Those little gifts from your kitty. Do they always arrive in pieces or are they sometimes very much alive?

~~ When it comes to cats & "gifts" it's always better to give than to receive, but don't forget....it's the thought that counts.

"Hulk" used to bring me entire rat families. They were always alive & well, and ready to homestead under my couch. But "Arlo" would behead them & leave me surprises under the bath-mat. His mother ,"Doppelganger" would bring me baby mice & tuck them under my covers on the bed. They were always stiff & cold as ice. When I screamed in surprise she would prance around all proud, waiting for my thanks and praise.

The feral cats around here leave me great gifts though. This sweet big sun - colored guy leaves me sticks. It's so cute too. He's a wild thing and is leery of most humans, but he knows this is a safe haven where he can always find a good meal & friendship. He's very shy and I have to be patient with him & keep my distance, but he is awesome & somebody I want to know. I saw him playing with sticks,so along with the food I keep out there for all cats, I left some toys. One day after he ate his food, he picked up the toy mouse & played like hell with it. I was watching from inside. Then he went to his hiding spot in the bushes & retrieved his stick. I watched as he carried it up to my front door & dropped it, and ran away. I went outside & made a big deal outta it. I felt his eyes on me as I went back inside. I still have that stick too. It's the greatest "gift" I have ever recieved in my life. When a cat gives you a gift, no matter what it is, it is the ultimate complimate. Don't forget to say thanks. ~~

I used to receive mouse heads now and again, birds they have brought in alive and then released so that everyone can join in the fun. One time one brought a mouse and let it go in the living room. That was an evening of excitement !

I have 14 resident cats

i had a cat bring me a live garter snake once so they will bring you live items as gifts i dont think momma will be coming for them so if you dont want them to die you should call your vet and see what you can do for them they will be able to tell you how to feed them for the next few weeks til they are old enough to be on there own then either find them homes which would be best or release them far from where your kitty roams preferably in a wooded area thats not around any houses with a water source nearby

The only thing my girls can hunt are insects. Sophie is quite the little hunter. I'm impressed with how she can track them.

However, the strays in my backyard are something else. I've often come across dead but intact birds, and once a cardinal head. That was kind of sad because cardinals are so pretty. But it's nature, red in tooth and claw, so there you go.

Impressive. But sadly, unless you want a mouse plague, or a fish tank full of pet mice to drive your cats mad, I think you'll have to be ruthless, get a carving knife ---- and chop off their heads. And I say this with great affection and admiration for meece, believe me! I've always called my daughter "Mouse" because she's both pretty and brave. Good luck! You'll have to teach your cats to kill and cook their own dinners.

I have never received gifts from my kitties. However when I was a kid if I found a baby bird who couldn't fly I hollared for my cat....so I guess you can say I presented gifts to my cat.

I'm sure I will get thumbs down but I was a kid and I thought I was doing right by feeding my farm cat.

My cat always leaves pieces...she's pretty vicious. Once I was out side & she pounced on a squirrel that was running through the yard. It was almost as big as her & she killed it instantly. Some cats are more playful though & will be more gentle.

My mighty huntress, Emmy Lou, likes to deposit her gifts very dead. In some cases, very, very dead. She appeared to eviscerate a bird and placed it on my doorstep on Saturday. I also get lizard pieces all over my patio. However, in her defense, she plays with the geckos until they die from exhaustion or being pounced on one time too many. The dismemberment comes postmortem...

Yes, I don't know which is worse live creatures or the beheaded ones. ;-( My cats are confined to the indoors now, much to their chagrin. They are rescue cats and we had to sign a paper saying they would be house cats. They do protect us from spiders and bugs, tho.

My cat likes to leave the liver of whatever he has eaten the night before on my doorstop.

He eats EVERYTHING else except that.