If you have ever bought your cat an expensive bed, scratching tower, or new toy only to watch them ignore it and climb into the cardboard box it came in, you are not alone.
Cats seem to have a strange fascination with boxes.
Big boxes, small boxes, shipping boxes, shoe boxes, it usually does not matter. If there is an empty cardboard box somewhere in the house, there is a good chance your cat will eventually investigate it.
So why do cats love boxes so much? It does not take a Psycatrist to help understand you furry feline’s obsession.
Boxes Make Cats Feel Safe
First and foremost, one of the biggest reasons is security.
Cats naturally look for places where they can hide while still being able to watch what is happening around them. A box provides walls on several sides, giving a cat a protected place where nothing can easily sneak up from behind.
This instinct goes back to your cats’ ancestors in the wild. Finding a protected hiding place could mean the difference between safety and danger.
Your living room may not have many predators, but your cat’s instincts do not know that.
Boxes Are Perfect Ambush Spots
Cats are natural predators.
Even the sweetest house cat still has hunting instincts, and boxes make excellent places to practice them.
A cat can hide inside a box, wait for something interesting to pass, and suddenly leap out.
That “something interesting” might be another cat, a toy, or your unsuspecting ankle.
To a cat, this can be great entertainment.
Cardboard Is Comfortable
Cardboard also makes a surprisingly comfortable place for cats to relax.
It provides insulation and helps hold in body heat. Cats generally enjoy warmer temperatures than humans do, so a cardboard box can become a cozy little retreat.
This may explain why a cat can look perfectly comfortable curled up inside a box that appears far too small.
Cats apparently have a different definition of comfortable than we do.
Boxes Help Reduce Stress
Boxes can also help cats cope with unfamiliar or stressful situations.
If visitors arrive, furniture gets moved, or something changes in the household, a cat may retreat to a box or another enclosed space.
Having a safe hiding place gives the cat an opportunity to observe what is happening without feeling exposed.
This is especially helpful for shy cats or cats adjusting to a new home.
Cats Are Naturally Curious
Of course, there is another simple reason.
Cats are just curious.
A new box brings new smells, textures, and possibilities. It may smell like a warehouse, delivery truck, another house, or something else your cat has never encountered.
Naturally, it must be inspected.
And apparently the best way to inspect a box is to sit in it.
Should You Let Your Cat Play in Boxes?
Absolutely, as long as the box is clean and safe.
Remove staples, tape, plastic, string, and anything else that could cause injury or be swallowed. If the box becomes damaged, wet, or heavily chewed, replace it.
You can even turn ordinary boxes into inexpensive cat toys by cutting safe openings in the sides or arranging several boxes together.
In the end, cats love boxes because boxes provide many things cats naturally want: warmth, security, privacy, entertainment, and a good place to ambush somebody walking past.
So the next time you spend $75 on a fancy cat bed and your cat chooses the shipping box instead, don’t take it personally.
Your cat isn’t rejecting your gift.
They’re just reminding you that sometimes the best cat toy in the house is free.
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