There are a few surprising activities that they can perform, from chasing a fragment of string to playing with a toy mouse and then offering you a present. Have you ever asked yourself why your cat offers you presents? If so, then you are definitely not the only person, because this question is often asked by pet lovers. Are they offering their presents to you? Are they asking you to play with them? Or maybe there is something else?
The fact of the matter is that there is no one specific reason behind this behavior, as there are several instincts and emotions involved. Imagine yourself being your cat, who is hunting for trophies. The good thing about this is that when most cats bring toys, it is often a very positive thing. This means that your cat feels at ease with you and would like to develop your relationship further. The knowledge on why this happens will help you deal with it properly.
Why Do Cats Bring Toys to Me?
Whenever your cat brings toys to you, this is among the ways that they use to communicate with their owners. Since they cannot communicate using words, they can only rely on acting. Bringing you a toy may either be an act of trust, playfulness, affection, or instinctiveness. Some cats even repeat this behavior of bringing toys to owners because it becomes a part of their day, so that’s why they usually do this with their special person.
It is now time to stop considering this as a random act and start considering it as the way your kitty tries to communicate with you. One must understand that the cat isn’t trying to move the toy from one place to another when the cats bring toys to you. There are those that do so quietly. But there are also those who run towards you while meowing with the toy in their mouth. Learning why they’re showing this behavior towards you, is actually helpful for you to understand your feline’s emotions and also helps you to strengthen your bond with your companions. It’s gonna build trust too between you and your feline friend.
How Cats Bring Toys Because of Their Hunting Instincts
Despite the fact that your cat is used to sleeping in a cozy bed and getting food on time, your cat is full of the instinct of hunting. Indeed, cats have always been wild cats and would hunt to survive. Your cat is still full of hunting instincts even with all the comforts of the home you provide him/her with. All these factors make your cat enjoy playing with such toys as feather sticks, balls, mice, and soft toys. The toys look like living beings, and thus your cat hunts, catches, bites, and drags them around the house.
Bringing toys to you may be a consequence of your cat completing the act of hunting, which was a daily routine in the wild. Since there is no live prey for your cat in this modern life, the toys are now in the place of the living being. Therefore, buying toys for your cat is the best option for your cat to satisfy his/her needs.
Reason no.1: Your Cat Is Giving You a Gift
One of the most beautiful reasons behind this action is that your cat is probably trying to give you a present. Even though the idea of receiving a toy mouse as a gift sounds ridiculous for many people, your cat thinks differently. As far as it is concerned, it has caught something interesting and is willing to share it with its dear one. Such actions show the generosity of your kitty. In nature, the cats share the prey with the family members from time to time. The only difference between the cat in nature and the domesticated one is that the former catches its prey while the latter catches some stuffed toys. However, when your cat drops its favorite toy at your feet, leaves and starts staring at you, you should not underestimate it. It may just want to express its affection towards you.
If your kitty gives you a present, the following signs can be observed:
- Dropping a toy close to your feet
- Staring at you after doing so
- Leaving after dropping a toy
- Doing the same with its favorite toys again and again
Reason no.2: The Cat Wants to Play with You
But there is another way you can interpret the fact that cats bring toys to the owner. They want to play with you. Indeed, the thing is that cats are quite smart animals, and communication with the owner is not a problem for them. As soon as the cat realizes that the described behavior leads to the fun game, it will try again. One more thing should be mentioned concerning the behavior of the cat: cats like interactive games as much as dogs do.
If at first some cats realize that bringing the toys is associated with the fun game and praise from the owner, then the next time when the cat comes up to you with its toy, pay attention to the following actions. Does the cat come to you, looking directly into your eyes? Or does the cat chirp, meow or tap on its toy with its paw? Clearly, this means that the cat asks you to play. Interactive games will entertain your cat, keep it healthy and make it confident.
And you know that playing with your pets for 15-20 minutes daily makes their day happier too! And it will be noticeable
Reason no.3: Cats will Love You Without a Doubt
Your pet cats will be able to give you unconditional trust. Cats express their feelings differently compared to dogs. They can give you slow blinks with eyes, sleep with you, rub themselves on your legs, and even offer you their favorite toy. By offering a toy, the cat shows its affection to you.
So the cat will try to give you something that is precious for him/her, because it does not matter what you are going to do with this toy, whether you are going to play with it or break it. The cats trust you and believe that nothing bad will happen to them from your side. It is like giving your favorite book to a friend, you will never give it to a stranger but to somebody you can trust. Remember everytime, when your cats bring toys in your feet or leave them in your feet, you actually won buddies! You’ve gained a special place in their life’s
Reason no.4: As They Take Pride in Their Hunting Accomplishments
Hunting pride is typical of any cat, regardless of whether she has had an opportunity to hunt outdoors or not. Whether or not the capture of the toy in the living room is the hunting activity of the cat is irrelevant here. Having caught the toy, the instinct of the cat compels him to carry it to some safe place where he can either store it or present it to someone. When cats bring toys to you that means they want to display their hunting skills. This means that the cat exhibits his hunting skills. In the same way that the child brings his drawing or work made in the school for his parents to see.
Such a habit develops over some time of playing with the cat. You will notice that your pet goes around the house with a toy in his mouth in search of a place to store it. At all, he does not care about your appreciation, he just wants to share his accomplishment with his loved ones. By giving your kitty the chance through interactive toys and playing, you will be able to allow him to express his instincts in the right way. Moreover, your pet will have some mental activity.
Reason no.5: Cats Bring Toys for Attention And Praise
Unlike the popular belief that an animal is independent, cats like positive interaction with those people who they consider friends. When cats bring toys to their owners or masters, they usually get encouraged by their masters who reward them for bringing the toy. It could be done through smiling, laughing, petting them, speaking in a happy tone, or by playing with the pet right away. In this way, the owner assures the cat that bringing toys brings enjoyment. That is why cats keep bringing toys because they understand that this seemingly small deed provides some attention, praise, or time spent together with their human. If your cat keeps bringing toys to you when you are busy working and watching TV while sitting comfortably on the couch, most probably the cat tries to grab your attention and not to distract you. The cat simply enjoys being noticed in positive ways.
The signs of such behavior are:
- Meowing after leaving the toy
- Attention to you
- Pawing the toy
- Being close to you
- Enjoyment caused by your reaction.
A few minutes of playing/petting will help you strengthen your relationship with your cat.
Reason no.6: Cats are following motherly Instincts
Another quite peculiar theory has got something to do with the behavior of the cats which is based on their maternal instincts. Naturally, in the wild, the kittens learn how to hunt from their mothers, as she instructs her kittens on stalking, chasing and killing their prey regardless of being alive or dead. Instinctively, some cats are able to repeat the whole process even when they play with their favorite toys though they never give birth to their own kittens in their lives.
According to some behavioral psychologists, if cats bring toys they are actually treating their owners as their relatives and see them as big kittens who have to learn hunting from them. Though the theory may sound ridiculous, it stresses out the innate behavior of the cats. It is necessary to mention that the cats do not laugh at you in any way, they just want to take care of you properly. The more caring the cats are, the more often they exhibit such behavior. Nevertheless, male cats can behave in such a way as well.
Reason no.7: They Have Made it a Part of Their Daily Routine
Cats love routine. They appreciate the feeling of knowing when and where they will be eating, playing, sleeping, and entertaining themselves together with their owners. Once the cats realize that some specific actions will be enjoyable for them, they will keep repeating these actions daily. Your pet may get into a habit of carrying toys to attract more attention from the owner and play with them. It is not surprising that your pet makes the mentioned action a part of his daily routine.
And sometimes owners notice the exact time when their cats bring toys to them. These all habits and routines ensure their adjustment with the environment and also they feel safe at your place. This way of behavior can be seen by some cat owners, as their pets get into a habit of carrying their toys daily. For example, your pet may get into a habit of carrying toys before sleeping since the cat realizes that this is the time for playing. Another reason for carrying toys is to meet you at the entrance of your house after you come back from work.
Some Common MYTHS About Why Cats Bring toys
Here are many popular misconceptions connected to this endearing cat behavior. It is time to distinguish the truth from fiction!
Misconception no.1: Cats Take Their Toys Only If They Are Hungry
It is not like this. No matter if a cat is hungry or not, it is likely to carry his/her toys to an owner because of natural instincts.
Misconception no.2: This Habit Occurs Only in Female Cats
No, this activity is typical for both males and females. Although the fact that some female cats do it because of maternal instincts, the importance of personality and learned behavior cannot be ignored as well.
Misconception no.3: Your Cat Looks at You as a Poor Hunter
This myth became a popular joke online. However, there is no scientific proof that cats have negative opinions about our hunting skills.
Misconception no.4: It Is Better Not to Notice this Behavior at All
Sometimes it may be helpful for your cat if you do not ignore him/her and pay more attention to his/her behavior.
Understanding about these truths may be helpful for owners to deal in a positive and supportive way when their cats bring toys for them.
Conclusion
It becomes significantly more fascinating for you to learn about the reasons why your cats bring toys to you. In case the cat wants to show its successful hunting abilities, wants to play with you, prove the trust, gain your attention, or fulfill the natural needs of a cat, every toy becomes a symbol. Instead of seeing this toy somewhere at your place and thinking of it as something regular, you need to see it in a new way and regard it as a small part of the special connection between you and your cat. With lots of playing opportunities, appropriate toys, and demonstrations of love and care, you can encourage good behavior and create a better connection with your pet. Cats have their own personalities, and thus there might be some differences in the reasons for each particular cat. In general terms, when your cat brings you toys, it means that it is happy and wants you to become a part of its life.
FAQ’S
1. Give some reasons that may explain why the cat brings toys to his owner.
The reasons why a cat may bring a toy are: love of you, playfulness, trust, and hunting instincts among others.
2. Is it normal for the cat to bring the toy daily?
Yes, it is normal because cats are habit forming animals, and if in the past the games were fun for it, then it will bring the toy daily.
3. Should I toss the toy to my cat if she is presenting it to me?
In case you notice that your cat is presenting you a chance to play with her, you should follow your cat’s action and toss the toy to her or maybe play with her yourself. On the one hand, it will make her happy, on the other hand, she will be able to exercise as well.
4. Why is my cat meowing at the toy which she holds in her mouth?
It might be because she is happy since she managed to catch her “prey.”
5. What shall I do if my cat starts to bring me toys abruptly?
Should there be other symptoms such as crying, hiding, being aggressive, changes in appetite, or being inactive, taking your cat to the vet and consulting with him may be considered an option, as bringing home toys can be a sign of stress or ill health.