# Why do cats and squirrels leave me things? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724 "2022-06-06T03:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/1 "2022-06-06T03:20:42Z")
My next door neighbor’s cat has crossed my backyard many times, and while s/he looks at me when I happen to be out onto my back deck, s/he runs away if I get too close. Every once in a while, I’ll see some twigs or stones on the deck (that I normally sweep off with a broom). I finally was curious enough to see how they got there, so I checked the Nest cam and saw the cat make a few trips to leave me the gifts. On another corner of my deck (at a different time), a squirrel seems to also want to leave me acorns and other items. I now feel kind of guilty for sweeping all that off, as I may be offending the animals in my neighborhood. So why are these friendly critters leaving me things? ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/2 "2022-06-06T08:28:44Z")
Those aren’t for you. Those poor creatures are star-crossed lovers, doomed by the enmity of their clans to never be together. These little tokens are all they have to share. Or: They’re vying for your affection, trying to outdo each other in their tributes. Whatever you do, don’t favor one offering over the other. We’ve all seen that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/3 "2022-06-06T08:36:29Z")
Could be worse. The cat could be giving you dead (or not quite dead yet) prey. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/4 "2022-06-06T09:57:24Z")
They clearly both worship you as a God. Bestow your favor on the one which brings the most glorious tribute, and damn the other to the seventh generation. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/5 "2022-06-06T11:44:54Z")
This thread made me weirdly happy​:chipmunk:🐈🍀 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/6 "2022-06-06T11:49:40Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > So why are these friendly critters leaving me things? Oh, that is just a “usage fee” for crossing or using your back yard. LOL ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/7 "2022-06-06T12:21:12Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > > > So why are these friendly critters leaving me things? > > Oh, that is just a “usage fee” for crossing or using your back yard. LOL - A _real_ cat would charge _you_. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/8 "2022-06-06T13:07:39Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > Those poor creatures are star-crossed lovers, doomed by the enmity of their clans to never be together. The love that dares not speak its name. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/9 "2022-06-06T13:15:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@HelenGawn](#): > > > > Those poor creatures are star-crossed lovers, doomed by the enmity of their clans to never be together. > > The love that dares not speak its name. - #CrossSpeciesLivesMatter ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/10 "2022-06-07T00:52:06Z")
Well, if I can’t be king of the humans…. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-and-squirrels-leave-me-things/965724/11 "2022-06-07T07:45:58Z")
Is your name Doolittle and are you a physician?