My cat wont stop bringing me "presents"?

Question

EVERYTIME, I open the door to get the mail or something, there is a dead mouse or bird on the front step. It's really getting on my nerves, and we don't know what to do anymore, and also, we don't know what to do with the "dead bodies". We have a field behind our house, thats where she's getting the mouses by the way.

Answer 1

maybe it is seeking praise? what you could do is push her nose near the dead "present" then spank her a little each time she does it, after awhile it will get the idea, that is what my mom did to my cats and they stopped

Answer 2

My cat did the same thing and stopped as she got older

Answer 3

She is doing it because she loves you, to her she is offering you food so you will not starve. Just wrap the gifts in a paper towel and toss them in the trash.  She probably will not stop , because it is her instinct to feed the ones she loves.My cat brought a big rat in to my bed  , how thought full she is. lol  

Answer 4

well at least your present wasnt alive like mine was.......LOL mine was a big bird.Definatley try the bell collar

Answer 5

It is always such an honor for a cat to love you enough to bring you things they worked hard to hunt for....it is a sign of affection, much like when a cat trusts you enough to let you watch them take a bath.  My cats used to do that, too:  the old tabby brought dead moths from the balcony and the Siamese girl used to bring me dead hamsters and mice (have no clue how she got a hold of the neighboring kids' pets).  What you can do is first say, "Thank you," and then throw them out a bit later, when they're NOT looking.  Then I trained the Siamese girl to be an indoor cat and she completely stopped.  With the old tabby, I simply snapped a firm "No!" every time I witnessed him play with the moths before killing it (it was just too gruesome to see) and he got the hint after a few times.  If he ever did any more killing, at least he never showed me the dead bodies again.

Answer 6

The presents are just part of its way of showing you how much it apperciates you.

Answer 7

As with any dead body, it is appropriate to give it a proper send-off to the great beyond.  (Kim's words)

My Afghan Hound, Nathan, started bringing home dead animals when I went away to college.  My Mom was pissed and made me get rid of him because she didn't like neighbors coming over with guns.  Nathan thought he was doing something good.  The neighbors thought otherwise.

Throw the mice away.  Pet your cat.  Say, "Thank You".  Get over it.  Your cat thinks it is doing you a favor.

Answer 8

On your "nerves"?  How do you think these animals feel that your cat keeps murdering?   Pet cats make a HUGE impact on local songbird populations because they hunt for sport - not for food.  Is it really OK to you that your cat is killing all the birds off?

How about keeping your cat indoors where it belongs?  It's only a matter of time before your cat ends up being the prey instead of the hunter or hit by a car, shot at, poisoned, ripped up by a loose dog, catches a disease from another cat, etc, etc.

Edit: contrary to what some are suggesting do NOT get a bell collar.  Not only can a cat quickly learn to move as to not make the bell ring but that collar can end up strangling and killing your cat should it get caught on something.

Answer 9

LOL! She loves you! XD

The collar with the bell is a good idea. If you live somewhere where she's apt to her surroundings and there's not many wild predators declawing can help too, giving the creatures a more fair chance. ^^* There is not much you can do when you let the cat become an outside cat but put the little bodies in the garbage with a sigh. You're not around to reinforce behavior when she's out and about sadly.

I wouldn't surmise it has anything to do with her thinking she is feeding you as much as it makes her feel like she's in control of her area though. I find it heartwarming but amusing that people think animals consider things that thoroughly. She just does what she does naturally and after wards isn't hungry so doesn't eat them. It says that you take care of and feed her well. Hahah!

At least you know she brings her snacks to the doorstep and sits there in waiting with it instead of wandering around outside forever. She still likes coming home and the critters haven't gotten brought indoors yet.. ^.^*

Answer 10

Just thank the cat, hes trying to take care of you and show his love. DO NOT get him a bell collar however if he is an outdoor cat. No problem with the bell, but I have seen many a cat owner devastated from the death of their pet when its collar got stuck on something outside and it hung itself!

Answer 11

Look, I know it's gross but the cat is bringing you a present believe it or not. Usually the cats will eat the mice so the fact that she's not and she's bringing them to you means she really loves you. Cats are like that.

Answer 12

Unfortunately cats do that. About the only thing I can suggest is to get her a collar with a bell on it - if you haven't already.