Why do cats like boxes?

Any cat parent with an active Amazon Prime account could tell you just how much their cat loves a good old box. Poised, perched, and ready to pounce - that empty cardboard box their latest purchase arrived in surely won’t stay empty for long! 

It’s true that cats are curious creatures with many ‘quirks’, which - don’t get us wrong, we love - but do tend to baffle us humans. After all, what’s the big deal - why do cats like boxes so much? 

Well, as with many commonly asked cat questions, there are a few reasons as to why. So, without further ado, let’s delve into them…

Why do cats like boxes?

Because it feels safe

Let's not overcomplicate things here - one of the simplest reasons as to why cats love empty boxes is because they make cats feel safe! 

It's true - the cozy, close confines of a cardboard box feel super comforting for our cats - it's why they'll often retreat to their trusty old cardboard box in stressful situations.

A 2014 study went one step further and showed that shelter cats who were given a cardboard box upon arrival at a Dutch animal shelter had lower stress levels than those without a box. There’s further evidence to suggest it may even remind our cats of being snuggled up with their moms as kittens. Cute, right? 

It makes a great hideout spot

Why do cats like cardboard boxes? Yup - the answer could well lie in your feline friend's wild ancestral instincts...

As ambush predators, cats love small, enclosed spaces (like the sleeping boxes in these catios!) where they can be hidden away from predators but still clearly see out of - and pounce upon prey (or, you know, their wind-up mouse toy) whenever the opportunity presents itself. And in that sense, a cardboard box definitely ticks the, well, box!

Because it's nice and warm

Your cat's ideal temperature is around 101 - 102.5 °F - and keeping warm is top priority. As cardboard is a naturally great insulator, a box can help your mog retain their body heat while providing the purrfect place to curl up and catch a few zzz's.

But warmth doesn’t exactly explain why your kitty chooses a cardboard box over, say, their plush, padded-out (and probably pretty expensive) cat bed. So, why do cats like boxes over beds? The jury's still out on that one. What did we say? Cats are complex, curious creatures… 

Because it’s new and interesting

It's not just a cardboard box that captures your kitty's attention - cat owners will know that a grocery bag left on the kitchen floor will soon enough have a feline planted on it within seconds. So, why do cats like bags and boxes?

New things are interesting to cats - it’s as simple as that - and any new thing that comes into your home needs your kitty’s full inspection (and ultimately, approval). Not to mention, boxes and bags are pretty fun for cats - they can bite, tear, and scratch at them to their heart's content - they really are the gift that keeps on giving.

They’re small and cozy to sleep in

Why do cats like to sleep in boxes? Well, they make pretty good sleeping spots (at least if you’re of the fluffy, four-pawed persuasion…)

Cats sleep on average between 12 - 16 hours a day (lucky things!), and a cardboard box provides a nice, quiet place they’re unlikely to be interrupted while they catch up on their beauty sleep. So, why do cats like boxes that are too small? Because they provide the coziest nook of all, of course! 

Come on, now - we’ve all seen the ‘if I fits, I sits’ memes and viral videos of cats in boxes. Well, there’s an inkling of truth to them all: cats love to slumber in small, enclosed spaces that keep them nestled and cozy. Cardboard boxes, the bathroom sink, fruit bowls, flower vases - honestly, some of the things we’ve seen grace the internet, you’d truly think our feline friends were made out of liquid…

Because they’re square (maybe?!) 

Anecdotally, we can all agree that cats have this weird obsession with sitting on square-shaped things, right? There are plenty of online videos to argue the case, too. So, ​​why do cats like to sit in boxes - could it be because they are square?!

Maybe - a study published by Applied Animal Behavior Science found that cats were more compelled to sit inside a 2D shape that imitated a square, and are likely attracted to 2D shapes for their contours and sides. More research is needed on the topic - until then, we’ll be waiting with bated breath for the next hard-hitting feline update to break the scientific world… 

So, cats and boxes: a true match made in heaven. Whether your kitty uses it to slumber or as a home base for the perfect sneak attack, why not jazz up your moggy’s favorite hangout spot with these top store-bought and DIY cardboard cat houses?