Some cat behaviours can be difficult to understand: why do they suddenly jump up and run from one end of the house to the other, why do they knead your lap or the cushion when they’re relaxing, why do they meow in the middle of the night? Perhaps most pressingly of all, why on Earth do they insist on leaving dead (or dying) prey on the doorstep?
- Why do cats drag dead animals and other objects into the house?
- Are they trying to feed you? How can you prevent this behaviour?
These are all questions that most cat owners ask from time to time. If you want to find out what’s going on — and how to dissuade Kitty from leaving half a vole on the bedside table again — keep reading.
Your cat’s gift-giving: what you need to know
Why does my cat bring me things? “Things” in this case typically translates to “dead rodents, birds and other small animals”. That said, cats do sometimes bring their human caregivers’ other objects: some drop off toys or other small items they can carry easily, such as bottle-caps or leaves. While gifts like these are cute and quirky, dead and moribund prey animals are less so.
To understand why your cat persists in this behaviour, we need to consider feline psychology. When feral cats have their druthers, they form sprawling semi-matriarchal colonies. All the colony members hunt at will. When they’ve eaten sufficient prey to feel satiated, they don’t stop hunting but bring surplus prey back to the colony.
There will always be some colony members who can’t hunt — old, injured or sick cats and recent mothers, for instance. There are also younger cats who have been weaned but aren’t very skilled at hunting yet, and who might go hungry if they don’t get a little help. (This, by the way, is the source of that notoriously insatiable feline prey drive. Many people condemn cats as “greedy” or “cruel” because they keep on hunting even when they’re properly fed.
The fact is that in feral colonies, it makes sense for successful hunters to keep on snatching as much prey as they can because every extra mouse or bird is vital nourishment for their colony-mates.) In a domestic scenario, the colony is replaced by a human household. The cat is fed and has access to abundant nutrition; therefore, it makes perfect sense for Kitty to trot home with a freshly-caught mouse now and then.
If you have an indoor cat — and you really should — the urge to offer surplus prey can be transferred to other objects: toys, small pieces of plastic trash, leaves and items such as socks or gloves may all be “caught” and delivered to the cat’s human colony-mates in lieu of deceased rodents. One of my friend’s cats insists on bringing her the large plastic rings from milk bottles; another likes to “catch” a particular chew-toy, deposit it in the kitchen and then meow until my friend comes in and gratefully accepts the prize.
How can I stop my cat from bringing dead animals home?
First of all, don’t punish your cat for doing this. She won’t understand and it’s not fair on her. All you’ll do is convince her that you aren’t to be trusted. What you need to do is get to the root of the problem: you’re receiving the gift of a tasty shrew because your cat has caught more prey than she can even eat. The best way to stop her from bringing prey home is to prevent her from catching them in the first place.
My recommendation would be to keep your cat indoors, which protects small birds and animals from her and protects her from the many threats represented by the great outdoors. As much as I adore cats, I would be hard-pressed to deny that they can absolutely lay waste to the local wildlife. Outdoor cats catch and kill an astonishing number of birds and animals — it’s really shocking. On the flip side, cats themselves are at risk every time they step outside of the house.
The mildest threats they face are internal and external parasites, such as fleas, ticks and worms. Traffic accounts for a large number of cat injuries and deaths, with large and aggressive dogs being another hazard. Other cats can do a surprising amount of damage. There are also cruel and abusive humans who’ll cheerfully harass, hurt or even kill a domestic cat. You can easily compensate for the loss of freedom by providing entertainment in the form of toys and play equipment.
I keep my cats indoors and they’re perfectly happy to scramble around their cat tree or the tops of the book-cases. I understand that some cats don’t do well indoors, however; in the following sections, we’ll look at alternatives to keeping your cat inside full-time.
I don’t want dead birds on the doorstep but my cat hates being cooped up. What can I do?
If you’re reluctant to confine your cat, building her an outdoor enclosure to run around in will give her exercise and fresh air while also limiting her access to small, crunchy “gifts”. You can buy enclosures ready-made or construct your own from inexpensive DIY supplies. Even if you’re not terribly handy, it’s easy enough to create a roofed-over section of your garden with simple chicken-wire and wooden batons.
Another option is to harness-train your cat and take her for walks on a lead. Do use a harness, by the way — it’s safer, more comfortable and more secure than trying to use a collar and lead. Don’t try to wrestle your cat into a harness without proper