WHY DO CATS LIKE BOXES?
If you are lucky enough to have cats in your home, chances are you have seen your cat playing with boxes. Cats have a strange affinity for boxes. They use them as hiding places, makeshift beds, and strategic locations to sneak attack. You might have wondered “Why cats like boxes so much?” You might wonder why cats love boxes. They feel safe, provide shelter for their hunting, keep them warm, and are new and interesting additions to your home. This fascinating topic is about the strange connection between cats, boxes and humans.
Boxes make great hunting hideouts
Boxes are a great hiding place for cats. Boxes are great for sneaking attacks on other cats and your ankles.
Boxes make cats feel secure
Boxes make cats feel secure.2 They have four walls that surround them making it harder for any other creature to enter. A box can remind cats of the time they spent with their moms when they were kittens.
Gourkow & Phillips (2016) studied clicker training in shelter cats and found that cats were more relaxed when given boxes. It is a good idea to bring a cardboard box with you when you first bring a cat home. If your cat is happy to have a place to call home, it might be more comfortable for him to feel at ease.
They help keep cats warm
Keep cats warm with boxes. Cats can have body temperatures between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. They can retain their heat by using cardboard insulation.
The insulation cats need when outside is what they crave, as well as shelter from the elements. Even if your cat spends most of its time indoors, it still needs shelter.
The Box Is Both New and Mysterious
A box’s “newness” might attract your cat’s attention. They will explore every inch of new landmarks and even check if the new box fits inside.
This “new factor” might explain why cats prefer paper to bags. It can be tempting to give your cat a fresh chance to explore by giving you a bag or crinkled paper.
Large Cats Love Boxes Too
Surprised to find out that large cats just love boxes as much as your pet cat?6
Big Cat Rescue7 filmed large cats reacting with large cardboard boxes placed inside their sanctuaries. The big cats behaved just like your pet cat. It could be anything from a leopard lying in a box to tigers using it as a toy or sneak attack weapon. It is fascinating to discover that large cats respond to boxes in the same way as their smaller brother cats.
How to make boxes more inviting and safer
Your cat may love boxes. However, there are ways you can make them safer. Check for any tape or staples that may have gotten on the fur of your cat before you give it a box.
It’s best to keep the box on a solid surface that won’t allow it to tip over. This means that a floor might be a better option than a box placed on top of a cat tree. You should keep your cat away from high-traffic areas if they are shy.
It is possible to make your cat’s box more comfortable by covering it with soft blankets or putting in one of their favorite toys. You can make your area feel more comfortable by placing a calm diffuser for cats near it. A calming diffuser for cats releases an odorless, drug free vapor that mimics cat’s pheromones. This enables the area to feel more secure. This is a kind of cat signal that allows her to relax.
You should celebrate your cat’s affection for boxes and encourage it. You can add a box to your cat’s “toy” collection if your cat is feeling stressed, needs extra warmth, or simply wants to play.
Aspen Grove Vet
- Purina
- Catster
- Pet MD
- Inverse
- The Dodo
- Big Cat Rescue’s video
Additional Resource:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cat
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/cats-meow
https://icatcare.org/