Why Does My Cat Bring Home Dead Animals?

Since sharing our homes, the domestic cat intrigues as much as it fascinates. Despite the mellow cushions and the croquettes at will, some felines persist in bringing back dead or dying prey to the house. This seemingly incongruous behavior of the cat that brings back prey raises many questions about its origin, meaning and consequences. Behind this gesture lies an ancient heritage, much deeper than a simple whim of a repugnant hunter. A behavio…

Why Does My Cat Bring Home Dead Animals?

When we think of gifts, we hope for something shiny with a big red bow, or maybe a gift card worth more than its weight in caramel macchiatos. What we don’t want is a dead mouse covered in cat slobber dropped at our doorstep… or left on our bed, or thrust in our lap. But no matter how many times we jump back in disgust when our cats bring dead animals like they’re gifts, our cats don’t get the message. Dead mice, birds, snakes, and chipmunks con…