Why cats love boxes so much
Many cat owners have noticed that their pets love to climb into the boxes.
Even when there is an alternative
Even those that are not in size
Even very small
')
And sometimes they are adapted for greater convenience.
The first thing that comes to mind when trying to explain this craving for cardboard is that cats are predators by nature, and therefore love to sit in wait. But it soon becomes obvious that this is at least not one reason for this behavior. Researchers, veterinarians and behavioral biologists have long been interested in this issue, and this is what they found.
Claudia Winke, a veterinarian from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands , working in a feline shelter, found that if new cats were presented with boxes as temporary shelter for the period of development, they were better accustomed to the shelter and then more readily communicate with people. This is logical correlated with the reactions of cats to stress, when they tend to retreat and hide. As Wincke commented : “Retreat to the shelter is a behavioral strategy of this type, which is necessary to get used to changing the environment and to confront stress.” Cats in the wild hiding in hollows, caves and trees - and domesticated prefer boxes.
In the book " Domestic Cats: Biology of Behavior ", which was written by experts from the Swiss Institute of Applied Ethology and Animal Psychology, it says: "Cats do not develop strategies for resolving conflicts, as do herd / pack animals, and therefore they prefer avoid encounters with the enemy. " Therefore, we can say they are trying instead of solving problems to run away and hide from them. However, cats, even in good spirits, suffer from boxes.
It is known that cats feel comfortable not only in boxes, but also in other places with limited space.
Perhaps this is simply due to the fact that it is easier for them to warm up. According to a study by the National Research Council of 2006, cats are comfortable at temperatures ranging from 30 to 36 degrees Celsius. This is not surprising, since it is believed that cats came to us from desert areas - therefore, in particular, they are able to manage with a small amount of liquid. Therefore, they are very fond of batteries, the sun - and small in terms of space. Cardboard, among other things, has thermal insulation properties, which allows it to maintain temperature.
According to the results of my personal observations, I can add that one of my cats loves everything that rustles - and cardboard boxes just make a wonderful rustling sound, if you “dig” inside them. Besides, I think that inside a fairly large box, this sound should be amplified by echoes from the walls.
Total - cats love to hide in boxes because it is a great place for an ambush (including a big man), a protected space where it is warm, and it also rustles. It is a pity that cats can not talk.
Even when there is an alternative
Even those that are not in size
Even very small
')
And sometimes they are adapted for greater convenience.
The first thing that comes to mind when trying to explain this craving for cardboard is that cats are predators by nature, and therefore love to sit in wait. But it soon becomes obvious that this is at least not one reason for this behavior. Researchers, veterinarians and behavioral biologists have long been interested in this issue, and this is what they found.
Closed spaces give protection
Claudia Winke, a veterinarian from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands , working in a feline shelter, found that if new cats were presented with boxes as temporary shelter for the period of development, they were better accustomed to the shelter and then more readily communicate with people. This is logical correlated with the reactions of cats to stress, when they tend to retreat and hide. As Wincke commented : “Retreat to the shelter is a behavioral strategy of this type, which is necessary to get used to changing the environment and to confront stress.” Cats in the wild hiding in hollows, caves and trees - and domesticated prefer boxes.
A place to avoid social problems
In the book " Domestic Cats: Biology of Behavior ", which was written by experts from the Swiss Institute of Applied Ethology and Animal Psychology, it says: "Cats do not develop strategies for resolving conflicts, as do herd / pack animals, and therefore they prefer avoid encounters with the enemy. " Therefore, we can say they are trying instead of solving problems to run away and hide from them. However, cats, even in good spirits, suffer from boxes.
Need to warm up
It is known that cats feel comfortable not only in boxes, but also in other places with limited space.
Perhaps this is simply due to the fact that it is easier for them to warm up. According to a study by the National Research Council of 2006, cats are comfortable at temperatures ranging from 30 to 36 degrees Celsius. This is not surprising, since it is believed that cats came to us from desert areas - therefore, in particular, they are able to manage with a small amount of liquid. Therefore, they are very fond of batteries, the sun - and small in terms of space. Cardboard, among other things, has thermal insulation properties, which allows it to maintain temperature.
Ear for music
According to the results of my personal observations, I can add that one of my cats loves everything that rustles - and cardboard boxes just make a wonderful rustling sound, if you “dig” inside them. Besides, I think that inside a fairly large box, this sound should be amplified by echoes from the walls.
Total - cats love to hide in boxes because it is a great place for an ambush (including a big man), a protected space where it is warm, and it also rustles. It is a pity that cats can not talk.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/365075/
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