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applegrove

(133,570 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:41 PM Sunday

Anyone else have a cat that does this?

https://hosting.photobucket.com/2371723f-efe8-4e9c-8efd-6ff1fd8348c2/76c287a7-ed74-447e-9628-4cf6a0b13c62.mp4

My cat comes to me at night with a non catnip mouse and meows for a few minutes. He doesn't give me the "gift'. When I tug on it he grabs on for dear life. About 3 or 4 minutes in he drops the mouse and when I try and pat him he bites me. An not a little love bite. He doesn't break skin but he's not being friendly. Then he calms down after another 4 minutes and stays by me. Maybe it has catnip in it. He's just started doing this in the last 3 months.
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orleans

(37,373 posts)
1. i don't have a cat (i did when i was little until everyone figured out that was why i kept sneezing and
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:45 PM
Sunday

getting asthma attacks) but how long have you had this cat? is it a matter of trust?

applegrove

(133,570 posts)
4. I'm beginning to think he is stoned. I've had the stuffed mice
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:54 PM
Sunday

for about a year and he wasn't too into them at first. In the last few months he has brought them to me and not put them down. Maybe he finally figured out the catnip part and he is stoned but doesn't know what to do about it so he comes to me and meows for 3 minutes. Then he is stoned so he plays rough with me. Then it wares off and he sits near me. He usually sleeps on me when I lay down and watch the tv. It is not a trust thing as he follows me around the apartment all day. He loves getting belly rubs.

I think I have solved it. I've had him for 12 years and he never seemed to take to catnip until now. He looks stoned in the photo/video.

orleans

(37,373 posts)
9. well, i don't know if he looks stoned but he def. looks like a pretty kitty
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 11:02 PM
Sunday

perhaps catnip is an acquired taste for some fluffs and it took him this long to acquire it.
lol.
who knows? i didn't like drinking a premier or atkins protein shake or whatever they are until a few months ago. now, i still don't love it but i can drink one nearly every day.

wnylib

(26,732 posts)
11. When he brings the empty mouse to you,
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 11:06 PM
Sunday

maybe he wants you to "fix" it, e.g put more catnip in it.

When you don't, he gets pissed off and bites.

"Hey, more catnip!"

applegrove

(133,570 posts)
12. It is a stuffed mouse. He may have needed to bite
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 11:09 PM
Sunday

into it quite deep to activate the catnip.

SheltieLover

(82,471 posts)
2. Maybe a desire to hunt?
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:46 PM
Sunday

Try these?

https://www.chewy.com/doc-phoebes-cat-co-indoor-hunting-cat/dp/179102?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20206679197&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20203188137&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V2_hkjvHqkftFdSTlEMYI6jO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwornRBhCrARIsAON5exGNeyvEmOgY169ajGXlIBBZbqBqgLAHwe7B0dStsuUqEx8IrUgNk-saAtvIEALw_wcB

I bought a set for my late rescue girl to try to encourage exercise.

She gave me the "don't infantalize me" look, then my Pittie ate one of the plastic mice.

There is a whole theory of feeding this way. Something about cats getting sort of depressed when they don't get to hunt & kill.

Good luck!

applegrove

(133,570 posts)
5. I think he just figured out how to get the catnip out of the mice
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:56 PM
Sunday

in the last few months. I've had these mice for at least a year and he didn't seem to interested in them until recently.

wnylib

(26,732 posts)
7. When I give my cat treats, I put a few in her dish, then
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 11:01 PM
Sunday

put 5 of them in different places around her cat trees (she has 3 of them in varying sizes). She likes to sniff and locate them.

She is used to looking for 5 pieces. If I put out only 4, she looks around and then at me accusingly. "Hey! Where is #5?"

Response to applegrove (Original post)

IbogaProject

(6,151 posts)
16. The natural way is a live plant outside
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 01:13 AM
Yesterday

Last edited Mon Jun 15, 2026, 09:46 AM - Edit history (1)

Then they roll around. With toys they ride that buzz longer. We had a sweet cat who would get ornery when coming off it

applegrove

(133,570 posts)
17. Mine did it again tonight. This time I was on to him
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 01:58 AM
Yesterday

being buzzed. It did not worry me so much. Thanks.

rampartd

(5,408 posts)
18. your cat thinks you need hunting practice
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 05:43 AM
Yesterday

she is bringing you the mouse so you can maul it, and is trying to coach .

applegrove

(133,570 posts)
19. He brings it to me, meows and then won't give it to me. I grab it and pull sometimes
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 02:17 PM
Yesterday

and he won't let me have it. I think he is just stoned and confused and comes to me for comfort.

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