why do cats love boxes so much

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There are lots of reasons that cats love boxes, but the main one is because they’re confined, enclosed spaces. Cats are ambush predators and finding confined places where they can hide, hunt prey and feel safe and warm is an instinctive behaviour. Snug cardboard boxes fit the bill perfectly.

Why Do Cats Like Boxes?(Credit:Khomulo Anna/Shutter)

Some studies have found that when shelter cats are given boxes to hide in, their stress levels drop significantly. In a piece for The Conversation, veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman explains that hunkering down in small, enclosed spaces is a kind of “swaddling” behavior left over from cuddling up with their moms and littermates when they were kittens.

However, box sitting may be beneficial for cats’ mental health in addition to being adorable. According to Dodman, “cats require boxes or other vessels for the purpose of environmental enrichment.” Thus, kindly give your cats those Amazon boxes.

1. Boxes Provide Safety and Security for Cats

why do cats love boxes so much

Probably the main reason cats find boxes so appealing is safety and security. Cats often hide or seek out enclosed spaces when they are stressed or afraid. It’s instinctual. Nothing can approach her from the side or behind while she’s enclosed in a box. She has a direct field of vision to anything approaching. Cats use boxes as a coping mechanism because they are cozy and help them feel less anxious.

Even Sphynx cats without fur, who are noted for regulating their body temperature differently, appreciate the safety of boxes. For a cat, adjusting to a new environment can be quite stressful; a hiding box helps to ease the transition. Every level of the Cat Condos at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts offers the comfort and security that felines seek, so there are lots of hiding places for our guests’ cats. The condos are designed like multi-level cubicles. Cats leap from one cubicle to the next; each level is a private space that is enclosed on three sides.

The University of Utrecht conducted a study in a Dutch animal shelter wherein 19 recently adopted cats were split into two groups. “Hiding boxes” were provided to one of the two groups during the period of acclimatization and socialization. When stress markers were applied to the two groups of cats, it was discovered that the cats who received hiding boxes displayed noticeably less stress than the group that did not receive boxes. They adapted to their new environment more quickly. Having a box to hide in provided these scared and anxious shelter cats with security and comfort. Poor little things….

What other factors might cause a cat to be drawn to a box?

5. Cats Like the Warmth of Boxes

why do cats love boxes so much

This really caught my attention: cats feel most comfortable in temperatures between 86 and 97 degrees. Most people’s homes are around 72 -76 degrees. That is between 14 and 21 degrees below the minimum thermoneutral temperature for cats. Unbelievably, they’re just cold! A corrugated box works well as an insulator.

FAQ

Why do cats go crazy for cardboard?

Cardboard and paper have an organic texture that feels a lot like the kinds of surfaces cats use in nature to scratch, chew, or climb. Corrugated cardboard can mimic tree bark, giving your cat plenty of temptation for scratching or climbing.

Why do cats like squares so much?

Domestic cats like to be enclosed, and even if the square is flat and two-dimensional, it might still make them feel safe. Being surrounded by a boundary will give them the perception that they’re hiding, and are protected from threats and are less “out in the open” than if they were outside of the square.

Why is it good for cats to play in cardboard boxes?

Cats fancy cardboard boxes because they are a secure place to retreat. They offer warmth and protection from other pets and people, and cats enjoy playing in them. Cats also have a great time scratching and chewing at the box, which can be harmless fun as long as you supervise them.

Do cats like beds in boxes?

Cats adore boxes not just as a safe place to hide but as a plaything too. Expect to find your cat not just hiding in a box but sitting, sleeping and playing too. Place a blanket in a box to make it a cosy sleep space or leave a feather in the bottom and watch them pounce and play.