Cats are mysterious little creatures that we share our lives with, but do we ever really know what’s going on inside those furry little heads of theirs? I mean, sure, we like to think we’ve got them all figured out: they sleep, they eat, they occasionally grace us with their presence when they’re feeling particularly generous. But every now and then, they remind us that we don’t know jack about what they’re really up to.
Take, for example, the case of one particularly resourceful feline who decided to bring home a full-course seafood dinner despite living nowhere near the ocean. The story unfolded on TikTok, where user @madeslime26 shared a video that quickly went viral. In the clip, we see her cat waiting patiently by the window, eager to be let inside. But there’s a catch ⏤ the cat has a whole fish in its mouth. The woman is understandably baffled. I mean, where did this cat even get a fish from?
Did this cat secretly hire a fishing boat and spend the day out on the open water, reeling in its catch? Did it make some sort of shady deal with a local fishmonger, trading catnip for a fresh fillet? Or maybe, just maybe, this cat is actually a shape-shifting mermaid who’s been living among us all along, and this is just its way of trying to blow its cover. Who knows?
The thing is, as much as we like to joke about our cats and their quirky little personalities, there’s actually a pretty sweet explanation for why they sometimes bring us “gifts” like this. Cats are natural providers, and when they care about someone, they want to show it by sharing their resources. So, when your cat drops a dead mouse at your feet or tries to bring a fish into your house, it’s actually their way of saying, “Hey, I love you. I caught this for you. Aren’t you proud of me?” It’s a little gross, sure, but it’s also kind of adorable.
Of course, this unexpected turn of events hardly simplifies how one should react on the spot when your cat parades in with an unexpected gift. Do you scold them for making a mess? Or do you just shrug your shoulders and accept that this is your life now? It’s a tough call.
This dilemma was all too real for TikToker @madeslime26, who found herself in a standoff, not quite ready to let her feline friend and his aquatic haul cross the threshold. “You’re not coming in here with that,” she insisted. But the internet, being the internet, had some thoughts on the matter. One user wrote, “HE WORKED SO HARD FOR YOU THO.” Another chimed in, “Mans just trying to feed his family,” painting the cat as a noble provider. Others shared their own experiences with feline gift-giving. “My old cat used to occasionally come home with specifically 5 dollars,” one user revealed, leaving us all to wonder if their cat had a secret side hustle.
Personally, I like to think that this cat is a secret genius who has figured out how to use Uber Eats without opposable thumbs. In which case, I have just one thing to say: teach me your ways, wise one.