Reasons for cats' fascination with cardboard boxes
Illustrative photo (Photo: Freepik)
Almost all cats absolutely adore various boxes. And it's not surprising because they allow them to express their instincts, play, find a place to sleep, and even mark their territory. Why cats like cardboard boxes is explained by RBC-Ukraine, according to Treehugger.
Reduce stress
Cats get stressed by various changes in their surroundings. Their own cardboard box helps alleviate it as cats can hide in it and calm down. In several studies on this topic, scientists concluded that besides reducing anxiety, boxes helped cats adapt to changes around them and safeguard their health from stressful factors.
Place a box for your pet when you bring a new one home or after relocating to a new place.
Hiding spot
Safety, which means the ability to hide, is important for most mammals, including cats. And a box fits this purpose very well. A cat will use it as a hiding spot when neighbors are making loud repairs or strangers come home.
Maintaining temperature
Cats have a higher body temperature than humans - 38.8 degrees is the norm. They are biologically adapted to a higher environmental temperature, and the cardboard in the box helps retain warmth. That's why animals feel comfortable and cozy in boxes.
If you put a blanket or a sweater inside, this house becomes even more attractive for the cat. The warmth relaxes cats and helps them sleep soundly.
However, it's not advisable to place a box near a heater because the cat may not immediately sense overheating.
For hunting
Even a couch cat is still a predator. Cats like to sit in ambush and track their prey. At home, they usually have no one to hunt, but they will enjoy playing a hunting game with their owner or toys.
Intellectual and physical stimulation for a domestic cat is essential, so leave a box for it to play with.
Previously, we wrote about how to protect your cat from a Christmas tree.
We also talked about why a cat walks behind you tailing and never takes its eyes off you.
