Our cat has recently started carrying her toys around in her mouth and howls when she carries them. Why does she do this?
by 
NeimanMarcus
ANSWERS: 3
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My cat does this too. I was worried the first few times because it sounded like she was hurt. I would go running into the room only to find her with a defeated mousie toy dangling from her mouth. I think this may be related to behavior exhibited by outdoor cats. When a mother cat catches a mouse, her instincts tell her to bring it back to the nest for the family or just to keep it safe from other predators. To an outdoor cat, the people are her family and she will bring prey back for them (live offerings or just fresh meat, much to their dismay). She will often howl until someone praises her for her catch. My cat usually stops howling when I pet her and tell her what a good huntress she is to have caught such a vicious stuffed mouse. Give it a try, but if that doesn't work, I'd suggest a call to the vet just to make sure everything is alright.
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This is probably just a way of saying "Hey Mom! Look at me! Look what I got!" Cats triumph often over their catches. Even when they aren't real...haha. Praise her for her efforts and she may quiet herself.
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My cat does this too! I agree with Darkling, I thought my cat was hurt too. But after talking to the vet, I found out its just instinctive. It's odd though, my cat never meows other than when she has her fake white mouse in her mouth. I used to think she was mute.
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