My Cat Brings Me Hearts and Valentine’s Gift Ideas
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it got me to thinking of hearts. The heart is a universal symbol of love and in our house, that translates to our kitties, too. Especially for our sweet Zee who takes it to the extreme. He likes to show his love for Dan and me by bringing us dead gifts. Being that he’s an indoor cat, rather than the unsavory variety, such as a dead mouse or bird, he brings us dead toys. In particular, a stuffed plush heart that he will drop at strategic places throughout the house to show his love.
Once, I found the heart on top of my computer keyboard, greeting me after a very long and difficult day I had at work. I saw it and cried, the gesture was so touching. This past Christmas, I woke up early before anyone else and saw the heart tucked in with the other gifts around the tree. He clearly knows how to melt my heart, and yes, I cried for that one, too.
His behavior is not that unusual. Cats are natural born hunters and no amount of domestication has eradicated their desire to hunt. Whether an unlucky victim of the live variety or some sort of inanimate object, if your cat brings you a gift, it’s the ultimate compliment – he’s sharing his victories with you and letting you know he loves you. He shouldn’t be reprimanded for his actions, but rather praised for his hunting prowess.
For those unwelcome gifts, when he’s not looking, appropriately dispose of the victim and move on. Ideally, you should keep your cat indoors anyway. Cats face far too many dangers when they are outdoors, such as fighting with other animals, car accidents, or exposure to diseases. If your cat must be outdoors, make certain he or she is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations. If your cat is really adept at hunting, you could attach a bell to his collar (removable/detachable style) so that the prey will hear when your cat is stalking.
If you’d like to learn more about this fascinating behavior and are looking for a Valentine’s gift for that cat lover on your list, consider the gift of Makin’ Biscuits – Weird Cat Habits and the Even Weirder Habits of the Humans Who Love Them. There is still time to order on Amazon and it’s a fun-filled book that is sure to be a hit with cat lovers of all ages!
Love also means sometimes having to let go. For those people in your life who might have lost a beloved pet cat, Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond is a beautiful and touching book to help with the grieving process. Written as a meow memoir in the voice of my cat, Mr. Jazz, it’s touched the hearts of those who have read it, and it is also available on Amazon. If you would prefer a more personalized option, contact me at info@zeezoey.com for details on how to get an autographed copy.
If you’re looking for a fun and whimsical gift, my exclusive CAT LOVER from MEOW to eternity t-shirt with bonus copy of my keepsake, full-color book, The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary is the purr-fect option! Available in three great colors and assorted sizes, it’s the ultimate way to show your love of cats! Please visit this link for purchasing details. And no worries – if you don’t think you’ll be able to get the gifts in time for Valentine’s Day, when it comes to cat stuff, any day is a good day to get a gift!
Hope everyone has a lovely upcoming Valentine’s Day filled with whatever type of heart makes you happy! Me, it’s obvious my cats are on the top of my list!
Awwww! That’s quite a wonderful array of toys and, yes, that heart 😉 My Tarifa brings me sparkle balls. I always praise her and tell her she is my mighty hunting cat, supplier of prey; I don’t know how we’d survive without her excellent and generous hunting skills! 😉
That is so sweet that Zee brings you a heart and so many other gifts 🙂
How sweet of Zee to bring you gifts! We don’t do that with our humans. Maybe we should start!
Zee is a real romantic! How sweet of him to bring you hearts — and other gifts, too. 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day, dear pals.
Zee is the biggest love bug,xx Speedy
That’s so sweet from Zoey ! Zorro often gives gifts to Claire and Momo : mice, birdies, small snakes… , dead or alive ! Purrs
Awww. Love how Zee leaves that heart in special places for you to find. He’s a smart one!
What great gifts they bring to us both “dead” and eternal, right?
Give all the kitties a big smooch from the Squeedunk gang! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Blessings and gifts come in many forms and sizes. Mine generally are the deed mouse kind. But I’d do what you do and dispose in due course, after she has finished! The love heart is a mighty sweet gesture from your Zee, he is a special guy for sure, and you to him too.
Toodle pips and purrs
Erin
Zee is not only a love bug he is THE most gorgeous looking cat!