Questions on pet behaviour....

[Che Guava]

With all the cat lovers here, I though I might toss this one out: why the heck do cats always sit in boxes??? I thought it was just my nutty cat until a friend of mine told me his cat loved boxes too. Then I found this pic on the internet....


What is it about boxes they love so much....?


Is there any other pet behaviour you've observed that makes you scratch your head?

And is there a vet in the crowd to answer any questions?

 

[Esox]

That pic is a riot. Did you Google "Cats waiting to be shipped" or something?
Here's my odd cat behavior -- I had a cat years ago that would catch mice and leave them on the front steps like some kind of offering. Then when we got a dog, she would leave dead mice right in front of the dog's food bowl.

I will never understand that, but I got a big kick out of it every time.

 

[Rossiya]

animals are weird huh? they do the strangest things.

the cat-in-box issue may be because the box helps to keep them warm, or to keep them psychologically safe, or something.

 

[Pyrite]

My cat likes to wait until I fall asleep, and then wash my face. By sitting on my chest and holding my head with his paws and biting and licking my cheeks. It is a painful way to wake up!

I guess I need it though haha.

 

[The Yankee]

Well, why not sit in a box? Better than the pavement. But, boxes so often seem to be like little forts to them and they can make their own personal space in them.

Love the cat picture though.

 

[Leifmk]

That pic is a riot. Did you Google "Cats waiting to be shipped" or something?
Here's my odd cat behavior -- I had a cat years ago that would catch mice and leave them on the front steps like some kind of offering. Then when we got a dog, she would leave dead mice right in front of the dog's food bowl.

She was trying to help you along until you learned to hunt for yourself. When the dog showed up, obviously the new kid was in more dire need of special education assistance so she switched her attention.

 

[Che Guava]

That pic is a riot. Did you Google "Cats waiting to be shipped" or something?
Here's my odd cat behavior -- I had a cat years ago that would catch mice and leave them on the front steps like some kind of offering. Then when we got a dog, she would leave dead mice right in front of the dog's food bowl.

I will never understand that, but I got a big kick out of it every time.

Apparently the story behind the pic is that a couple was moving out of thier place and left a few empty boxes behind in the driveway when they were taking some stuff to thier new place. When they got back, there were three strays in three boxes....!

I have heard that cats show affection by leaving 'gifts' for thier superiors.

Clever screen name, btw Are you a masquinongy?

 

[IglooDame]

Apparently the story behind the pic is that a couple was moving out of thier place and left a few empty boxes behind in the driveway when they were taking some stuff to thier new place. When they got back, there were three strays in three boxes....!

I have heard that cats show affection by leaving 'gifts' for thier superiors.

I've heard that too, but it's obviously an urban legend - cats have no superiors.

 

[jonatas]

Cats like boxes because it reminds them of when they were kittens in a litter with their mom. They feel safe in that enclosed space, it's like a little nest. That feeling of safety goes back to when they were kittens.

Also there is the curiosity factor. But this is when they initially see a box. Once they get in it, they want to curl up and hang out there

 

[puglover]

I saw a shelter cat who prefered to sleep in his soiled litterbox than the perfectly good bed two inches away.

 

[Che Guava]

Yeah, cats like thier own pee...!

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Cats like warm dry places that are high up like a box for example.

 

[Evil Tyrant]

My cat likes to sit in boxes also. I suspect it makes them feel more secure, with the sides of the box forming a little wall around them.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

House cats are like little kids that never grow up. Remember how much you loived to play in boxes when you were a kid? Same thing with them.

Great thread, Ive got a question about cat behavior too:

Why do all cats love to eat plastic (the soft crinkly kind that would be shrink wrapped on a dvd, for example)? The other day my new cat ate a bunch of plastic wrapping, I couldnt stop him in time. I waited for him to keel over but he looked ecstatic like he just had a juicy steak. What the hells that all about?

 

[Che Guava]

Why do all cats love to eat plastic (the soft crinkly kind that would be shrink wrapped on a dvd, for example)? The other day my new cat ate a bunch of plastic wrapping, I couldnt stop him in time. I waited for him to keel over but he looked ecstatic like he just had a juicy steak. What the hells that all about?

I know that one: apparently plastic bags contain animal by-products (rendered fat, IIRC) and kitties can still smell the scent of animal on them. That and I think they like the attention that crinckling up plastic bags gets them

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Oh it definitely gets them lots of attention! Very interesting about smelling the animal byproducts. I dont doubt it, they seem to be able to zoom in on any crinkly plastic in their environment.

 

[Perfection]

It's not just boxes, I've found that cats also love paper bags and sinks. Cats love containers!

 

[Tycoon101]

Yes, cats love dry places like counters and boxes.

My cats have quite a few hiding places that I wish that I could fit into, they seem to have an excellent knack for finding secluded areas!

 

[adog]

My cat loves to eat toilet paper. but only when it is still enclosed in the package.

 

[Leifmk]

It's not just boxes, I've found that cats also love paper bags and sinks. Cats love containers!

And drawers and closet shelves and so on. It's partly curiosity, and partly that they just enjoy being in snug enclosed spaces due to that kittenish comfort thing.