My cat is spoiled. He has a lot of toys. And there is no possible way he can play with all of the toys that he has, but he makes a good effort. We’re constantly finding tiny mice, rolling bells and feathered stick toys scattered around our house.
Out of all his toys though, he definitely has a favorite. I know it’s his favorite because he tries to make sure I know exactly where it is. He constantly brings it to me and puts it in highly visible locations like in the center of a room, in my bed, and even in my shoes!
Sometimes, out of nowhere, he’ll disappear from a room and reappear with the toy in his mouth, dropping it at my feet on return. He’s a weird little creature, but it’s adorable, and while I’d like to think it’s a unique thing he’s figured out, I know it’s something you’ve probably experienced as well. Have you ever wondered why your cat brings you toys?
It’s thought that cats bring their owners toys as a way to teach you how to hunt or to impress you with their “trophy”. Other reasons include retrieving broken toys in the hopes that they will get fixed or replaced, as well as a way to build social bond because your cat may be be bored and wants to play.
Whatever the reason, there’s nothing to be concerned about with this behavior. It’s perfectly natural and a sign that your little buddy likes you, but since there are a few different reasons your cat might bring you these tiny trinkets, let’s look at how to tell which one might be the driving force of your kitty’s gift-giving behavior.
Top Reasons Your Cat Brings You Gifts
Our feline friends are always doing things that leave us scratching our heads in confusion. But one of the most common behaviors that cats exhibit is bringing their owners toys.
Cats often bring their favorite toy to their owner and meow or cry until they get attention. This behavior can be cute, but it can also be confusing. After all, why would your cat want to share their toys with you?
There are a few different reasons that cats may engage in this behavior. Let’s dive into them…
Teaching You How to Hunt
While it might be hard for you to imagine your cute little furry house cat as a vicious hunter, your cat views himself the top of the food chain, and an apex hunter. In your cat’s mind he’s still a wild predator seeking to hunt and retrieve prey, much like its ancestors did thousands of years ago.
Some experts believe that when a cat brings their owner a toy, they are actually trying to teach them how to hunt.
In the wild, mother cats will often bring their kittens dead prey as a way of showing them how to kill and provide for the family. Dominant cats in a pride also will bring back their prey and put it fully on display for the rest of the cats as a sign of dominance.
So in a way, your cat might feel they are taking care of you, because you need them to survive. And hell, maybe they’re right.
Your Cat Wants to Impress You!
As mentioned above, wild cats often put their prey on display as a sign of dominance. In your cat’s mind, bringing you a toy is much like bringing you a dead animal.
Cats are very proud of their hunting skills and see toys as a way to show off what they can do.
So if your cat is constantly bringing you their favorite toy, it’s actually a compliment! They think you’re worthy enough to receive their “trophy”. They are also showing you that they are capable of taking care of you and providing food.
Your cat may see you as part of their family group and want to impress you with their hunting skills. This is why your cat may cry or meow until you pay attention to the toy they brought you.
My cat is very vocal when he brings us his favorite toy, often making muffled meow sounds through the toy he’s carrying in his mouth as he comes running.
Their Toy Is Broke & They Need You to Fix It
Cats are very resourceful creatures and often try to fix their own toys when they break. But sometimes they just can’t seem to do it on their own.
If your cat brings you a toy that is broken or damaged, they may be trying to ask you to fix it for them. I have to believe cats understand that we are much better at using tools than they are.
So if their toy is broken, they may think we can fix it for them just like we would fix a piece of furniture or another broken object in the house.
My cat’s favorite toy often gets tangled up in a chair and becomes stuck. When it does, it’s very obvious as we will hear our cat desperately trying to free his prized possession.
He’ll yowl, a lot, and thrash around at the toy in the hopes of freeing it. He frequently succeeds but often times recruits my help.
They Want To Play!
Cats get bored just like any other pet or human. If your cat is constantly bringing you their favorite toy, they may be trying to tell you that they are bored and want to play with you.
This is especially true if your cat is the only cat in the house and doesn’t have any other feline friends to play with. Contrary to belief, cats are very social creatures and need interaction to stay happy and healthy.
Cats are prone to boredom and will often start acting out if they don’t have anything to do. This can include everything from excessive meowing to urinating outside the litter box or even spending too much time in their litter box.
So if your cat is constantly bringing you their toy, it’s a good idea to take some time out of your day to play with them and invest in more engaging experiences for them, including toys and forts.
It will make them happy and enrich their play – keeping them from getting bored and destructive. Playing with your cat is also a great way to bond with them and build a stronger relationship. A double-whammy.
What if I don’t want to play with my cat?
I get it, you don’t always have the time to play with your cat. Or perhaps your cat may be wanting to play with you at times you’re not interesting in playing…like 3AM.
For these cases you may want to look into cat toys that run automatically on batteries or toys that can move around without too much human involvement to keep your cat busy – like spring loaded toys or toys that can swivel or spin.
Your Cat Brings You Toys Because He Values You
There are a number of reasons, but most likely your cat is trying to show you that they are capable of taking care of you and providing food. They may also see you as part of their family group and want to impress you with their hunting skills. Or they might just be bored and looking for a little attention, I think we can all relate to that.
So if your cat is constantly bringing you their favorite toy, it’s a good idea to take some time out of your day to play with them. It will make them happy and help keep them from getting bored and destructive. It’s also a great way to sneak in a few extra snuggles along the way.
Whatever the reason may be for your cat, there’s nothing to worry about. This is all a perfectly natural behavior for your cat and one that should flatter you. If your cat is bringing you their toys it’s a sign that they obviously love you.