Norwegian Forest Cat

　　There was a very popular video on Weibo before, where a kind-hearted person rescued a stray cat. As a result, that stray cat frequently brought many small animals to him, many of which were already dead, which was both amusing and somewhat frightening. So why do cats catch things and bring them to their owners?

　　Both cared-for stray cats and domesticated cats exhibit this behavior. Is this the legendary "cat's repayment of kindness"? In one way, yes. Sharing food is a way animals express friendliness; on the other hand, it also shows that the cat considers your home very safe, so it can bring prey back. When a corpse of a mouse, sparrow, or the like, still warm, appears in front of you, many cat owners would be shocked instantly. Male cat owners probably look no better. However, cats never intend to disgust their owners deliberately; they do this to express their love.

　　1. Hunting is a cat’s nature

　　From the small ancient cat ancestor 60 million years ago to today’s lions, tigers, and house cats, felines have always insisted on a carnivorous diet. They disdain being omnivorous. Their movement systems have always evolved to run faster, walk lighter, and bite more lethally, and their digestive systems have only ever accepted meat. Regardless of whether cats are full or not, hunting is completely instinctive for them. Sometimes cats will pounce from corners to grab people's ankles, chase moving fluffy things fiercely, and stare at birds outside the window for hours; these are all expressions of their hunting instincts.

　　2. It proves the cat’s love for you

　　When a cat brings prey home and places it in front of you, it actually proves the cat’s deep affection for you because this means the cat is showing off its hunting ability and sharing its victory with you. At the same time, bringing prey home also shows that the cat considers the home very safe and trusts it as its nest. In the wild, the most important resource for animals is probably food. Fighting desperately for food is not an exaggeration, and sharing food is the best expression of friendliness. Think about the touching scene of a mother cat bringing food back to her kittens.

　　3. This behavior needs correction

　　Although a cat bringing prey home expresses love, this is bad for both the cat and humans. Cats may accidentally catch mice poisoned by rat poison, and people might be scared out of their wits. Moreover, wild animals might carry parasites or harmful germs. Therefore, one must find ways to stop this behavior. Simply throwing away the spoils the cat brings is not advisable — the cat will think you don’t like its prey, so next time it might catch something bigger or even bring a live one. When discarding, throw far away behind the cat’s back. Hanging a small bell on the cat’s neck is very effective because it prevents the cat from catching prey. Also, regularly playing with the cat and providing fluffy mouse-like toys helps it release its strong energy and enjoy the thrill of hunting. Having two cats can also solve this problem. Finally, if you don’t want to bother, just keep the door closed to prevent the cat from going outside (but remember to play with it often).(Source：PetsZone)