Cats are funny creatures. Sometimes they want love, and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they want to be picked up and pet, and sometimes they would rather swat at your outstretched hand like an enemy encroaching on sacred territory—but if they want your attention and they’re not getting it, they have some chaotic ways of making your head turn!
Winston is one of those cats. He wants to be loved, and he wants to play. If his parents aren’t available, well, some books might go toppling down from the top of the shelf.
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Recently, though, Winston has come up with a very wholesome way of demanding his parents’ attention, and the adorable playtime cue was captured on video and shared on Winston’s YouTube page.
“If you can hear that little meow,” the video captions read, “this is the sound he’ll make when he wants to play, but it’s not just the meow. He’s also now bringing us his toys that he wants to play with.”
The video depicts a series of these intrusions, each showing Winston coming with a different tiny toy in his mouth.
Imagine you’re hard at work, tapping away at your keyboard, when a fluffy little muffin walks in, meowing and carrying a mouse toy that he then drops at your feet. Winston is right. It is time for a play break!
“He’s been doing it over and over these past few weeks,” the video says. “We of course have to comply with this new demand of his, because he gets so excited every time.”
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Why Do Cats Bring Their Parents Toys?
Winston’s parents are right. These little toy drop-offs are certainly a sign that Winston has decided it’s time to play, but there are other reasons cats will bring toys to their parents.
Just as when a cat brings a dead mouse or other prey to its mom and dad, carrying a toy in their mouth is a way of presenting a trophy, signaling a successful hunt and bringing something their parents should be proud of.
It’s a way of sharing their love for you, showing affection, and demonstrating that they trust you wholeheartedly. It’s with you that they’d like to spend their time, staving off boredom and engaging in all the instinctive behaviors cats love, like hunting, chasing and pouncing. They also might be trying to teach you how to hunt!
No matter the reasons, it’s important to take that moment to engage with your cat playfully and joyfully. This is a bonding experience, and positive reinforcement will go a long way.
So if your cat pulls a Winston and brings a toy over, don’t just shoo them away and say, “I’m busy.” Take a mini break of 10 minutes or so and engage with your cat. That love will go a long way!
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This story was originally published by PawNation on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here.