Cats are notorious for bringing little sneaky gifts, often very gruesome, to their owners.
If you ever had a dead mouse brought to you by your clueless and loving furry friend, you know how it feels. And while you never asked for it, the gifts may leave you little option to say no.
It turns out that felines are far from the only generous critters. Dogs, aka the goodest bois and bestest gals, have also been bringing all kinds of stuff to their owners. Bored Panda has wrapped up this list of the funniest, most wholesome and plain weird pics of presents from pets.
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This Kitty Waits For The Flowers To Fall And Carefully Selects The Best Ones To Bring As Gifts To Her Owner
He's hoping positive reinforcement will help him train his soft can-opener.
He Hates Wearing This Hat, But He Brings It To Me Each Time He Sees I’m Sad Because It Makes Me Laugh When He Wears It
I Was At Work And This Doggy Kept Dragging At My Pants And Brought Me To My Airpod That I Couldn’t Find For A Week. Thanks Doggy, Pat Pat
We may like to think of our pets bringing these surprising gifts to us as a sign of their care, love, and generosity, but Yulia Popyk, the animal behavior expert from Emergency Pet Fund, told Bored Panda in an interview via email that this is not the case. This behavior, according to Popyk, is more likely due to a combination of instinct, training, and a desire for attention or rewards.
“In the case of cats, their natural hunting instincts can drive them to bring prey to their owners. This behavior is often seen as a form of ‘gifting’ or offering, and it can be a way for the cat to demonstrate their affection or to establish dominance,” Popyk said.
Peepers The Blind Kitty Is So Proud Of The Gift He Brought Us From His Nightly Hunt
Nice gift. You are so lucky to have a master willing to bring you things.
My Dog Brought Me Her Favorite Toy When She Heard Me Crying In The Bath After A Very Stressful Day At Work
My Dog Grabs Things Around The House And Brings Them To Me For A Treat. Today, He Somehow Got This
Meanwhile, in dogs’ case, the behavior of bringing things to their owners is often seen in breeds that were originally bred for hunting or retrieval, such as retrievers and spaniels. “These dogs have a strong instinct to retrieve and bring things to their owners, and this behavior can be further strengthened through training and positive reinforcement.”
Popyk argues that in both cats and dogs, “the behavior of bringing things to their owners can also be a way for the animal to seek attention or rewards, such as treats or praise. This reinforces the behavior and can lead to it becoming a habit.”
My Golden Brings Me This Old Rug Every Time I Come Home To Wish Me A Warm Welcome
She Has Carefully Selected Each Leaf, Only Choosing Red Or Brown Ones, And Has Brought Them Inside One By One And Placed Them Outside My Bedroom. She Does This Every Day
The Best Part Of Waking Up Is Dog Toys In Your Cup
We also asked the animal behavior expert what makes cats bring mice, one of the most common gifts from a feline, to their owners. “Cats bring mice and other small prey animals to their owners as a way of showing affection and as a form of hunting instinct. Hunting is a natural behavior for cats, even for those that are domesticated and well-fed.”
Popyk continued: “By bringing prey to their owners, cats are essentially 'gifting' them and demonstrating their love and devotion. In the wild, cats hunt to provide food for themselves and their offspring, and this instinct remains strong in domesticated cats, even though they are no longer required to hunt for their food,” she said.
Bonnie Put Her Favorite Toy On My Packed Suitcase. Oh Man, The Feels
Butters Brought Me A Chicken Wing From Outside. It's Still Warm. Where Did You Get This?
You're lucky. I wouldn't have shared with Shyla. She eats chicken all the time, and makes me eat kibble!
Been Feeding This Stray Cat For A Little Under A Year. Thought She Was Getting Fat. Turns Out She Had 3 Kittens And Brought Them To Me
However, Popyk warned that it is not recommended to encourage this behavior, as it can pose a health risk to both the cat and its owner since wild animals can carry diseases. If a case like this occurs (better safe than sorry!), Emergency Pet Fund, an alternative to classic pet insurance, can come in handy. “Additionally, it is best to discourage this behavior as it can lead to the death of the prey animals, which can cause distress and ethical concerns,” she suggested.
Honey Likes To Bring Me Presents When I Get Home, Today She Really Outdone Herself
Me? I might give my soft can-opener a toy if she's been good, but wow.
Been In My Bed Sick All Day. Finally Opened The Door And Arthur The Cat Had Brought Me A Christmas Ornament From The Tree As A Gift
The Neighbor's Cat Brings Me Jalapenos From My Garden. He's So Proud, Good Kitty
So if your beloved cat is bringing mice to you again and again, Popyk’s advice is to provide plenty of toys and interactive play. “Encourage your cat's hunting instincts by providing them with plenty of toys, such as feather wands and mouse toys. Engage in interactive play with your cat every day to satisfy their urge to hunt.”
Another tip to teach your cat to not bring presents is to make sure they have enough food and stimulation available for them. “Make sure your cat is well-fed and has plenty of stimulation throughout the day. Bored cats may resort to hunting and bringing prey as a form of entertainment.”
This Is Old, But I Threw Her A Stick And In Return She Brought Me A Railroad Beam. Sometimes She Finds Potatoes. She's My Best Friend
I rented a cabin in the mountains and brought my dogs. While I was chatting with one of the neighbors, my cattle dog ran off exploring and came back with a huge piece of firewood from someone's campsite. Dropped it at my feet and barked at me like, "Throw it!" RIP, Dooders. You were the best dog.
Meet Beast, Who's Brought Me Pink Flowers For Seven Years Now
A Friend's Cat Brings Him Mushrooms Every Day. No Mice, No Insects, Only Mushrooms
Owners should also discourage this behavior. “When your cat brings you prey, firmly but calmly tell them ‘no’ and remove the prey. Do not give your cat any attention, as this may reinforce the behavior,” Popyk said. Another important aspect is making sure your cat's living environment is safe and secure, with no access to small animals that they can hunt. “This can help reduce their urge to hunt and bring you prey.”
Rocky, My Rescue From Cyprus. He Brings You A Blanket When You Get Home
My Dog Bowie Heard The Thunder Over Here And Instead Of Being Scared She Brought Me Two Of Her Toys To Make Sure I Wasn't
This Is My Boyfriend's Office He Works Out Of From Home. Here Are All Of The Socks She Brought Up From The Basement To The Third Floor For Him Today
Popyk concluded by saying that if your cat's hunting behavior is excessive, it’s best to seek advice from your veterinarian. “There may be an underlying medical condition that is causing your cat to behave in this way.” It’s also important to remember that it may take some time for your cat to break this habit, but with patience and consistency, you can train them to stop bringing you prey.
Pupper Has Been Bringing Us Eggs Every Day That She Steals From The Wild Chickens
I Completely Forgot It Was My Cake Day Until Crumpet Reminded Me With A Gift
My Cat Has Been An Indoor Cat For Months. Today He Brought Me Back A Toy Snake
My Girl Brought Me A Pencil While I Was Drawing. Looking Super Cute While Doing It Too
My Parents Have A Pet Tortoise And He Walks Around The House. Today He Found A Chicken Nugget Under The Couch And Brought It To Them As A Gift
My Cat Has A Collection Of Bra Pads She Has Removed From My Bras, And She Does A Weird Meow While Delivering Me One Every Single Night
I've not mentioned the bra pads Bouche kills, because even I think she's nuts. I'm so glad there's another cat doing this.
While In The Kitchen My Cat Will Bring You Things In Exchange For Snacks
She Likes To Carry Around Random Rags For No Reason
He Brought Me A... Tomato?
Pup With A Present
This Cat We’re Used To Feed Gave Birth A Few Days Ago And Today She Brought This Little Fella To Our Doorstep
I Made A New Friend Today, He Brought Me A Gift
Pupper Brought You A Flower
Each Night While We Sleep Our Cat Searches The House For Small Gifts And Leaves Them At The Top Of The Basement Stairs
Today I Sneezed Loudly And The Brin Immediately Brought Me Her Bone And Stared At Me Like This Until I Picked It Up
Hamilton Brings In Another Leaf
Good Girl Came To Check On Me After I Dropped Something Really Loudly In The Middle Of The Night... And Brought Me Gift Just In Case
My Dog Has A Habit Of Finding Lost Balls And Bringing Them Home
My Dog Has Seen Me Work Out At Home Many Times Now, And Just Brought Me One Of My Dumbells
My Folk’s Dog Greets Me Every Morning With A Gift. Today It Was A Feather
Here’s A Glimpse Of Everything She Brought Up Two Flights Of Stairs To Our Bedroom On Our First Night Back From Being Out Of Town
Woke Up This Morning To Find A Gift From The Cats. A Potato. This Is The First Time A Cat Brought Me Actual Food. Usually, It's Toys Or A Stuffed Animal
Caught Mid-Air With Her Feather. She Brings One Home Every Few Hours
My Puppy Brought Me A Leaf From Outside This Morning
My Dog Always Brings A Shoe Whenever I Get Home
Milo Keeps Giving Me Gifts. He Found This One Buried In My Yard. I Have No Idea What It Unlocks
I Threw A Tennis Ball, He Brought Back A Crab Apple. Close Enough, I Guess
She Brings Me A Bouquet Every Morning
My Dog Likes To Bring Me Socks Every Time I Come Home From Work. Today He Brought Me 4, Very Good Boy
They're your socks, right? Dogs like things that smell like the people they love. ☺️
"I’m So Proud Of This Pinecone I Caught On My Walk Today I Had To Carry It All The Way Home"
What A Wonderful Gift From My Turkey. She Caught Me A Packing Peanut
My Golden Brought Me A Piece Of My Daughter’s Play Set. I Think She’s A Little Hungry
I Have Been Presented With A Gift
That's really useful as I always end up losing mine and having to buy new ones!
I Brought You A Present
My Neighbor’s Puppy Brought Me Her Newspaper
Today I Got A Gift Placed On My Desk
Had A Bummer Of A Valentine’s Day. This Good Boy Brought Me His Bone And Put It In My Lap. Beats Flowers
It’s My Puppy’s First Fall. She’s A Fan Of The Falling Leaves
My Cat Likes To Meow And Bring Me A Present Before Bed Every Night As A Way To Say She Loves Me And Tonight She Decided To Bring Me Her Favorite Toy, A Stuffed Hedgehog
Cashew The Silly Pupper Will Bring You Every Ball He Owns
My Bowie knows all of his balls by name and will bring them to you on request.
She Has 500 Toys Inside And I Get This Look To Bring In A Stick
She Just Brought Me A Decorative Pine Cone! I Never Bought Any Decorative Pine Cones
Woke Up This Morning To The Gift Of Fingerless Gloves. Thanks Sachi
It's much easier to type, play instruments, write, paint, draw, cook, and dangle mousie toys with fingerless gloves. Be properly grateful.
New Day, New Gift From Nala
Desmond Brought This To Me In Bed This Morning. Guess Who’s Not Allowed On The Kitchen Table?
When I'm Sad My Dog Goes Outside And Tries To Bring Me Things. Today She Brought Me A Pine Cone
My Kitten Keeps Bringing Us Leaves She Caught In The Garden As Presents. Today She Was Especially Proud Of This Very Big One
She Hunts Stray Socks And Brings Them To Me In Exchange For A Treat. She Has A Special Meow She Uses To Announce A Sock She Is Proud Of
This Is My Favorite Toy. I Brought It To You Because I Love You
He Comes Bearing Gifts
Pip Panics When We Get Home And She Can't Find Her Toy To Bring As A Present. Today She Found This. We Aren't Even Sure Where It Came From
Today’s Offering (So Far) That She Brought Up Two Flight Of Stairs To The Outside Of My Room
I Went To The Fence To See My Neighbors' Dog. He Brought Me This. His Human Calls It "Sweetcheeks"
Hopscotch Always Brings Me A Toy When I Get Home. Today He Brought Me My Husband's Lip Balm
Whenever I'm Crying Or Upset, My Dog Brings Me One Of Her Toys And Lays Down With Me. Always Cheers Me Up
My Friends' Cat Doesn't Bring Home Mice And Birds As Gifts, He's Different
We Were Playing Fetch And She Brought Me A Bagel Instead Of The Ball
Have You Ever Gotten A Gift From The Cat?
Today My Cat Brought A Bag Of Cat Treats Home. We Have No Idea Where She Got It, But If Someone Finds Themselves Down A Bag Of Dreamies We're Very Sorry
She Found Some Flowers On Our Walk And Brought Them Home
Mouse Just Wants To Play All The Time. So He Brings Me His Toys
I Brought You This Because I Love You, And Also I Would Like You To Throw
It’s 00:30 AM And The Cat Just Brought Me His Toothbrush
Arthas Brought Me Something
My Dog Brought A "Rock" To Bed This Morning
Charlie Brought Me His First Stick, What An Incredible Gift
My Partially Mental Disabled Cat Has Brought Me Some Ketchup
Emil Just Brought Me A Gift From The Garden
His Welcome Gift To People Is His Favorite Bowl
Today Is My First Cakeday. To Celebrate, I Present My Best Buddy, Willie. He Loves To Fetch And Always Brings Me Toys So We Can Play. The Keys Are His Favorite
Gary Likes To Give Me The Gift Of Bottle Cap When I’m Feeling Down. Here You Are, Enjoy The Gift Of Cap Courtesy Of Gary (He Also Likes To Fetch Them)
My first kitty was utterly OBSESSED with bottle caps ... she'd be there in .2 seconds after hearing the bottle open - in half that time if it was fizzy liquid! I moved after a year and found like 150 various bottle caps under the piano.
He Always Has Welcome Back Gifts Waiting For Me When I Get Out Of The Shower. Last Night He Gave Me His Favorite Snake And Two Sticks
Now It's Been A While Since Penny Contributed By Carrying Home Odd Things. But Today It Happened
Heard that loud characteristic meowing and when I got to the hall penny proudly displayed the used cleaning cloths she had brought home.
Nyxie Always Brings Me Something When I Get Home, Or Always Just Has Something In Her Mouth, Loved This One That Say Mom
Duke Brought Me Some Ice Cream
Penelope Is The Most Gracious Of Hosts - Every Time I Arrive To Walk Her, She Brings Me The Finest Toy From Her Toy Box
I, too, would love a bottle of wine gifted to me by a cute doggo upon arriving home from work.
If Anyone Has Lost A Sad Looking Green Cleaning Sponge This Morning, Get In Touch! Romeo Decided To Bring It Home To Me. Perhaps He's Trying To Send Me A Message
You Know How Cats Usually Bring You Dead Animals As Gifts? Mine Brought Me A Roast Potato
My mum's cat once brought home half a steak and kidney pie in a foil tray. There were builders nearby and one must have put it down while he ate the other half - it was still hot. RIP Horace
Good Pupper Gifted Me His Favorite Poop
Eddie Has Brought In A Crunchy Leaf That Must Be Killed Immediately
My Cat Likes To Bring Me Gifts While I Work At My Desk
You're lucky. My cat paws at me until I pick her up and put her on the desk when I'm on the computer. Then she finds something to play with, picks it up, and takes off with it. She's never brought anything back.
Brought Lumen To The Office Today. She Loves Bringing The Ball To Everyone So They Can Throw It For Her
She Brought Me A Sock, I Feel So Honored
She Brought Me Her Blankie, One Of My Fiancé’s Shoes, And One Of My Shoes. Mom Has To Study, I Can’t Play With You, Sweet Girl
My Pupper Saw Me Drowning In School Work, So She Brought Me A Present
Our Dog Always Brings Us Presents. When Her Toys Are Gone, We Get Pillows
Those eyes are really what it's all about. These are the quintessential puppy dog eyes!
Today My Greeting Gift Is A Plastic Cup And Sock. I Would Put All My Stuff Away, But Then She Would Only Have Toys To Bring Me
Learning What The Retriever Part Of A Golden Retriever Means
No Thank You
Unfortunately the kind of gift my cat brings in, often alive and then set free to maximize the fun I can have, first looking for them under/behind furniture and then catching them.
This is so sweet, mine brings me bugs and once a whole bat. That resulted in him getting a rabies shot and me having to go through 3 months of treatment bc unlike my cat, I dont get a yearly rabies booster and had to have the WHOLE panel bc the bat tested positive. (I dont let them outside to wander but they have a catio. Somehow this bat got inside the screened in porch and then was caught)
Once a bat fit through the bottom of a window screen and flew around my bedroom at 4 am. Apparently they have a thin skull cap so bats can get through narrow places. This one must have not turned its sonar switch to on.
Load More Replies...All of these are so cute I want to reach into the screen and pet them all
This is so sweet, mine brings me bugs and once a whole bat. That resulted in him getting a rabies shot and me having to go through 3 months of treatment bc unlike my cat, I dont get a yearly rabies booster and had to have the WHOLE panel bc the bat tested positive. (I dont let them outside to wander but they have a catio. Somehow this bat got inside the screened in porch and then was caught)
Once a bat fit through the bottom of a window screen and flew around my bedroom at 4 am. Apparently they have a thin skull cap so bats can get through narrow places. This one must have not turned its sonar switch to on.
Load More Replies...All of these are so cute I want to reach into the screen and pet them all