Why Does My Cat Bring Me Toys?
Cat behavior and antics can be very amusing for us to observe, but as cute as they may be, it’s likely for owners to feel confused when they try to figure out the reason behind a certain action of their pets. So if you’re stuck wondering “Why does my cat bring me toys?”, then this article is for you.
There are several possible explanations for why cats may bring toys to their humans. It could be a way of showing affection by sharing, inviting you to play, asking you to take care of the toy, boasting a trophy, teaching you to hunt, asking you to fix the toy, or trying to trade the toy for food or attention.
Below, we’ll be discussing each of these motives in detail, so keep reading to find out more about your feline friend’s behavior.
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1. It’s a Show of Affection
Cats are territorial animals, which means that claiming things as their own is part of their instincts. As such, cats are not taught to share toys, so it’s considered to be a huge gesture of affection and trust when they do.
This is pretty similar to when a cat head bunts you, lays a paw on your face, or rubs its body against your feet. Bringing a toy to you is another special way of expressing fondness that may also signify respect, acceptance, and love by sharing a precious possession with you.
If this happens to you, you should respond to the gesture by acknowledging it with a reward for your cat. It can be a treat and/or some attention in the form of playtime with the toy in question.
Not only will this please your cat and relay a message of appreciation, but it’ll also cement the idea that time with the toy should be cherished.
2. It’s an Invitation to Play
If your cat brings you a toy and gives you that adorable look or a gentle nudge, then you’re in luck – you’ve been chosen for some one-on-one playtime!
Cats are picky by nature, so they carefully pick who they want to play with. Just because you’re their owner doesn’t mean you’ll make the cut, which is why you should be happy about such a gesture.
If you’re not sure about your cat’s motive, check its tail when it does this. If the tail is pointing upward with a curl that looks like a question mark, then your cat is in a playful mood.
What to do? Well, you should never decline the invitation even if you’re busy. According to the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, cats who regularly engage in playtime with toys demonstrate fewer behavioral problems.
So the next time you come home exhausted from work but your cat brings you a toy as an invitation to play, do it willingly or suffer the consequences. Play is good for your feline pet since it helps in:
Entertaining your cat to keep it from getting bored
Exercising since playing requires physical movement
Satisfying the hunting instincts of the cat as it stalks the toy
Ideally, you want to incorporate a minimum of two daily playtimes into your cat’s daily routine. Once the schedule is established, your cat will usually wait for the sessions to come around.
3. It’s to Ask You to Guard the Toy
Cats view toys as precious possessions, which encourages them to hide their toys. As such, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find a certain toy in your cat’s food bowl or water dish. To your pet, these are safe, claimed territories where the toy won’t be stolen.
One of the reasons your cat may bring you toys is for safekeeping. It wants you to be the guardian of the toy, which is a sign that your cat trusts you and considers you responsible enough to carry out the task.
Typically, a cat will bring you a toy and put it under your bed, inside your shoe, or even bury it among your clothes to prevent other family members from getting their hands on it.
For this reason, we recommend that you keep the toys somewhere accessible only to your cat. otherwise, your pet will nag you every time it wants the toy. A good idea would be to get a basket and place your cat’s toys inside.
Make sure your cat sees you putting the toys in this basket so it does the same later on. According to the Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science, cats are natural imitators, which means they’ll copy whatever action you repeatedly display. Eventually, your cat will put away its own toys in the designated basket.
4. It’s to Show off a Trophy
Cats are known for their instinct to chase, stalk, and hunt for prey in the wild. However, pet cats are domesticated and mostly stay indoors, so their instinct to hunt for prey is substituted by hunting toys that you provide.
For example, yarn balls and fishing cat toys will serve as prey and when your cat wins the chase, it may view the toy as a trophy. The cat may then bring you the toy in question because it wants to show you its hunting skills so you know it’s contributing to the family’s “hunt”.
Naturally, your cat expects a reward for this action – a little petting should do. Don’t ignore the gesture or throw the toy aside, otherwise, you’ll hurt your pet’s feelings and damage the bond between you.
In this case, pick up the toy and make a show of thanking your cat while smiling and offering praise. You don’t have to keep the toy or carry it around – just place it back inside the toy basket.
5. It’s to Teach You to Hunt
If your cat trusts you and shows you affection, it’s likely to consider you as part of its clan or a fellow feline. This is particularly evident in female cats and their instinct to “teach” the young hunting skills.
Similarly, your cat may be passing the hunting wisdom onto you by bringing you prey in the form of toys. You’re then supposed to practice your “hunting skills” with the toy.
As for your response, you should thank your cat and appreciate the gesture by playing with the toy as a way to reassure it of your hunting capacities.
6. It’s a Request for You to Fix the Toy
As are inquisitive and perceptive creatures, cats can instantly recognize if something is wrong with their stuff, and their toys are no exception. As such, your feline friend may bring you its toy because it wants you to check and fix it.
This may require you to restuff a toy with some catnip or fix the sound on a toy that went silent.
7. It’s to Trade the Toy for Food or attention
The last reason is that your cat may be trying to bargain with you. It wants food or attention in exchange for the toys it presents to you, which are more valuable to your cat than toys.
Before bringing you a toy, the cat will likely start meowing long, elongated meows to relay its request. If you don’t respond, your cat will resort to offering gifts such as toys.
Final Thoughts
So, why does my cat bring me toys? Well, you should have an idea of your cat’s motives by now. Observing your cat’s behavior can give you a clue as to why it’s offering you toys. Remember that no matter the reason, such an action means that your cat loves and trusts you.