Anyone who has been around cats knows cats love boxes. But why? Dogs don’t seem to care. You don’t see humans crawling into the tightest spaces they can find. So why cats? Read on to learn the five primary reasons cats love boxes.

First, your cat might have nothing more to fear in life than a late breakfast, but they don’t know that. Hiding out in an enclosed space, such as one of our cat houses, makes them feel safe and has been shown to reduce stress-related behaviors and lower damaging hormone levels.

Second, like a teenager that yells “You don’t understand” before slamming their bedroom door and retreating for hours to their own space, boxes provide an excellent place for a cat to go to avoid conflict and calm down.

Third, cats love to be warm! Your furry friend’s thermoneutral zone is generally thought to be between 86 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit. So, while you might be toasty with a thermostat set to 72 degrees, your cat likely isn’t. Boxes, particularly those that are enclosed, help reflect back a cat’s own body heat so they can curl up in comfort.

Fourth, sleep. Blissful sleep. Cats sleep … a lot. But even asleep, survival remains their primary concern. So, they like to sleep in a place that is both hidden away and allows them to spring immediately into action if they sense danger.

Fifth, and maybe the most important reason your furry friend loves boxes, particularly a Cat Box Classics Cardboard Cat House, is that they are just super fun for cats. It’s hard for humans to understand just how much fun boxes can be for cats. The strategically placed play holes in our cat houses allow cats to “hide” and stalk passersby. They can even pounce when the time is right. And few things are as alluring to a cat as a play wand or ribbon dangled enticingly just outside their box! Our integrated cat scratchers also allow your cat to use their box to stretch, groom their claws, and of course, scratch to their heart’s content.

So whether it’s to sleep, play, scratch or just have some alone time, cats love boxes!