Why Do Cats Bring You Dead Mice? And How To Stop It?

A common question we get is why cats bring in dead mice—and even more importantly, why do cats like to bring dead things into your home?

My cat has always brought me dead mice. I know it’s not very nice, but I love my kitty. This is the only time when she brings me dead mice. It makes me feel like I’m her favourite friend. She loves me so much that she even brought me dead mice.

In this article, I’ll be talking about why cats bring dead mice to you. It all starts with the fact that they see things that we don’t.

Why Do Cats Bring You Dead Mice?

Cats Are Hunters

It’s in a cat’s nature to hunt. They can’t help but go for and capture every tiny animal or bird they come across.

As a result, many cat toys are shaped like mice or birds. Their predatory instincts are piqued as a result.

They perform admirably as well. It’s believed that each year in the United States alone, cats kill somewhere over one billion small animals.

No matter how long or how many generations a cat has been in a home, it will always feel the urge to kill and eat small animals.

Cats Like to Bring You Gifts

It is the mother cat’s job to educate her kittens how to hunt and feed in the wild by bringing back prey, preferably while it is still alive.

Consider it a privilege if your cat brings you some of their catch from the day. It’s another sign that they consider you part of the family and an instinctive action.

Female cats may be returning home dead rats from their outside adventures, but male cats may not be.

Cats Like to Play with Live ‘Toys’

I’m sure you spend a lot of time having fun with your cat by playing with it and dangling toys for it to chase and jump on, but nothing beats the real thing.

To catch a mouse may be a pleasant and intriguing challenge for cats. Cats can’t catch them because of their small size, quickness, agility, and intelligence.

I’ve watched my cat spend hours following a hole in my yard where mice reside, all to fulfill its own desire for some fun and excitement.

Because of this, you may find your cat interacting with its catch. Even when no malice is intended, a delicate tiny mouse often meets an untimely end at the hands of a creature whose claws are razor keen.

What to Do If Your Cat Brings in a Mouse

The first thing to do if your cat brings a mouse into the house is to remain calm. Do your best not to stress out; your cat means well.

Inspect the situation to check if the mouse has persisted. If it’s still alive, it’s critical that you remove it as quickly and carefully as possible.

You may distract your cat with goodies, a toy, or simply a quick scoop and remove them from the area.

Make sure your cat isn’t there when you release the mouse outside, and give it a head start by keeping your cat inside for a bit.

After ensuring the rodent is dead, place it in a trash can with a secure cover. The chances are high that your cat or another predator will unearth it if you bury it in the garden.

How to Stop Your Cat Bringing Home Dead Mice

No matter how much love and care you give your cat, its predatory nature will always come out.

Only two choices are truly available to you;

Keep them indoors, as an indoor cat has little chance of catching any animals. However, if your cat is used to going outside, it is difficult and not advisable to make this move.

Cat collars typically have bells to deter cats from sneaking up on other animals in the dark. It’s helpful to have an idea of kitty’s whereabouts when it’s time to come in for the night.

The Thought Behind the ‘Gift’

To a cat, hunting is second nature. Even though housecats don’t have to catch their own food, they nevertheless love the thrill of the chase.

Some cats who hunt will proudly bring their prey to their owners, either to be eaten, used as a teaching tool, or given as a present. Sometimes the cats will even bring their prey to their owners while they are still alive.

In addition, cats are social creatures that want to divide and conquer. In particular, mother cats, who typically show their kittens the ropes of hunting and feeding themselves, are affected.

A cat will treat you like family by bringing you an animal they’ve caught, whether it’s living or dead. They know in their bones that this is essential to their survival, and they must teach these practices to their children.

Not being hungry is not a factor in this prey-catching behavior.

Toy mice, toys, and garbage cans are common examples of the non-edible prey that indoor cats “hunt.” Though they can’t be eaten, you could get one of these objects as a gift.

Redirecting Prey Drive With Toys

A cat’s inherent prey drive cannot be eliminated, but it may be channeled to other positive activities like play. This pastime satisfies a cat’s need to hunt rather than encouraging prey drive through play.

Feather wands, laser pointers, moving toys, and anything else that your cat feels compelled to attempt to catch will all serve to cognitively stimulate your cat’s innate prey drive.

Particularly important for a cat with a high hunting drive is mental stimulation. A predator will seek out other prey if it is deprived of its natural food source.

They might jump out at your feet as you walk by or even scale the window dressings in search of phantom prey.

Provide your cat with lots of playing every day to prevent it from reverting to its natural hunting ways.

This not only helps your cat get some exercise, but it also helps eliminate behavior issues like bringing mice or lizards to your door. Common health problems for indoor cats include obesity and lack of exercise.

Conclusion

Why do cats bring you dead mice? This is just a matter of psychology and social behavior. Cats were built to prey on mice—they don’t need to know why they are eating dead mice.

In fact, cats can live for years without knowing exactly why they’re eating. That’s the difference between a pet cat and a wild cat. Cats are predators, they need to know where to hunt.

source https://catshint.com/cats-bring-dead-mice/