Mysterious story: why do all cats love boxes? Why cats and cats love boxes and bags

What does a box mean for a cat

Understanding a cat's psyche, desires and moods is not easy. So scientists began to figure out why these pets love boxes so much. Years of research have identified a wide variety of reasons that induce these animals to climb into cardboard boxes. Let's consider all the possible reasons for such a curious behavior of pets.

Cat's house

By the logic of the owners, from the addiction of pets to boxes, it follows that they will happily live in their own house. In anticipation, the owners buy an expensive complex with scratching posts, climbing frames and a “room” for sleeping. But what is their surprise when the cat not only does not sleep in the house, but does not even pay any attention to it. What to do in such a situation?

1. Perhaps you have chosen the wrong place for the house. Try to rearrange it.

2. Despite the fact that cats are curious animals, show your pet a house, put it there. You can even move him to a new place while he sleeps.

3. Another trick is catnip, which can be purchased at the pet store. Place the plant bag inside the house or spray it.

4. Play more often with your pet near the house. Throw a ball there and put toys – this way you show him that the territory is safe.

5. A little trick that can help get the cat's attention: wash a piece of cotton, iron it, and place it inside the house. Some cats can't resist clean bedding!

6. If all the methods have already been tried, but the cat stubbornly refuses to rest in its own place, it remains only to purchase another type of bed. Or leave it as it is. The main thing is not to scold and force the pet to sit in the house – this can become a mental trauma for him and form negative associations with the house. Then there is no doubt that the pet will bypass him and even over time will not settle in him.

Many cats love boxes, and if your pet is no exception, then you don't have to buy a special house, but just give him what he loves. But watch his behavior carefully, especially if he started gnawing on cardboard. Small paper trapped in the esophagus can cause a lot of trouble.

Reasons for love

Pets perceive cardboard containers as a house, which is why cats love boxes. They are comfortable here, safe, it seems that nothing threatens.

Antistress for cats

Cats consider various boxes and boxes to be a great place to rest, in which they, as it turned out, instinctively hide from predators, finding restful sleep, which can last up to 18 hours a day.

Scientists conducted an experiment at a Dutch animal shelter on 19 cats, half of which were given access to confined spaces.

The researchers found that cats that were allowed to climb in and sleep in boxes were less stressed. It turns out that the box is a kind of antistress for cats.

Apparently, cats prefer to hide and avoid their problems, than to look them “head on”, which explains their antisocial behavior.

Therefore, when neighbor hooligans pester our furry friends, the cats will rather hide and wait until the danger is gone than attack the offenders.

But if you thought their “box obsession” was strange, what would you say about cats' behavior if, for example, paper cups were laid out around them? Look at the photo: cats just freeze, being in such circles.

Why? Even scientists cannot yet give an unambiguous answer to this question .

The desire to get away from problems in communicating with the owner

Why cats fall on their paws

Cats are independent, independent animals that value personal space. They may genuinely adore their owner, but from time to time they need a break from him. This is where the box becomes relevant, in which the cat hides in order to retire for a while.

Nashkodiv, a pet in an effort to avoid a well-deserved punishment, can also hide, believing that if the owner does not see him, he will not guess where to look.

Note! Some people support the illusion in their pets, adhering to the rule: if the cat gets to its “place”, then it cannot be punished.

Privacy and a sense of security

A small box, into which a large animal can hardly fit, creates the feeling of a mink, a cave, where the pet can warm up. That is why those who have several cats can enjoy an amazing spectacle from time to time: all pets tend to occupy one box, literally lie on top of each other. Do not think that they are suffering, on the contrary, this way cats warm up and feel safe.

Important! A small box gives them something that a beautiful expensive house cannot cope with – a sense of security.

The reasons for cats' love for the most uncomfortable boxes have not been sufficiently studied by scientists to this day.

Attractive scent

The scent of cardboard that cats are crazy about is another reason why cats love boxes. Scientists managed to find out that the mild smell, perceptible inside the container, is very popular with cats, which is why they tend to sit in their shelter more often and enjoy it.

Ear for music

Based on the results of my personal observations, I can add that one of my cats is very fond of everything that rustles – and cardboard boxes just make a wonderful rustling sound if you dig inside them. In addition, I think that inside a large enough box, this sound should be amplified by an echo from the walls.
So, cats love to hide in boxes because this is a great place for an ambush (including on a big man), a protected space, where it is warm, and it also rustles coolly. Too bad cats can't talk

Nostalgia for childhood

Cats, like people, come from childhood. They also want to feel like kittens again, being taken care of by an attentive mother cat. That is why they climb into small boxes that remind them of the one in which they were born some years ago.

Hunting addiction

Perhaps you will say: “And here it is, my cat is at home!”. Be that as it may, do not forget about instincts: the box is the perfect hiding place when hunting possible prey. It is believed that in this way a cat can protect itself from any danger or other predators. Why are we so sure of this?

Interesting research

Scientists from a university in Utrecht, the Netherlands, have studied the benefits of these boxes for two groups of newcomers to a cat shelter. What was the essence of the study? One group of animals had the opportunity to hide in their personal boxes, while the other did not. What was the outcome? Unsurprisingly, those pets that could hide in boxes experienced much less stress (because they could relax better), felt more comfortable in their environment and were more interested in interacting with people than cats that did not have boxes.

Pets often look for a secluded place: in their understanding, a box is exactly the object in which to retire. It is noteworthy: the tighter the box, the more desirable it becomes for cats.

There s fun

It's amazing how much good cats can get out of regular blender cartons or shoes. But besides, boxes are also a fun toy.

A fluffy pet can easily do without all other entertainments if he has an ordinary empty cardboard container, which is practically not capable of getting bored, because you can hide in it, jump and jump abruptly, fly in with a run, rub, scratch and gnaw. In addition, the boxes rustle so nicely, and what cat does not like to “play music” a little! Some cats even design a “house” according to their own taste: they gnaw through their doors or observation windows.

This cat seems to be using the box as a warm spacesuit.

Antisocial box

It is also important to note that cats cannot boast of conflict resolution skills. The book The Domestic Cat: Biological Aspects of Its Behavior states: “It seems that cats do not have the conflict resolution strategies that exist in gregarious species, so they try to refrain from potentially dangerous encounters, avoiding others or reducing their activity.”

That is, instead of trying to figure it out, cats prefer to simply get away from problems, or even better, to completely avoid them. In this sense, the box is a real island of safety, a place where there is no hostility, no anxiety, and no undue attention.

Of course, this kind of explanation has one drawback: if you listen to the adherents of this theory, you get the impression that the love of boxes is a property of cats that are not able to adapt to the environment and suffer from stress. I don't know about you, but I don’t think that Maru video suffers too much.

Heat

Boxes also attract four-legged creatures by providing warmth when it gets too cold outside. Cats can't just put on a sweater when the temperature drops: so don't be surprised if they're looking for warmth in unusual places. Cardboard is an excellent insulator. Whether your cat is under stress, a minor illness, or just looking for a comfortable place to feel safe from predators (perhaps your neighbor's dog), the box is a very suitable item.

Place for storing “trophies” or the birth of kittens

As a true predator, the cat can also use the box to store “trophies”. Therefore, the next time you lose the bright jewelry that Murzik looked at so passionately, be sure to look for it in the cat's box.

The same should be done if an unpleasant smell suddenly appears in the apartment. Cats rarely stock up on food in their home, but cats that are preparing to bring offspring into the house can present their owners with such an unpleasant “surprise”.

Again, mentioning pregnant cats, one should remember their maternal instincts, which can force the animal to find and arrange a secluded place for its kittens.

Paper

Crumpled paper, often used as packing material, can also be a cat's best friend. Do not be discouraged if you spent a decent amount of rubles on a beautiful cat house, and the pet prefers your newspaper or wrapping paper to him. This does not happen often: apparently, they just enjoy the process itself.

Maybe they are trying to get your attention with this behavior, or perhaps they want to mark their territory. Or is it a new item in the home that needs to be researched in more detail. Dangling objects seem to remind cats of hunting. Basically, there is no end to thinking about why your cat chose paper.

Why is it so important for a person to know everything?

We are not able to find a reasonable explanation for every habit of pets, and this is not necessary. There is a certain charm in this – to observe the behavior of the pet and funny situations, completely devoid of logic. We can only guess if cats are really attached to us or if they only pretend to guarantee themselves comfortable housing and food.

So what is the reason for this addiction of our four-legged friends to certain types of objects? Seeing an empty plastic bag or a cardboard box left by the postman, cats instantly pounce on the thing and find use for it. Here are some explanations for this habit given by pet behavior experts.

The benefits and harms of such entertainment

Anyone who at least once tried to present a cardboard box to his cat will make such gifts over and over again. And indeed, they have solid pluses for a pet:

• good physical shape is maintained;

• the psychological state is stabilized;

  Kittens get used to boxes from the very first days of their lives, which is why they help the animals to calm down.

• the cat does not get bored – does not scratch furniture and wallpaper;

• problems with a place to sleep and play are solved without special costs.

  The problem of a cat's bed is very simple to solve.

  The cat is warm, cozy, calm and interesting in this saving box made of the most ordinary packing cardboard. Even very small kittens in such a shelter are much easier to perceive the new conditions of their habitat and quickly get used to them.

There are few cons, but they are. Do not pursue beauty – a bright multicolored box can be dangerous, especially for animals prone to allergies. Unfortunately, modern printing industry often uses toxic paints – having tried such a cardboard on a tooth, a cat can get sick. Much safer are banal corrugated cardboard boxes, even if they are not too beautiful.

However, even with such harmless cardboard, a cat is quite capable of clogging its stomach – if, after playing, it gnaws too much of it. Watch out for the animal and do not allow him to do this.

A cat's house out of the box: all the pros in one place!

If the animal prefers to spend time in a box, you can make a house out of it. The pet seeks to follow its instincts, and the owner can indulge his desires. This design has many advantages:

• The animal will not have to get used to this house – it will settle there at will. The hole in the wall will serve as an entrance and will allow the pet to observe what is happening outside of his “cave”.
• Using several boxes will allow you to make not just a house, but a real labyrinth for outdoor games.
• Cats love cardboard, they are happy to sharpen their claws on it. This will help preserve the furniture.
• The attachment of the pet to the boxes can be used when transporting it to another location or fixing it when weighed it.

A cardboard house will not cost anything – you can use any box of a suitable size for it. You can put rags on the bottom, and if necessary, the structure can be easily replaced with a new one.

Output

The actions of cats can always remain a mystery to us, but this is part of their charm. Of course, if any of the above steps seems repetitive or out of control, you can contact your veterinarian.

Remember: the use of non-food items (bag or other garbage) can lead to intestinal blockage, and therefore you should not neglect this phenomenon. But often the explanations for the behavior of four-legged creatures are quite simple: a box and a bag can attract smells, acoustic signals or heat emanating from them.

Sources used and useful links on the topic: https://WikiCat.ru/soderzhanie/pochemu-koshki-lyubyat-korobki-2526/ https://petstory.ru/knowledge/cats/cat-behavior/pochemu-koshki-lyubyat- korobki / https://gafki.ru/koshki/pochemu-lyubyat-korobki.html https://www.infoniac.ru/news/Uchenye-otvetili-na-vopros-pochemu-koshki-lyubyat-sidet-v-korobkah .html https://habr.com/ru/post/365075/ https://www.syl.ru/post/home-and-family/138362 https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5b093c2da936f417b8ce4f6b / anomalnaia-tiaga-pochemu-koshki-tak-liubiat-korobki-i-pakety-5b27be704999b500a960c99c https://knife.media/cats/ https://prokamen.com/drugoe/pochemu-koty-lyubyat-korobki https://MurKoshka.ru/povedenie/pochemu-koshki-lyubyat-korobki.html