Why Do Cats Bring Their Owners 'Gifts' of Dead Animals?

How to Redirect the Prey Drive

Use Toys

The natural prey drive in a cat cannot be suppressed, but it can be redirected to playing rather than hunting. Rather than reinforcing prey drive by playing, the activity satisfies a cat's desire to hunt. Any toy that requires your cat to chase and catch an object is mentally stimulating its natural prey drive, including feather wands, laser pointers, moving toys, and other items that your cat simply cannot resist trying to catch.

A cat needs mental stimulation, especially if it is a cat that seems to have a strong prey drive. If it doesn’t have anything to hunt, chase, and catch, then it will find something to fulfill its prey drive. They might pounce on your feet as you walk by or climb up the curtains to catch imaginary prey.

Engage your kitty in plenty of playtime every day to redirect their natural hunting behaviors. This not only reduces behavioral problems for cats that are prone to bringing mice or lizards to your door, but it also provides exercise for the cat. Indoor cats are often overweight and can use a little help in shedding the pounds via movement.

Although many cats are satisfied with chasing a laser pointer, some need to simulate "killing" their prey, too. If your cat seems frustrated or continually seeks to destroy objects that it finds on the ground, such as a lone shoe, provide the cat with prey that it can "kill," such as a small stuffed animal.

Attach a Bell to Their Collar

Outdoor cats that hunt and kill native wildlife are so good at it that they are considered invasive species and detrimental to native populations of birds. Alert wildlife of an impending cat attack by attaching bells on a breakaway collar of an outdoor cat. This will spare the smaller critters, of course, but also ensure your cat can't as easily hunt.