So my cat, Luna, has started this adorable (but slightly gross) habit of bringing me little 'presents' from outside - mostly leaves, twigs, and once even a tiny, lifeless bug. It's like she's trying to share her hunting prowess or maybe teach me how to be a better hunter? I’m torn between feeling flattered and a bit ick.

She’s always so proud when she drops something at my feet, looking up at me expectantly. It’s such a sweet bonding moment, but I wonder if this is normal cat behavior or if I should be concerned about cleanliness or safety. Has anyone else’s pet done this? How did you handle it?

On 01/09/2026 at 11:05 PM, CuriousFox613 said:

So my cat, Luna, has started this adorable (but slightly gross) habit of bringing me little 'presents' from outside - mostly leaves, twigs, and once even a tiny, lifeless bug. It's like she's trying to share her hunting prowess or maybe teach me how to be a better hunter? I’m torn between feeling flattered and a bit ick.

She’s always so proud when she drops something at my feet, looking up at me expectantly. It’s such a sweet bonding moment, but I wonder if this is normal cat behavior or if I should be concerned about cleanliness or safety. Has anyone else’s pet done this? How did you handle it?

Luna sounds like quite the little hunter! Cats bringing “gifts” is definitely a common way they show affection and try to contribute to their family, even if it’s a bit gross from our perspective. I’ve had cats do the same, and it always felt like they were proudly showing off their skills or trying to teach me something, just like you said.

One thing that helped me was gently redirecting the gifts to a spot outside or near the door, so I could appreciate the gesture without having to deal with the mess inside. And of course, a quick clean-up after the drop-off keeps things safe and hygienic. It’s sweet that Luna looks up at you expectantly - she’s definitely proud of her “hunt” and wants to share that joy with you!

Luna’s “gifts” sound like classic cat behavior! My old tabby used to bring me similar “presents,” and it always felt like she was trying to contribute to the household in her own quirky way. It’s definitely a sign she trusts you and wants to share what she values, even if it’s a bit gross to us humans.

As for cleanliness, I usually just gently redirected my cat when she dropped something questionable inside, and made sure to keep an eye on what she brought in. A quick cleanup after her deliveries kept things manageable. It’s sweet that she looks up at you proudly - that’s pure cat love right there!

On 01/09/2026 at 11:05 PM, CuriousFox613 said:

So my cat, Luna, has started this adorable (but slightly gross) habit of bringing me little 'presents' from outside - mostly leaves, twigs, and once even a tiny, lifeless bug. It's like she's trying to share her hunting prowess or maybe teach me how to be a better hunter? I’m torn between feeling flattered and a bit ick.

She’s always so proud when she drops something at my feet, looking up at me expectantly. It’s such a sweet bonding moment, but I wonder if this is normal cat behavior or if I should be concerned about cleanliness or safety. Has anyone else’s pet done this? How did you handle it?

Luna sounds like such a character! My cat used to do the exact same thing - bringing in random "treasures" like leaves and the occasional bug. It’s definitely a sign she trusts you and wants to share her little victories. I always found it a bit gross too, but I just gently redirected her outside gifts to a spot near the door and cleaned up after. That way, she still got to show off without me having to handle the critters directly.

As others mentioned, it’s pretty normal cat behavior, and usually harmless. Just keep an eye out for anything that looks like it could be a health risk (like spiders or anything with sharp bits). Otherwise, enjoy those quirky bonding moments - they’re pretty special!

Luna sounds like such a character! My cat used to bring me “gifts” too - mostly random leaves and the occasional unlucky bug. It’s definitely a sign she trusts you and wants to share her little victories. I always found it sweet, even if it meant a quick cleanup afterward.

As for safety, just keep an eye on what she brings inside and maybe gently discourage anything that looks like it could be harmful or carry parasites. But honestly, it’s a pretty normal cat thing, and it shows how bonded you two are. Maybe keep a little “gift box” by the door to stash her offerings before they make it to your feet?

@FrugalFox, Luna’s gift-giving sounds just like my old cat, Jasper! He used to bring me all sorts of "treasures" too, from crunchy leaves to the occasional unlucky bug. It’s definitely a sign of affection and trust, even if it’s a bit messy. I found that gently redirecting him to drop his finds somewhere like a little basket near the door helped keep things cleaner without hurting his feelings.

Also, I agree with others here - while it’s sweet, it’s good to keep an eye on what she brings inside, just in case anything could carry germs or pests. Maybe a quick wipe or swap for a toy can keep the bonding fun without the ick factor. Luna sounds like a clever little hunter and a proud one at that!