The Scientific Reason Your Cat Brings Home Dead Animals (It's Actually Pretty Cute)

Finding a dead rodent, bird, or reptile at your feet is one experience many cat owners have shared. While this probably isn't your ideal situation, your cat has pure intentions for bringing you this deceased creature. A large part of this hunting behavior is instinctual, dating back to their ancestors long before they were domesticated. One of the main reasons cats have always been natural born hunters is due to the fact that they are obligate carnivores. This means that they survive only on meat, therefore having no choice but to hunt before they lived with humans.

Due to a cat's size, they typically only have the ability to hunt smaller creatures, and because of this, need to hunt more frequently to fulfill their nutritional needs. If you notice your cat enjoys eating smaller meals rather than one big one, it's probably due to this natural habit. This could also be a reason why your cat brings home a dead animal and just leaves it be, as they have an instinct to stock up on meat due to the amount of small critters they must consume in order to meet their needs. Your cat may have happier mealtimes at home than in the wild; however, this strong prey drive is embedded in them, so they will often still feel compelled to go out and hunt even if they aren't necessarily hungry.

While a dead animal probably isn't the best present you've ever received, in your cat's head, they're actually doing you a favor. There are multiple reasons a feline might bring you their prey, and you should actually feel pretty honored that your kitty wants to share their precious catch with you. Spoiler alert: It means they love you.

Cats are often social creatures, but they are selective when it comes to choosing who they want in their circle. Even if they're part of a pack, cats have always been known to do all their hunting solo. Because of this, they feel the need to bring back their catches to share with their loved ones. So, when your kitty brings you one of these critters, it's not to gross you out, but because they have chosen you as a member of their family and want to share their prized possession with you. They might also be trying to share their hunting skills, as they want you to be able to fend for yourself in order to survive. How sweet is that?

When cats bring back their prey to show off, sometimes the little animal might not actually be dead. If this happens, be sure to separate your cat from the creature to allow it to get out of your home safely. The same goes for dead prey — dispose of it quickly to prevent your feline from experiencing any potential issues (cats could get a stomach ache or upset stomach) if they were to eat it.

Even if you appreciate the gesture, chances are good that you would prefer not to have dead animals in your home. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this behavior. One of the easiest approaches is to simply leave your feline indoors, especially from dusk to dawn, as that is when they are typically the most active. Your cat is always going to have hunting instincts, and playing with them will allow your pet to take their prey drive out on something that isn't alive. Some of the best toys for your cat to play with include kicker toys, wands, and any other that allows them to utilize their hunting abilities. It's important to play with your cat enough to prevent them from hunting (and so they don't get bored). Ideally, you should spend a few short sessions of around 10-15 minutes each playing with them each day.