Content
- Don't like your bed?
- 6 reasons why cats like the boxes so much:
- 1. The survival instinct
- 3. The temperature
- 4. Curiosity
- 5. The box
- 6. The stress
Cats are very playful animals, able to be distracted by anything they come across that seems a little curious to them. We often spend money on expensive toys for cats and they tend to be more interested in simple balls of paper or pens, for example, than in a doll designed especially for felines.
The same happens with the sleeping beds. Have you ever thought that your cat prefers to spend the day or night inside an empty box than in your cot? This is something that amuses cat owners, who cannot explain this behavior.
To solve your doubts once and for all, at Animal Expert we want to talk to you about this topic. Why are cats so fond of boxes? You will see that this is no whim on the part of your little friend and that they have a reason to prefer cardboard boxes.
Don't like your bed?
The scene is typical: you have just bought a new bed for your cat, or a toy, and the cat prefers to use the box of some item, rather than the item itself. It can sometimes be frustrating for owners who have carefully chosen a gift for their kitten.
In cases like these, don't be discouraged: your cat will appreciate you bringing him home such a perfect box just for him. This doesn't mean that you don't appreciate the other things you give him, or that he's ungrateful. The box, despite its simplicity, brings together a series of irresistible attractions that can be difficult for a human to guess.
6 reasons why cats like the boxes so much:
Now, it's time to reveal to you why cats are so fond of the box in which their last appliance came, and from which your cat doesn't want to be separated. There are several factors that make it a perfect toy/home for your feline:
1. The survival instinct
Although inside the houses and apartments it is very unlikely that cats will find anything that wants to hurt them, the instinct to keep themselves safe persists. of the predators, which is the same thing that often leads them to prefer high places at bedtime. Remember that they spend a large part of their time sleeping, that is, to be calm they must find a place that gives them a feeling of security.
The same thing happens with the boxes: for your cat it's like a den in which you can feel safe from any danger, it also allows them to isolate themselves from the outside world and have a space just for themselves, in which they can be calm and enjoy their solitude.
2. The hunt
Maybe your cat looks like a sweet little animal, with its shiny fur, its funny mustaches and its adorable paw pads. However, it should be remembered that in a wild environment the cat is a hunting animal, a natural predator of smaller beings.
In the darkness of its box/burrow, the cat feels that is on the lookout for its next prey, prepared to surprise you at any moment, no matter if it is a toy that you show it yourself, a human leg or some insect that passes in front of your hiding place. This one in the box is a reminder of your hunting spirit.
3. The temperature
You've probably already noticed that your cat loves to lie in the sun, hide between sheets or sofa cushions, and even inside closets. This is because your body needs to be at a temperature of 36°C. In other words, he looks for the best places to stay warm and comfortable.
Cardboard boxes, due to the material they are made of, provide a sheltered and warm refuge for the animal, so it is not surprising that they go crazy as soon as they see one inside.
4. Curiosity
It is completely true that cats are very curious, anyone who has one at home will have already seen it: they always want to sniff, bite and stick their head in or near those things that seem to them to be new and interesting, so if bought something that comes in a box he will surely want investigate what it's about.
5. The box
Another reason why cats like boxes so much is due to the texture of the material in the box, which is perfect for the cat to scratch and bite, something you've certainly noticed that you love to do. Plus, you can sharpen your nails and mark your territory with ease.
6. The stress
As interesting data, a study recently done by researchers at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Utrech. located in the Netherlands, found that another reason cats like the boxes so much is because it helps them to manage stress.
The investigation took place in an animal refuge, where 19 cats that had just arrived at the refuge were chosen, a situation that usually unnerves the cats because they find themselves in a new place, surrounded by people and so many unknown animals.
Of the chosen group, 10 were provided with boxes and the other 9 were not. After a few days, it was concluded that those cats that had a box adapted more quickly than those that did not have access to the box, as it allowed them to have a place of their own and in which they could take refuge. This happened thanks to all the positive characteristics we mentioned that cats love so much.
You can take advantage of this peculiar taste of cats and make homemade toys out of cardboard boxes. Your cat will love it and you'll have fun watching him!
