This is a common question cat lovers ask. "Why does my cat bring me "gifts" dead things or sometimes toys?"

This is a problem primarily seen in indoor/outdoor cats but it can also be the case in indoor cats. A friend told me a story about her cat Sammy - an indoor cat rescued as a sick barn cat. Sammy loved those little faux fur mouse toys and he loves to bring them to her at all times of the evening. She would throw the mouse and he would fetch it and bring it back. (She liked to pick the mouse up by the tail so she could launch it a little further.) Sammy did this several times a night. But one night, Sammy brought her his little mouse and when she picked it up to give it a toss - it moved! She said she nearly had a heart attack, but Sammy was so excited about his REAL mouse. And he brought it to her as a gift.

If this ever happens to you, before you scream, or jump on a chair or punish your cat, keep in mind that this is normal behavior and that your cat has brought you a gift of his own.

Hunting is an entirely natural behavior for cats, even when they are well fed at home. Most cat owners can live with that - even when our ankles become the prey. But what do you do when your sweet, gentle, purring ball of fur deposits a dead carcass at your feet? Try to keep in mind that it's a trophy he is giving to you. He's proud of his hunting prowess and wants to share his victories with you. He considers your home a safe and secure den, worthy of being his lair.

Your cat evolved from wild cats, a long line of hunters and predators, and is designed for stalking, hunting and killing. So far, no amount of evolution or domestication has taken the fun out of hunting. Cats enjoy the whole process, stalking patiently and carefully, until they are close enough to pounce.

This is natural and normal, so make sure your cat can satisfy his hunting instincts. Have plenty of toys that let him stalk and play.

Some things you can do are:

Keep your cat indoors. This is best for your kitty anyway. Cats face too many dangers when they are outdoors, such as fighting with other cats and dogs, getting hit by a car and being exposed to disease.

Get a bell. You can attach a bell to your cat's collar so that the prey will hear when your cat is stalking. A little noise might be just enough to prevent a successful kill.

Have plenty of cat toys that satisfy your cat's need to hunt.

Again, keep in mind that that your cat's hunting behavior is instinctive and that it's part of his genetic makeup.