Stealing Items

Question
Hi Jessica I have a question about 2 of our cats. Well the first is that or cat named Bat-Cat will grag blankets sock underwear and even sheets throughout the house for no particular reason. She was spayed at an early age. The n Or other, Peaches, Has a little fake racoon tail and a little gorilla. She will meow and cary them to the water bowl and puts them in the water then she cries for another five minutes. Is that normal? ( peaches we adopted and dont know her life before hers at our house except that kids from her neiborhood abused her ) Well PLEASE help me! Thankyou Sarah

Answer
Hi Sarah.  Collecting is actually sort of common.  It can be the way a cat plays out her maternal instincts.  Even if spayed, a female cat's brain is wired to take care of babies.  And they can use any type of objects as babies.  Socks and underwear are favorites.  I've got a Siamese who loves them.

Bringing "prey" to the water bowl is a natural instinct, too.  Cats see where they eat and sleep as their dens.  And in nature, cats will often bring their prey back to their den to eat.  That's usually what's going on when toys are left in food and water bowls.  However, it could be that the crying is also a mothering instinct, and she's calling to her (imaginary) babies to come eat what she's caught.  This would be most common in cats who've had litters.  With many cats, once they have a litter, they will display strong mothering behavior for life.