You've searched the world, the internet, and five galaxies to find the perfect castle for your kitty. Sparing no expense, you even spring for expedited shipping. Captain Whiskers will be SO happy!
What? He Likes the BOX Better?
Cats and boxes. It's a funny thing, but cats simply adore boxes, so we're not surprised yours spurned your love offering in favor of the box it came in.
Believe it or not, there's a reasonable explanation for this behavior, and it's not to keep you up at night wondering why your cat doesn't love you back!
Some Interesting Studies
Because people love cats, some interesting studies have been conducted on their behalf. One of them includes the seemingly strange relationship between cats and boxes.
In one, animal behaviorists provided boxes to shelter kitties. Dividing new arrivals into two groups, it was soon observed that cats with boxes showed reduced levels of stress and calmed down up to ten days faster than those without boxes.
In another experiment, big cats were provided with boxes to see what they'd do. Guess what? Big cats love boxes, too! Check out this video from bigcatrescue.org to see the heart-warming results.
The Bottom Line?
Researchers believe cats like boxes for a variety of reasons. They provide warmth and security and satisfy a desire for solitude. Boxes are also a great place to hide so cats can pounce on unsuspecting passers-by. Because cats never pass up an opportunity to hone their stealth skills, boxes fill an in-grained need to prove they're still wild at heart.
Bottom line? If you want to invest in a luxury cat condo, by all means, go for it. But don't be surprised when your feline friend prefers the box.
Come visit our pet wellness clinic at Intermountain Pet Hospital so we can get to know both you and your cat! Contact us today to schedule a visit!
