/krblokhin
How to Safely Dispose of Your Cat’s Dead Animal Gifts
Sometimes, preventing your cat from hunting is easier said than done. So, if your kitty dropped a fresh new “gift” on your carpet, how should you get rid of it?
Rodents like mice and rats can carry diseases that humans can contract. So, the CDC recommends covering your hands with plastic bags or gloves when picking up the dead rodent. You can then put the mice or rats into a plastic bag and toss it into the garbage. From there, you can clean the surrounding area with pet-safe cleaning products.
If your cat brings home a dead bird, you may need to call your state health department so they can test the bird for avian flu. Otherwise, you can dispose of the bird the same way you would a mouse or rat.
Cleaning up dead animals may not be a fun chore. But remember, your cat didn’t bring home a kill to make your life harder. Instead, they most likely give you gifts because they view you as one of their favorite people or want to help you level up your hunting skills.
