When you try to give your cat a small treat, a cardboard box may even be more preferred than the snack black. Cat owners know everyone that our cat friends will soon require any empty box that has not been reused yet. Why is it though? It largely comes down to their natural instincts.
They are good at transferring
Our pet treasures’ wild ancestors had to sneak up on their prey before they quickly turn out and they need a good cover to do so. While they hardly need to catch their canned food times these days, hunting instinct is still ingrained in them. That’s one of the reasons they love to jump into a box. They can remain enclosed and hidden while looking for prey, which in the case of household can be human legs, a favorite toy or another pet in the house they enjoy bugging.
They are a safe space
The box’s close and limited character speaks to another instinct in our cats: the need to stay out of sight and safely against predators when not hunting. The predators of the house are usually not dangerous larger animals, more like humans whose love they are not particularly interested in the moment. The perceived danger can also be stressful situations or new additions they are trying to avoid in their hiding place. Boxes are good for cats who want to adapt to changes or work through stress. A 2019 study found that newly arrived shelter treasures that received boxes like a hiding place had their stress levels lower faster than those who did not have a box.
They are a comfortable bed
By nature, cats run warmer than we do, just north of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that our homes can often be kept at temperatures that are not quite to their taste. Hopping into a box allows them to catch their body heat in the limited space and heat the area around them. It is also a comforting place to stay out of sight while they sleep, which would be a vulnerable time in nature.
They carry messages from outside
Cats are also naturally curious, and one of the best detective tools at their disposal is their nose. They are also a powerful tool, about 14 times stronger than human noses. A fun place to do detective work is on a brand new cardboard box that has traveled a long way to get to their door. It will have picked up many new scents along the way and share some “stories” from the outside. Cats enjoy learning all about it, especially as it appears in their environment.
They help sharpen cat weapons
Nature has blessed cats with sharp claws that one can secure food, fight predators and cause their human pain when biscuit makes it a little too intense. Cardboard boxes are a great tool for sharpening their claws as scratches are often made of the same material. Cats also enjoy biting cardboard, which may not sharpen their teeth, but it is more stimulation for another kitty weapon.
They are a cat’s own jungle -gymnastics hall
As recordings from much larger wild cats show you, cats are instinctively playful. Cardboard boxes give a good outlets to it, even for lions and tigers. Boxes allow for lots of fun, from hiding and beating to chewing and sniffing every last corner. They are a good way to make sure your pet tax needs enrichment.
How to make a box even more engaging
Although a cat will love a box, no matter how fancy it can be, there are ways you can make them even more fun. You can make a small cash town by connecting them, you can tape it up at the top, but cut a “door” in the side, you can place the box on a sturdy perch to give your cat even more privacy and surveillance options, or you can put an old sweatshirt or a favorite toy in there. Another funny thing to try is to cut small holes in the top to allow for a whack-a-mol-type game or a whack-a-catnip-mole game, anyway. This allows your cat to enjoy cardboard boxes even more if possible.