There are lots of reasons that cats love boxes, but the main one is because they're confined, enclosed spaces. Cats are ambush predators and finding confined places where they can hide, hunt prey and feel safe and warm is an instinctive behaviour. Snug cardboard boxes fit the bill perfectly.
Some cats will squeeze themselves into ridiculously tiny boxes at times, but they might prefer something bigger for their day-to-day use. Typically, the key is to provide a size that is snug around the edge for them.
First and foremost, cats love cardboard boxes because being inside the box provides them with a sense of security. That empty box can give our domestic cats a place to feel protected, it can be an escape from stressful situations, and it can also make them feel like no one else can see them.
Our cats enjoy enclosed spaces (or ones with sides) because it offers them a sense of security, particularly when stressed out. When cats are tucked away into those squares, they can view the world around them from a vantage point that doesn't involve them being out in the open, making them “safer”.
Humans apart
Cats cannot differentiate between human faces and do not care how you look like. Unlike dogs, they would not even try to differentiate human faces. In an experiment conducted by an American university, the kitties could recognize their handlers less than 50 percent of the time.
Schrödinger's Cat, as a thought experiment, states that if you seal a cat in a box with something that can eventually kill it, you won't know if the cat is alive or dead until you open the box. So, until you open the box and observe the cat, the cat is simultaneously dead and alive.
As a general rule of thumb, the litter box should be at least one and half times the length of the cat. If you're unsure, you should pick the bigger size.
What causes the zoomies? Cats of all ages naturally have lots of energy, especially kittens and younger cats. It is simply an effective way to burn off excess energy for these creatures who sleep much of the day (anywhere between 12 to 16 hours a day).
Warmth for cool cats
Cardboard, especially the corrugated kind, is a very good insulator and this is one of the main reasons why cats like to snuggle up in boxes. They are better able to retain body heat if tucked up in cardboard and usually the tighter the fit, the happier a cat is.
Small, dark spaces are also your furry friend's favorite hiding places because of your cat's natural hunting instincts. Again, this is typical feline behavior. In addition to being safe places to rest, small spaces are ideal for stalking prey. Cats love to watch a mouse from a distance where they can't see them.
Licking is not only a grooming mechanism but also a way cats show that they love you. Your cat is creating a social bond by licking you, other cats, or pets. This sign of affection may stem from kittenhood when your cat's mother licked them to groom them and show care and affection.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
It's the Ultimate Hideout
Cats are hiders by nature and enjoy cozy, enclosed spaces. Squishing themselves inside a box makes them feel safe and secure and lets them see without being seen. It can also be their coping mechanism for dealing with stress or anxiety.
The air pockets make it easy for cats to sink their claws into the cardboard and the inner layer often makes a crinkly sound that cats like, too. Corrugated cardboard is also great for absorbing and communicating your cat's scent.
You might be surprised to learn that large cats love boxes just as much as your pet cat. This indicates the feline love of boxes is strongly instinctual. Big Cat Rescue 7 filmed their large cats reacting to several large cardboard boxes placed in their sanctuaries.
Getting the Midnight Crazies
As many cat owners know, there is such a thing as the cat witching hour. It usually happens at night – maybe as you're getting ready to go to sleep or perhaps while asleep – when your cat is raring to play.
In most cases, this period of the day is essentially our cat's way of releasing energy in a short, concentrated burst. In the same way that humans are advised to get 30 mins exercise a day, it's often our pet's means of getting the movement they need while venting any pent up frustrations or feelings.
Dr. Anish Sheth, a gastroenterologist, says the distension that comes with the passing of a large stool causes the vagus nerve to fire, resulting in a drop in the heart rate and blood pressure which in turn decreases blood flow to the brain. The resulting mild lightheadedness can lead to a high and hence cat zoomies.
There are several reasons cats like to squeeze into small and confined spaces. They have an instinctual need for protection and to stay warm. They also like to avoid environmental stress and conflict so they look for a tight space to hide.
Size: Cats like to hide and feel safe. Often, our cats will prefer a smaller crate to a larger one because of this instinctual need. Owners often are concerned that their cat might need a large area in their crate but this more of a human feeling.
Healthy cats will generally visit the litter box between three and five times each day, and this includes going both number one and number two. If your cat is relieving itself more than five times each day, this doesn't necessarily point to a health issue.
In simple terms, Schrödinger stated that if you place a cat and something that could kill the cat (a radioactive atom) in a box and sealed it, you would not know if the cat was dead or alive until you opened the box, so that until the box was opened, the cat was (in a sense) both "dead and alive".
Schrodinger said that if you put a cat in a box with a poison that might kill it, at the end of an hour the cat has a 50% chance of being alive, and a 50% chance of being dead. According to quantum mechanics, since we can't see in the box to know if the cat is alive or dead, the cat is both alive and dead.
"Schrodinger's Cat" was not a real experiment and therefore did not scientifically prove anything. Schrodinger's Cat is not even part of any scientific theory. Schrodinger's Cat was simply a teaching tool that Schrodinger used to illustrate how some people were misinterpreting quantum theory.
Boxes are safe
And cats like boxes because they help to reduce stress and offer a safe zone where your cat can observe and not be seen. This is ideal for cats as their reaction to stressful situations is often to run and hide.