The Fascinating Reason Why Cats Are Obsessed With Boxes
As a connoisseur of cats, I’ve never seen a feline that didn’t love a good old-fashioned cardboard box. Whether it’s a shoebox, laundry basket, or suitcase, cats seem to have an innate attraction to enclosed spaces. But why do they love boxes so much? Let’s explore this intriguing behavior.
This box makes me feel safe!
Plain and simple, a box provides security for a cat. It creates a cozy space where they can hide and feel safe from potential threats. Whether it’s a tiny kitten in an oversized box or a large cat squeezing into a small one, boxes grant a sense of comfort and protection.
According to Stephen Zawistowski, a science adviser for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:
“Cats like boxes because they are cryptic animals; they like to hide. And a box gives them a place of safety and security.”
For those cats who love to nap (up to 15 hours a day, believe it or not!), a box serves as the perfect hideaway. With its walls providing a comforting barrier, it’s a place where they can sleep undisturbed.
Cat bed? No, this box will do
Many cat owners can relate to spending significant money on fancy beds, only to find their cats basking in the box the bed came in. This is a humorous but common reality! Cats tend to prefer the box due to its security, viewing it as a personal hideout rather than their designated bed.
Boxes offer an ideal location for cats to escape stress or conflict, aligning more with their instinctual need to avoid confrontation.
Big cats love boxes, too!
Even bigger cats exhibit similar behavior! You might be surprised to learn that lions and tigers enjoy the coziness of a box just like domestic cats. It’s a fascinating similarity that underscores a core instinct shared across feline species.
Curious about cats embodying the “if I fits, I sits” mentality? Check out this [fun collection of videos on our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-UCXBnz07waHWsTsc5F3mw).
Boxes have been used to reduce stress levels of shelter cats
Stress is a significant concern in animal shelters, where cats can endure high-stress environments. A study conducted in the Netherlands demonstrated that providing boxes in cages can significantly reduce stress in shelter cats. The research indicated that shelter cats with access to hiding boxes had lower stress levels than those without.
Shelters are often loud and bustling, which can be overwhelming for cats—whose sense of hearing is five times as acute as humans. The study concluded that the provision of hiding boxes greatly aids the emotional well-being of newly arrived cats, helping them acclimate to their new surroundings.
The results and findings:
The study revealed important insights:
– A significant difference was observed between cats with and without boxes, particularly noted on observation days three and four, where those with boxes exhibited lower mean stress scores.
– Cats in the hiding box group showed consistent low stress levels, while the group without had high variances in their scores.
– By day fourteen, stress levels equalized across groups, but the box group reached recovery sooner.
These findings underscore that while boxes may seem trivial, they play a vital role in improving a cat’s ability to manage stress in a new environment.
In summary, the particular allure of boxes lies in their function as safe havens that allow cats to retreat from the world around them. Understanding this behavior deepens our appreciation for our feline friends and their quirky habits.
Curious about more cat behaviors? Dive into our articles exploring the full range of feline antics!
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