Why Your Cat Brings Live Mice Home: Not a Gift, But a Lesson
- Written by Annette Berger
- ⏱️ 2 Min Read
Offering small rodents to their owners, a curious cat behavior to display or gift its kills to humans. - Offering Small Rodents to Human Companions: A Feline Tradition?
There's nothing more thrilling than watching your feline friend in action, pouncing and playfully tormenting a small, helpless creature. But when the bloodcurdling spectacle ends, your heart sinks—your cat has brought a live mouse, bird, or frog home. It's not uncommon to feel a pang of sympathy for the hapless prey, and perhaps even see the cat's behavior as cruel. However, let's delve into the murky depths of your cat's psyche to understand this instinctual behavior.
Cats are efficient hunters, their primal instincts undiminished even in the comfort of their modern homes. Catching prey is an integral part of a cat's life, the intensity of which varies depending on the cat's personality. Some cats and tomcats focus on hunting, while others couldn't care less.
The Curious Case of the Live Prey
So, why does it have to be a live animal? Well, nobody has managed to get a straightforward answer out of a cat yet, but ethologists are hot on the trail of this mystery.
The hypothesis is that cats don't gift live prey to their humans as an act of kindness but to teach them something; namely, how to hunt. Cats regard hunting as a crucial skill for survival, and their human counterparts, in their eyes, are woefully unprepared. So, by presenting live prey, they are passing on their ancient wisdom, albeit misguidedly.
German and British behavioral researchers further explain this phenomenon. They believe that cats are more prone to hunting when they have kittens. The older the kittens get, the more frequently adults present their prey alive to their offspring to guide them in their hunting journey. This instinctive behavior seems to be transferred to the household, including humans, as part of the family.
An Obedient Household Member
If your cat or tomcat brings home a live animal at some point, remember—it's a lesson in disguise. Some humans, armed with their own set of skills, can actually catch the live mouse and, in a noble twist, release it back into the wild. The mouse would undoubtedly be overjoyed, but your cat's reaction can only be imagined.
Cats are known to have a significant influence on their household dynamics. When your cat or tomcat presents live prey as a token of knowledge, it is indicative of their bossy nature and their belief that they are responsible for the well-being of their family.
References:
- "Tiergesund.de"
- "Pet-Happy-com"
Photos: Cats and Wildlife Coexisting in Urban Environments
- Cat
- Mouse
- Housecat
- Hunting behavior
- Birds
- The article explains that cats may bring live prey home not as a gift but to teach their human counterparts, including you, about hunting – a crucial survival skill in a cat's lifestyle.
- Even if you're successful in catching and releasing the live mouse your cat brings home, it's a sign that your cat considers itself a leader within the home, responsible for the well-being of its human family. [Home-and-garden, Pets]
