Toy "hunting" - does your cat do this?

[spooky3]

One of my kitties was adopted about 5 years ago at about age 6, from a group who rescued him after he was dumped outside mid-winter (no front claws and neutered), poor little guy. After he settled in, despite being given as much canned and dry food as he wanted (and he rapidly gained weight), he would hunt the crickets that sometimes got in the basement and bring them (alive) to me, complete with audio (a funny throaty meowing sound). Since we've gotten rid of the crickets, though, he brings one or more of his four favorite toys - always the same ones - to my general location, with the same sound effects.

I know a lot of kitties do this, and some people think it is for attention or "to earn their keep", etc. I do make a big fuss over what a good kitty he is when he does it. But now there's a new twist to this pattern. He has been doing this mainly (but not exclusively) after we have turned in for the evening, so he is apparently not doing it "for the attention" (though he does love attention). I decided to start putting the toys back in the toy box (which he can access) first thing in the morning. Now I find that if I leave during the day - even if it is just for an hour (I work at home a lot), he picks up each of the four toys and puts them in the same general spot, e.g., the living room, where I find them upon return. So once again, it's not for (immediate) attention. Funny, he started the pattern again while I was typing this, and has brought two of the four out so far.

Do you think he's bored or anxious? Does anyone else have a cat who does this?

[AZBlue]

1. He might still be doing it for attention?

Even though you're asleep, cats don't really pay attention to that fact, LOL, so he might still be hoping for a "good boy." And he seems to do it when he doesn't have your full attention, so maybe it is still a way of interacting with you.

[spooky3]

3. Good point that they don't know/care you are trying to sleep!

It could also be that he still doesn't get that us non-cats can't be persuaded to stay up at night or get up in the middle of the night, just for fun. At least not at this age...

He has a lot of health problems (mostly with his heart and IBD) so I am glad that he seems active and happy, and hope he's not anxious or bored.

[ThingsGottaChange]

2. I've often wondered about this

One of my tortie girls does this all the time. It's always the same string or a couple of other toys. The behavior was the same as if she were bringing food to her babies. (she's never had any and is spayed) So, I just took it to mean that I was her baby and she was bringing me food (dead mouse, ugh!?) I always thank her and pet her and it makes us both feel good!

[spooky3]

4. it's funny, isn't it? He does love attention at all times (not cuddling,

just following him around, getting him water from the faucet, letting him out in the (fenced) back yard, or just talking/singing to him). So I guess I will just read it as another fun behavior for him and not as anxiety or boredom.

[ceile]

5. My mom's cat does this.

She'll "hunt" her toys during the day too, but usually it's late at night. When I stay over, I get woken up to her "I got it! I got it!" high pitched squeak.

[spooky3]

6. She's keeping your mom's house safe from evil predators!

you only have to worry if she bites your toe and tries to drag you out as her prey! :-)

[demnan]

7. Yes

Years ago when Lily was young and was an indoor/outdoor cat with a large backyard she used to actually sneak mice in and bring them to me to teach me to hunt. At three in the morning no less.

Pad Thai hunts sparkley balls (rolled up foil) and he likes for me to throw and he retrives the ball. One night around 3 he stuck it in my ear to wake me up so I would play with him. This behavior has (thankfully) diminished as he's gotten older.

[spooky3]

8. ha! So it's a lesson? I have had 2 kitties who would retrieve balls.

One liked aluminum foil; the other liked the small bouncy rubber balls you can get at PetSmart. But at least this behavior made sense to me, i.e., "I want to play; play with me!" I just don't get the purpose of the toy drops. My current kitty sometimes likes me to stroke him with the toys when he brings them (three are soft cloth hearts and kittens, the other is a soft little squirrel that once had catnip inside). But if I throw them gently away from him, on the hunch that he wants to play, he just stares at them and then at me, as in "are you crazy?"

Back to your story about mice - NPR has a show featuring an animal behaviorist and friend, with call-ins. I always laugh when people call in to ask what to do when kitties make these 3 AM visits. How can we get them to stop?? they ask. The answer is always the same: have you tried shutting the door? You can't stop them!

[Tammie]

9. My old girl Dixie used to do this

I figured she was bringing me toys to show affection. One time, after I was in the hospital for a week she brought every toy she owned up on the bed my first night home. And every night after she would bring toys but not as many. I used it as a barometer of how I was doing. the less toys, the better she thought I was feeling. LOL We called her Nurse Dixie after that. She was such a good girl. It's been nearly a year since she's been gone and I still miss her.

[spooky3]

10. What a sweet story! No wonder you miss her.

[Bluestar]

11. My 7-year-old tuxedo, Pepper, does this

She won't play with toys but took to dragging an old silk scarf that I have around the house shortly after we rescued her. The scarf is about 36" square, so it dwarfs her in size. Also, she makes that "chirping" noise when she watches the birds. I don't think there is anything wrong with your cat, just typical cat behavior.

Some are hunters, others are not. Bringing us objects is just natural behavior. The chirping was new for me, and I've had cats all my life. I think it might be exclusive to "bird" cats rather than "mouse" cats. Pepper is only interested in bird meat like chicken or turkey--beef or other red meat makes her sick. And the noise she makes is similar to a bird chirping.

[spooky3]

12. That's funny about the scarf!