Christmas is probably settling down in your home this evening. All the presents unwrapped, Christmas paper scattered everywhere, and boxes everywhere. It doesn't matter if they are big, small, or oddly shaped, my felines snuggles right into them.
Why do cats appreciate boxes so much? It turns out that this topic has been a mystery for quite awhile. Our fluffy companions receive comfort and security from closed spaces.
An ethnologist of Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently studied stress levels in shelter cats. She provided hiding boxes for one group of cat while depriving another group without boxes. There was a significant difference between the cats that had the boxes and those who didn't. The cats with boxes adjusted to their surroundings quicker and were far less stressed early on.
“Hiding is a behavioral strategy of the species to cope with environmental changes and stressors,” Claudia Vinke, the ethnologist said. In a stressful situation, it makes since to withdraw and hide for a cat. It's actually a natural behavior for all felines. More exotic cats would retreat to the tree tips, dens, or caves. The felines inside your home might find comfort in a shoebox instead. A box also can represent a safe zone for your kitties. It's often a place where sources of anxiety, and unwanted attention will easily disappear.
Interesting enough, there are more odd places that cats relax in. They enjoy curling up in the bathroom sink. Others may prefer shoes, bowls, shopping bags, coffee mugs, empty egg cartons, and other small confined spaces.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Why do cats appreciate boxes so much? It turns out that this topic has been a mystery for quite awhile. Our fluffy companions receive comfort and security from closed spaces.
An ethnologist of Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently studied stress levels in shelter cats. She provided hiding boxes for one group of cat while depriving another group without boxes. There was a significant difference between the cats that had the boxes and those who didn't. The cats with boxes adjusted to their surroundings quicker and were far less stressed early on.
“Hiding is a behavioral strategy of the species to cope with environmental changes and stressors,” Claudia Vinke, the ethnologist said. In a stressful situation, it makes since to withdraw and hide for a cat. It's actually a natural behavior for all felines. More exotic cats would retreat to the tree tips, dens, or caves. The felines inside your home might find comfort in a shoebox instead. A box also can represent a safe zone for your kitties. It's often a place where sources of anxiety, and unwanted attention will easily disappear.
Interesting enough, there are more odd places that cats relax in. They enjoy curling up in the bathroom sink. Others may prefer shoes, bowls, shopping bags, coffee mugs, empty egg cartons, and other small confined spaces.
Merry Christmas Everyone!