We all know the scene; you have just unpackaged a delivery and the first thing your cats want to investigate is the cardboard box you have discarded. This is almost universal behaviour amongst cats, but what is the appeal?

There are a number of reasons cats love to spend their time in cardboard boxes:

Shelter and warmth

Cardboard acts as a good insulator, and once inside a box, your cat will soon warm it up with their body heat. You may find your cat is particularly quick to jump in unused boxes as we approach the colder months. Cats prefer a warmer environment than us humans, our core body temperature is around 37 degrees whilst the ideal feline body temperature is about 38.6 degrees. Cardboard boxes also make excellent sleep spots, especially if enhanced with a cushion or blanket.

Instinct

Cats are instinctively drawn to small, enclosed spaces, as predators and to avoid danger. As predators, they hide and bide their time before pouncing on their prey and boxes can provide the perfect hideout to do this from! When frightened or in danger the “flight or fight” instinct of a cat will usually cause them to run away and hide unless their path is blocked. They feel reassured to know that they have a perfect hiding place ready to escape to if the need arises.

Stress relief

Because cats feel safe and secure in these environments, they will often retreat to an enclosed space as a method of stress relief. They are especially likely to do this if their humans are not at home to give them reassurance and attention.

Fun and curiosity

Cats are famous for being curious and love nothing more to investigate any new arrivals in their home. The addition of cardboard boxes can provide an excellent exploring opportunity and a great area to play with their other animal or human friends. They will enjoy hiding, climbing, and searching in and around their boxes. Maybe try hiding a treat for them in their new play area to encourage the game. Cardboard boxes can also make great scratching posts, just do not expect them to last very long if your cat starts chewing or scratching them! A study conducted by the University of Utrecht in 2014 concluded that cats in shelters adapt much more quickly when they are provided with cardboard boxes.  Their study looked at two groups of shelter cats and provided only one group with boxes. By day three, the cats with boxes were noticeably calmer and were showing more interest in human interaction. Any cat owners that are moving home, having new house guests, or introducing any other stress factors into their pet’s environment should take note of this scientific study. Placing cardboard boxes around the home for your cat to hide in should help them to adjust to the situation and make the experience much less stressful. This is also less costly than purchasing numerous cat beds/cat trees, which they may or may not, take a liking to!If your cat is already enjoying the Purrform food, you may know that many of our larger deliveries arrive in cardboard boxes with a cat head ‘cut out’ section, so your cat can enjoy hours of fun, as well as benefitting from a healthy, tasty diet!