My cat picks up odd things all the time. Little things (earrings, screws, pencils) left on the kitchen counter and knocks them on the floor. I think he either likes the sound of the drop or actually watching things drop ?? I lost a new earring once, only one was on the counter...no idea of where the other one was, until I turned on the garbage disposer and heard crunch, crunch...Oh, if I leave a brillo pad out, he is fascinated with them. I find them everywhere.