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The Conversation

Environment

Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne

Why do our dogs and cats bring us dead animals?

Samantha Fortney/Unsplash, CC BY

What do a little penguin, a baby rabbit, a black rat and a Krefft’s glider have in common? They’ve all been presented to me (when dead) by my animal companions. Chances are, if you live with a cat or dog, you’ve also been brought something similar.

So, is it a gift, are they showing off, or is something else going on?

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