The internet is full of videos of cats playing with cardboard boxes and hiding inside them. have you ever wondered why your cat often chooses to curl up inside a cardboard box instead of resting on the comfortable bed you bought for them While they look absolutely cute and playful. In this edition of HT Lifestyle’s ‘Everyday Explained’, we break down why these feline creatures are so drawn to empty cardboard boxes and what makes them such an irresistible hiding spot.
A cardboard box serves as a safe place for cats who need warmth and emotional protection. It becomes more than just a shelter for them. Research conducted in PLOS ONE also indicates that cardboard boxes are synonymous with comfort and help cats adapt to new environments. This makes them gravitate towards those small cardboard boxes for some warmth and a cosy feel. A cardboard box allows them to sneak, jump, hide, and play as they used to in the natural environment. They see boxes as their protective shelter. Some cats are anti-social , and they don’t like to be disturbed by whatever is happening around them. They just love their alone time, and cardboard boxes provide them with that space to just sit and relax. They hide in the box to avoid unnecessary socialising. Cats are known to have boundless curiosity. They just want to investigate everything that piques their interest. The signature smell of these cardboard boxes attracts them, and they become curious to know what this new object in the room is.
Most homes have temperatures ranging between 72 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly cold for cats. Cats usually need temperatures ranging between 86 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and these cardboard boxes provide them insulation, and the small space helps retain body heat as well. Cats belong to the Felidae family, which means they are born to hunt. Because they feel it’s the way to protect themselves from dangerous situations, research published in Applied Animal Behavioural Science indicates that cats love to sit in boxes. Because they give them space to scratch their nails, chew, and pounce, as they do it in their natural habitat, cats love boxes.
