Cats bring in dead animals as gifts?

Question

OK, so, not too long ago my cat brought in a live bird. I wasn't at home at the time but my aunt tried to save it, but my cat ran under my bed. My aunt eventually saved the bird and let it outside, and it flew away.
What I'm wondering is, was my cat bringing this bird as a gift or was it just his prey? It certainly didn't look like he wanted to give it to us.
Also, today, my two dogs brought in a dead baby possum.We discovered it when we got home from getting something to eat. Was this also a gift, or did they just kill to kill?
My dogs are not the aggressive type, (They're both Boston Terriers) but they can get pretty hyper.

Thanks a lot!

Curious · Accepted Answer

Cats will bring home animals as gifts if for some reason they think you don't have a lot of food in your house.  Sometimes if they aren't getting enough food they think that you need help and they bring food to you.  I think they normally leave it dead on the door step if it is a gift.  This isn't always the case...they also have hunting instincts and may be just going after animals for the pure thrill of it.  I don't know that much about dogs...I have one but he has never killed anything.  I think the breed has a lot to do with their behavior.

Anonymous · Answer

Wow, your lucky you have baby opossums around! I wish i did, anyway about the "gifts" i know of cats bringing gifts but i don't think i have ever heard of dogs doing it. The cat bringing the live bird is kind of weird but my guess is that it wanted to play with the Bird before it killed and/or ate it. 

the dogs on the other hand, could have killed the opossum or found it, but i think they were just taking it with them as a toy or chew, you know? dog like to leave there toys and chews around and just walk away. i might be wrong but those are my best guesses.

I hope i helped a little!

Lillian S · Answer

Been there! 
I think they bring it in to show off...maybe like a gift, but more like they want you to be proud of them.

But cats have a tendency to not kill the prey, first they want to play with it, and then kill it.

Morgan J · Answer

Well my grandmothers cat would watch her in the garden trying to get rid of the moles and the next day cloe (the cat) would leave her a dead mole on the front door mat.so yes sometimes i think they do leave it for you as a gift.but not always

❥❤ Pℜêcïøu§ mª®îa §nøw PЯï∩ce§§ · Answer

Sometimes it is possible because remember their animals and animals have their instincts and they will listen  to it or maybe who knows he was bored and decided to do that but if it gets more serious contact a vet because he may be aggressive and you might not know it

Þ€Ð®Ø · Answer

pets bring animals to you to show you that they like you such as birds, rats, squirrels, and even opossums, just that they like you once you take the animal give it to them so they could eat it

Cole W · Answer

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Cats bring in dead animals as gifts?

7 Answers