Comments on: Cat, the Gift Giver http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275 understand their nature Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cat's Friend http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-18282 Cat's Friend Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:11:24 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-18282 I love cats, but also other animals. I have never praised or scolded a cat for bringing prey. I have acknowledged it and then disposed of it (or, if it is still alive set it free somewhere safe). I do feel bad about disappointing the cat, but I also feel bad about the animals it has killed. Generally, with the cat, I have remained neutral for a little while after the incident and then later made a fuss over the cat about something else - from playing to just looking beautiful. That way I figure the cat knows s/he will be loved no matter what. My current little friend got into the habit of bringing me skinks and sparrows - he has now not done so for a while, so hopefully he knows that he will get attention from me no matter what, and that there are other ways of pleasing me if he wants to (like nuzzling and head-butting me, both of which I adore and for which he gets naturally showered with affection and praise). I love cats, but also other animals. I have never praised or scolded a cat for bringing prey. I have acknowledged it and then disposed of it (or, if it is still alive set it free somewhere safe). I do feel bad about disappointing the cat, but I also feel bad about the animals it has killed. Generally, with the cat, I have remained neutral for a little while after the incident and then later made a fuss over the cat about something else – from playing to just looking beautiful. That way I figure the cat knows s/he will be loved no matter what. My current little friend got into the habit of bringing me skinks and sparrows – he has now not done so for a while, so hopefully he knows that he will get attention from me no matter what, and that there are other ways of pleasing me if he wants to (like nuzzling and head-butting me, both of which I adore and for which he gets naturally showered with affection and praise).

]]> By: angaree http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-18096 angaree Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:33:05 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-18096 I looked up this thread b/c as fairly NEW to cat behavior, I was curious. We've had this cat for nearly 5 years now and she's never done this. Now, every day...a line up of dead mice on the doormat. What cracks me up is how she takes great pains to "display" them, in a nice line up...all in a row with heads facing the same way, etc. What is that about? I looked up this thread b/c as fairly NEW to cat behavior, I was curious. We’ve had this cat for nearly 5 years now and she’s never done this. Now, every day…a line up of dead mice on the doormat. What cracks me up is how she takes great pains to “display” them, in a nice line up…all in a row with heads facing the same way, etc. What is that about?

]]> By: Aedsell http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-18037 Aedsell Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:14:54 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-18037 I once had an outside stray who I took care of and was absolutely mad for him. one time he got into a fight, had a bite on his shoulder that became infected. It seemed like it hurt a lot. I called the vet, was told what to do. I expressed the pus, cleaned it and put Neosporin on it. The next day his shoulder was feeling better (I could tell). I walked out the door and he had left a dead mouse in gratitude. This rodent had to be killed and carried up 2 flights of outside steps...this was no accident. I can't even begin to express what his gesture of love and gratitude means to me. I once had an outside stray who I took care of and was absolutely mad for him. one time he got into a fight, had a bite on his shoulder that became infected. It seemed like it hurt a lot. I called the vet, was told what to do. I expressed the pus, cleaned it and put Neosporin on it. The next day his shoulder was feeling better (I could tell). I walked out the door and he had left a dead mouse in gratitude. This rodent had to be killed and carried up 2 flights of outside steps…this was no accident. I can’t even begin to express what his gesture of love and gratitude means to me.

]]> By: Pamela http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-17974 Pamela Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:37:32 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-17974 I think they are for the dog. However, she doesn't know chicken bones are bad for him! Since she is now "your" cat it seems she is taking care of the dog for you. I think they are for the dog. However, she doesn’t know chicken bones are bad for him! Since she is now “your” cat it seems she is taking care of the dog for you.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-17971 Melanie Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:18:28 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-17971 A neighbours cat started coming to visit us about a year ago even though we have a dog who chases other cats away (our dog didn't chase this cat away though). We started feeding her and now she basically lives here. Somehow the dog, who never goes outside our garden has started coming into the house with disbarred food, chicken bones and the other day he got hold of 2 burgers!! The cat must be bringing these into the garden, but is she bringing them for me or the dog? She doesn't bring them into the house and the cat and dog do get on well. A neighbours cat started coming to visit us about a year ago even though we have a dog who chases other cats away (our dog didn’t chase this cat away though). We started feeding her and now she basically lives here. Somehow the dog, who never goes outside our garden has started coming into the house with disbarred food, chicken bones and the other day he got hold of 2 burgers!! The cat must be bringing these into the garden, but is she bringing them for me or the dog? She doesn’t bring them into the house and the cat and dog do get on well.

]]> By: Kristy http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-17549 Kristy Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:47:02 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-17549 Can cats bring up (kill) a fox? In the past 6 months we've had a opossum, squirrel and now a fox brought to our front door. We have two adult cats male and female and also a female that's 8 months. Can cats bring up (kill) a fox? In the past 6 months we’ve had a opossum, squirrel and now a fox brought to our front door. We have two adult cats male and female and also a female that’s 8 months.

]]> By: Robin http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-16021 Robin Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:56:44 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-16021 I have two cats: a boy and a girl. We occasionally gets birds, voles, mice, and even baby squirrels on our back porch. They don't stick around for our reaction, but I know it's the female who's doing the hunting. She always leaves it on the same spot for us to partake of and it does make me smile that she wants to contribute and give us her kill but I don't think the poor animal feels the same. I have two cats: a boy and a girl. We occasionally gets birds, voles, mice, and even baby squirrels on our back porch. They don’t stick around for our reaction, but I know it’s the female who’s doing the hunting. She always leaves it on the same spot for us to partake of and it does make me smile that she wants to contribute and give us her kill but I don’t think the poor animal feels the same.

]]> By: Jess http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-12505 Jess Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:17:39 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-12505 My husband and I moved to our current home in May of this year. Two days after moving in we saw a beautiful stray (male) and started leaving food and water out for him. About 2 weeks ago, I put the food down and he came about 18" from me. I put my hand out and he headbutted it and then trotted off. Every day he got a little closer until late last night when he rubbed against me as I was putting his bowl down. As he ate, he let me pet him from head to tail and purred the entire time. We had a similar experience this afternoon and it warmed my heart. About 20 minutes ago I went to take the garbage out and stepped on a 'present' he left (his first one) right outside the back door: a dead sparrow. There was a lot of blood on it so I am confident it was a kill from him and not a natural death. He was no where to be seen, but I spoke aloud and told him how proud I was (even though I really wanted to die!!) and then discreetly disposed of it. I'm honored that he feels so strongly about me that he is now leaving me gifts. He truly is a wonderful little boy! My husband and I moved to our current home in May of this year. Two days after moving in we saw a beautiful stray (male) and started leaving food and water out for him. About 2 weeks ago, I put the food down and he came about 18″ from me. I put my hand out and he headbutted it and then trotted off. Every day he got a little closer until late last night when he rubbed against me as I was putting his bowl down. As he ate, he let me pet him from head to tail and purred the entire time. We had a similar experience this afternoon and it warmed my heart. About 20 minutes ago I went to take the garbage out and stepped on a ‘present’ he left (his first one) right outside the back door: a dead sparrow. There was a lot of blood on it so I am confident it was a kill from him and not a natural death. He was no where to be seen, but I spoke aloud and told him how proud I was (even though I really wanted to die!!) and then discreetly disposed of it. I’m honored that he feels so strongly about me that he is now leaving me gifts. He truly is a wonderful little boy!

]]> By: Barack obama guardian group II - Page 920 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-12428 Barack obama guardian group II - Page 920 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:06:42 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-12428 [...] Re: Barack obama guardian group II Originally Posted by Otiumdignitate Our cats are outdoor cats . And they come to eat. I wonder if they bring their kills as some sort of present to me for feeding them. LOL. But the wife gets mad if the dogs eat the cat kills. Like a frickin' zoo out there. They are showing off their hunting prowess Why do cats bring us dead stuff? | Way of Cats blog [...] [...] Re: Barack obama guardian group II Originally Posted by Otiumdignitate Our cats are outdoor cats . And they come to eat. I wonder if they bring their kills as some sort of present to me for feeding them. LOL. But the wife gets mad if the dogs eat the cat kills. Like a frickin' zoo out there. They are showing off their hunting prowess Why do cats bring us dead stuff? | Way of Cats blog [...]

]]> By: Catarina http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-gift-giver/275/comment-page-1#comment-12200 Catarina Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:12:23 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=275#comment-12200 I took in a very old female cat about a year ago that our neighbor's basically discarded once she was peeing all over their house.. she was emaciated and basically left to die. We moved into our house and within days she was on my back porch all skinny and sad-looking... Of course I took her in, took her to the vet, put her on meds, fed her and she is a great, healthy old girl.... This girl, who is about 16 years old leaves me birds, mice and the occasional baby rabbit or squirrel.... although it horrifies me to see the poor creature's tortured and mangled body at my front doorstep or on my porch, I started realizing she was doing this to 'thank' me for saving her life..... animals are so much smarter than people ever realize... And though I always considered myself a 'dog' person, this old girl came into my life for a reason, and I have vowed to never let her be sick or starving again..... I took in a very old female cat about a year ago that our neighbor’s basically discarded once she was peeing all over their house.. she was emaciated and basically left to die. We moved into our house and within days she was on my back porch all skinny and sad-looking… Of course I took her in, took her to the vet, put her on meds, fed her and she is a great, healthy old girl…. This girl, who is about 16 years old leaves me birds, mice and the occasional baby rabbit or squirrel…. although it horrifies me to see the poor creature’s tortured and mangled body at my front doorstep or on my porch, I started realizing she was doing this to ‘thank’ me for saving her life….. animals are so much smarter than people ever realize…

And though I always considered myself a ‘dog’ person, this old girl came into my life for a reason, and I have vowed to never let her be sick or starving again…..

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