Every cat owner has at least once faced this strange and a little frightening moment: a furry hunter returns from a walk proudly carrying a dead mouse, a bird in his teeth or, on particularly "lucky" days, a whole collection of birds and rodents can be found on the doorstep. But why do pets give such "gifts" to their owners?
At first glance, it may seem that
a cat brings home prey due to lack of food. However, in most cases, it's not about
starvation at all. Even a well-fed and well-groomed cat can suddenly turn into an agile hunter - its instincts are not dormant.
Predators by origin
"Cats are natural born predators," explains Dr. Stephanie Liff, a veterinarian and medical director of Pure Paws Clinic in New York City. Although cats were domesticated more than 10,000 years ago, they have retained the habits of their wild ancestors. And one of their most enduring instincts remains the urge to hunt. It is embedded in their behavior at the genetic level - hunting is not just a means of survival, it is part of their nature.
Even if a cat spends its whole life in a cozy apartment, it will chase a moving object at the first opportunity - be it a toy on a string or a living creature on the street. Hunting for a cat is not so much a way to feed itself as a way to fulfill an innate need.
Theories and hypotheses about cat behavior
There are several scientific hypotheses to explain this behavior. One of the most common views is that cats' behavior is related to their maternal instinct.
In the wild, mother cats go out to hunt and then bring food to their kittens: not only is this a way to feed the younger generation, but it's an opportunity for them to play and practice hunting and recognizing prey.
Emmanuelle Baudry, an urban ecologist at the University of Paris-Saclay, believes that house cats may perceive their owners as not-so-intelligent "kittens" who need help. That is, when a cat brings home a dead animal, it is literally saying, "Here, I took care of you."
Dr. Liff adds: "It's a kind of compliment. The cat feels safe in your home and sees you as part of its family."
Photo: fishki.net
There is also another hypothesis: some cats bring prey home because they consider the home a safe place where they can eat or hide food in peace. This is an instinctive behavior - in the wild, predators often take prey to the den so that no one can take it away.
All cats are different
Interestingly, the hunting habits of domestic cats can vary greatly. Some cats hunt regularly and bring home "prey" almost every day, while others do it rarely or never at all.
In a 2023 study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, scientists led by Beaudry found that this behavior depends on the animal's personality. Active, dominant and aggressive cats are more likely to bring home dead animals. But shy, calm and human-oriented pets - much less often.
In addition to temperament, hunting tendencies are influenced by the environment and the behavior of the owners themselves. A cat living in a village with lots of space and wildlife will almost certainly be a more successful hunter than its urban counterpart, which is restricted in its movements and under constant supervision.
Is it possible to train a cat to fetch prey
It is impossible to stop ancient instincts completely, but it is quite realistic to reduce the frequency of "surprises". One of the main tips of experts is to limit the cat's access to potential prey. Simply put, keep it at home, especially in the season of activity
birds and rodents. It is necessary to remove bird feeders from the site - they attract live prey like a magnet.
Photo: livescience.com
But simply forbidding hunting is not enough. A cat needs an outlet for its energy and the fulfillment of its hunting instincts in a safe form. Interactive toys, training devices, food puzzles imitating the behavior of the victim - all this will help the animal to stay active and satisfied without harming the environment. It is important to realize that hunting domestic cats are not only unpleasant gifts on the carpet, but also a serious environmental threat.
According to scientists, domestic cats kill billions of birds and mammals every year, and on some islands they have caused the complete extinction of native species.
In addition, dead prey can be dangerous for the cat: parasites, viruses, bacteria and even diseases such as rabies or bird flu can be transmitted by eating infected animals. Therefore, keeping a cat in the house is not only about the environment, but also about the pet's health.
The next time a cat brings a dead animal into the house, you need to realize that it's a natural instinct and potential form of affection, and that there are ways to prevent such unwanted gifts. "If you don't want to see this behavior, you need to limit their access to displaying it," Liff says.