A cat owner was left in shock after her beloved pet presented her with an unexpected 'gift', prompting her to scream and run to get a glass of water.
Vanessa was enjoying some time in the sun on the patio at her home when her feline friend, Rocky, came to join her - carrying a large orange object in his mouth.
After dropping the item at her feet, it quickly became apparent to Vanessa what it was - a fish from a nearby pond. In a bid to save its life, she subsequently got up and ran inside, grabbing a salad bowl and filling it with tap water.
Thankfully, Vanessa's quick thinking did the trick – but despite rescuing the fish, she was met with her local veterinary clinic's refusal to examine it.
Instead, she appealed on social media to locate the fish's owner, which was thankfully seen by a local resident living around half a mile away who came forward to collect it.
The owner also responded to Vanessa's post, pointing out that in fact, two of her fish had recently gone missing.
Writing in response, one person urged: "Keep your cats indoors! You can't imagine the damage these animals do to small wildlife."
A second added: "Rocky wanted a friend or to make a fish on the grill... let's hope the fish aren't too traumatised."
A third individual declared: "These cats think they're allowed to do anything!"
While a fourth pointed out: "It's not about the food chain since they don't kill to feed themselves. Cats today just kill for fun since they have their kibble waiting for them at home."
According to Floppy Cats, the smell of fish is always alluring for cats because it is one of the most intense meat smells.
"While the scent of fish usually makes us cover our noses, it drives cats wild because, unlike humans, who are omnivores, cats are carnivores," they explain online. "This makes the smell of meat much more attractive to them."
Floppy Cats continue: "Fish meals are rich in protein, omega-3, taurine, and other essential nutrients for cats. This is why there are so many options for professional diet food for cats based on fish meat. It is a type of meat that cats respond quickly to and can meet their dietary requirements."
But do cats actually hunt for fish? The website adds: "While cats typically hunt on land, they will also resort to fishing to feed if the opportunity presents itself.
Cats are decent swimmers, but they will not venture into deep waters. But they will undoubtedly seize the opportunity if they can reach fish easily, close to land."
