r/Eyebleach 15d ago

Kitten learns how to groom itself by watching a tutorial

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u/mwestadt 15d ago

Nature vs nurture? Mmmm. When I was about 8, our cat had kittens. We had lots of woods and weeds behind our house. Momma cat was outside with the kittens. They stayed put while momma went across the creek into the tall weeds and brought back a mouse. Momma had made sure the mouse was dazed but not dead. They formed a circle and mom cat put the mouse in the middle. She took a couple of bats at it. Then one by one each kitten took an unsure turn of stepping forward and giving the mouse a bat with their paws. MOUSE SCHOOL! some cats may know what to do with a mouse and some may not. I think grooming is the same. I have never forgotten watching that as it still amazes me

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u/beecityuk 14d ago

There's a theory that this is why cats bring their owners half dead prey as a 'gift'. They realise you're rubbish at hunting so they're trying to teach you.

We have indoor cats but they get given frozen mice as a treat and they play with them and there's no chance they'll share. So we get brought bits of string as a gift, they look so proud!