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Why Does My Cat Bring Me Toys? 6 Reasons Behind Your Cat’s Offerings

Do you ever wonder why your cat brings you toys? It’s a behavior that cats often exhibit, and there are several reasons behind it. Understanding this behavior is crucial for cat owners to strengthen their bond with their pets and provide proper care.

Cat carrying a toy mouse on a wooden cat playground, illustrating reasons for cat's offerings. Image credits: Arina Krasnikova

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Table of Contents

What Does It Mean When a Cat Brings You Things?

It’s common for cats to bring us gifts, whether it’s a toy or a dead mouse. This is a way for them to communicate with us and show us their love or to share their hunting success. Although it might seem strange to us, these are just some quirky ways cats express their affection towards their humans.

Highlights

Cats bring toys as express of affection and their natural hunting instincts.
Offering toys or prey is a cat's way of showing love, playing, or teaching you to hunt.
Acknowledging your cat's gift is crucial; it strengthens your bond.

Cat with toys on the floor, illustrating reasons behind a cat's offerings. Image credits: Noor Khalafy

Observe their behavior to understand better why your kitty is bringing you something. For example, if a cat brings you its favorite toy with its tail swishing and its ears slightly to the side, it is simply trying to play with you.

Cats communicate their emotions and need through various behaviors when interacting with us or other cats. It is important to understand these signals to care for our feline pets properly.

Why Do Cats Bring You Their Toys?

Calico cat on a bed with a toy mouse, illustrating reasons for cat toy offerings. Image credits: Joost

Instinctive Hunting Behavior

According to Dennis C. Turner’s and Patrick Bateson’s book “The Domestic Cat,” cats are natural hunters and have an innate instinct to hunt, which is hard-wired into their DNA. Even if they are domesticated, this instinct can’t be eliminated. Therefore, when your feline friend brings you toys or a catch, it displays its natural hunting skills. This behavior is entirely normal, and it’s just your cat’s way of expressing its instincts.

It’s a Sign of Love and Affection

Cats are known to be very affectionate creatures that express their love for their owners in various ways. One of the ways your furry companion might show you affection is by bringing you a gift, often accompanied by a purr and a gentle headbutt.

Gifts could range from their toys to dead animals. They also show affection by giving kitty kisses and meows, twitching their tail when they see you. Be sure to look for these signs to acknowledge their love and affection.

Your Cat Wants to Play

It’s not uncommon to see cats bringing toys to their owners when they’re bored and need some playtime. This is especially true if you’ve been out of the house for an extended period and haven’t had a chance to spend quality time with your furry friend. The gesture indicates that your cat craves your attention and affection and wants to engage with you as soon as possible.

Your Cat Is Teaching You How to Hunt

In the wild, mother cats bring their kittens injured or dead prey to teach them how to hunt. Your cat could also be trying to teach you how to hunt by bringing its toy to you.

Cat with a toy on a gray sofa, symbolizing reasons cats bring offerings. Image credits: NaNa Photography

Your Cat Sees the Toy as a Trophy

When your feline companion brings you a toy, it’s demonstrating its pride. To encourage this positive behavior, it’s important to acknowledge their efforts and offer them treats as a reward.

Your Cat Wants You to Fix the Toy

When your feline companion brings you a worn-out or damaged toy, it shows that it needs your attention. Whether it’s a plush toy that needs some fixing or a catnip toy that has run out of goodies, it’s crucial to take action by giving it the necessary repairs or replacements it needs. Ignoring your cat’s actions may cause it to feel neglected and unimportant.

It’s a Symbol of Authority

When your feline companion brings you dead animals, it might seem gross or disturbing at first, but it’s a sign of respect for your authority. As the pack’s leader, your cat sees you as the dominant figure, even indoors. So, by presenting you with these gifts, your cat admires you and your role as its leader.

Cat bringing a red toy into a kitchen, showcasing common feline behavior related to toys and gifts. Image credits: somberestofmuffins

Cats in the wild often share their prey with other social group members, such as their offspring or dominant members. If your cat brings you dead animals, they likely consider you a part of their “family” or social group and are trying to bond with you.

What To Do When Your Cat Is Bringing Toys?

Here are a few things to do when your cat brings you toys:

Engage in a play session. Encourage your cat’s natural hunting instincts by engaging them in interactive play with toys that mimic prey, such as toy mice.
Show appreciation. Demonstrate your affection for your beloved feline companion by showing them your love as they show it to you. You can pamper them with affectionate strokes and their favorite treats.
Enrich your cat’s environment. Surprise your pet with scratching posts, cat trees, hiding spots, and interactive toys.
Replace damaged toys. If your feline friend’s toys look a bit battered, it’s time for you to get some new cat toys.

What Not To Do When Cats Bring You Their Gifts

When your cat brings you one of their toys, it’s a sign of affection. It’s important to respond appropriately. Avoid scolding or ignoring them. Instead, show your gratitude and react positively so they feel encouraged to continue displaying their fondness for you in this way.

Why Is My Cat Bringing Me Dead Animals?

Cats are natural hunters, and their tendency to bring dead animals home replicates their wild hunting instincts. Even domesticated cats retain strong hunting instincts, making them proficient at stalking and capturing prey. Getting dead animals is a way for cats to show off their hunting prowess and an instinctual behavior from their wild ancestry.

Although this behavior is natural for cats, pet parents must discourage it since hunting live prey can harm animal populations and expose cats to risks like injury, poisoning from ingesting toxic animals, or diseases transmitted by wild animals. Here are a few tips to discourage this behavior:

Limit your cat’s time outside and keep them indoors during dawn and dusk, when prey animals are most active and foraging for food
Fit your pet with a cat collar with a bell attached to alert potential prey animals
Keep your cat on a leash when outside
When your cat brings dead animals indoors, calmly dispose of them without scolding or punishing your cat

FAQ

Why Does My Male Cat Bring Toys to My Bed at Night?

When your male cat brings toys to your bed at night, it’s their way of showing their affection and seeking your attention. To avoid any disruptions during the night, you may want to consider keeping the toys in a designated area.

What Does It Mean When Your Cat Is Meowing and Bringing Me Toys?

When a cat meows and brings you toys, it is asking for playtime. Engage with your cat through play sessions to foster their physical and mental well-being.

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I am a fifth-year veterinary medical student at the University of Ibadan, passionate about advocating for animal welfare and educating pet owners through my writing. I find joy in crafting content that promotes the well-being of pets. In my leisure time, I indulge in watching sitcoms and anime, while also cherishing moments with my 2-year-old Rottweiler, Chester.

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Cosmikid 9 months ago

Well. trained Ethologist here. I can claim many years of cat experience, with many cats. The ultimate acknowledgement of this was when my queen cat, knowing her kittens were premature - actually birthed one of them in my lap. Grabbed it, and put it with the previous 3, upstairs; but did not stop pestering me until I noticed that 'she had no milk yet. I quickly made some formula and started feeding them; 3 days later her milk came in and she took over. She knew and trusted me. There are a number of things in the present post I would not agree with - such as attempting to quash cats' hunting. That will never happen- and should not...

2points

WindySwede 9 months ago

So in short, BP should delete this post? 👍 (but also, I never trust any cat or dog posts here. Anyone can claim anything here 😶 )

0points

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You stole that from Robocop 9 months ago

There's nothing quite like waking up at night for a pee and playing the fun game "is that a toy or an animal I just stood on?". Cleaning a mouse off your foot at 3am is great fun.

1point