Cats & Dogs - The Cat's Meow - Why Is My Cat Bringing Home Birds?

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The Cat's Meow - Why Is My Cat Bringing Home Birds?

Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson

From Candace E. in Marshall, IL

"My wonderful Sophia was already five-years-old when we rescued her. She's very attached to me, but will occasionally grace my husband with her presence if she that there are treats involved. When she is smooching with me, I get and give lots of head rubs, but then she gives me a quick 'nip' on my nose or chin. She never hurts me, as she had most of her teeth pulled before we got her (she only has six left). Still, I'd like to know what she's telling me when she gives me a little nip?"

Cats will bite for a variety of reasons including contentedness, playfulness, hunger, or (of course) aggression. The behavior I believe you're seeing is an indication of Sophia's affection for you. The weak and generally harmless bite or "nip" is something most behaviorists consider to be akin to a human kiss. The fact that it's accompanied by lots of head rubs would seem to confirm this, but also look for purring, vertical tail, forward whiskers, snd whether she arches her back when petted.

Of course, Sophia may also nip when she's ready for you to stop petting, too. All good things must come to an end, or perhaps she's just had too much of said good thing. So if you notice that the little nips are getting harder as well as other signs of irritation, such as her no longer purring, that her tail's no longer in a vertical position (and indeed, is often thumping), that her whiskers or ears are pointing back, or even that she swipes at your hand with a paw, it's her way of telling you "Enough's enough!"

It sounds like Sophia's found a wonderful home with you. Often, shelter cats who're adopted when they're older will form a particularly strong bond with their new owners, and that sounds like the case with you and Sophia. You're husband shouldn't feel too rejected -- Sophia's just decided that you're the one to go to when she needs a good snuggle!

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From Tara H. via Yahoo

"Please can you tell me why my cat has brought two pigeons into our home within the last three days?"

It sounds like your cat is quite the hunter! I know that we have one cat that's managed to catch a bird while tethered in the backyard and with his claws clipped. Cats can be quite remarkable hunters.

I suspect your cat is bringing the pigeon home for one of two reasons: He may be sharing his catch with you since he thinks that, perhaps, you're not very well equipped to do your own hunting; or, somewhere in the back of his primal feline brain is the notion that this is food. He figures that you can magically convert it to the kittie kibble that he's used to eating.

I don't know that this is necessarily behavior that you want to encourage. Still, it shows that he loves you since he's bringing you such a wonderful "gift." Take your blessings whence they come!

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Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. Visit him at "The Cat's Meow" where you can view the archives or ask him your own question which he will answer in a future column!

This news arrived on: 08/27/2008

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