She started to bring us presents. Cats bring presents to their owners. Dead mice, dead birds, sometimes live ones.
In my house there are 5 cats, all children of a Siamese cat that we have also kept for a few years, and none of them have ever brought me anything, haha, it must be because they do not like me very much, a pity.
It is quite interesting that they have released the mouse, I confess that I personally wouldn't have thought of doing that.
Cats are definitely a great pet, and it is as you say, we do not choose them, they choose us.