Why do cats love boxes? Safety, warmth and a good lookout

Why do cats love boxes? Cats Protection, the UK cat charity, says the answer goes back to the African wildcat: a box gives a cat a place to hide out of sight and, turned on its side, a raised spot to watch from. Cardboard is warm too. This guide sets out the charity's explanation, why the box so often beats the bed, and how to set one up for your own cat in five minutes.

Everything here comes from Cats Protection's guide "Why do cats love boxes?", written by veterinary nurse Helen Crofts, and the charity's page on cats and play, both opened for this article.

Why do cats love boxes? It starts with the wildcat

Cats Protection says our domestic cats share ancestry with the African wildcat. That wildcat lives on the African savannah, where it has to avoid being eaten by much bigger predators.

Two habits keep it safe. It finds somewhere hidden from view to sleep, and it climbs somewhere high to keep out of harm's way. The charity says our own cats are still hardwired to do the same, to keep away from any danger they sense.

A cardboard box covers both needs at once. That is why, as the guide puts it, if you leave an empty box on the floor and turn your back, your cat may well be inside it before you turn round, whatever its size or shape.

Four things a box gives a cat

Four things a cardboard box gives a cat, from Cats Protection's guide.

1. A safe, private place to rest

The charity says a box lets a cat rest away from the busyness of modern life, such as noisy people and other pets. Being able to feel secure, it says, is something that makes a cat very happy.

2. A lookout

Turned on its side, a box becomes an elevated place to sit and watch the world go by: the wildcat's high perch, in your living room.

3. Warmth

Cardboard has great insulation properties, Cats Protection says, which is why it helps keep cats warm. A small, enclosed box holds that warmth.

4. Something to do

A cat can sit in a box, climb on it, chew it or hide behind it. The charity's play guide adds that cats love to climb and hide, and that cardboard boxes are a cheaper option than a cat activity centre.

Why does my cat prefer the box to its bed?

You buy a lovely bed, and the cat sleeps in the box it came in. Cats Protection says you did not choose badly: a cardboard box is simply hard to beat. It is a small, enclosed space, it is warm, it gives a sense of safety, and it feels right to the cat.

The same idea explains why cats like boxes but not cages. The charity says a cage offers none of the same comfort or privacy. Everyone can see inside, so it is useless for hiding, and hard metal is not warm without lots of bedding. If a cat has to stay in a cage, it says, putting a box inside to sit in or climb on helps it feel much happier.

Do big cats love boxes too?

Yes, according to Cats Protection. It says lions and tigers in captivity have been seen using boxes in much the same way as house cats, and lions often play with them and shred them.

For big cats, the guide says, a box is a perfect addition to an enclosure. It gives them something new to explore, chances to hide and pounce, and, when it is big and sturdy enough to sit in, security and comfort. The charity calls this environmental enrichment: mental stimulation and a reason to move.

A five-minute box set-up for your cat

Here is a simple set-up built only from the charity's suggestions.

1. Keep the box: next time a delivery arrives, do not tidy it away. Cats Protection's advice is to leave boxes out and see whether your cat wants to use them.
2. Make it cosy: line it with an old jumper, as the guide suggests.
3. Pick a quiet spot: the box works as a retreat from noisy people and other pets, so put it somewhere out of the main traffic.
4. Add a lookout: turn a second box on its side to give your cat a raised place to sit and watch.
5. Use it for play: the play guide says indoor cats need more entertainment than outdoor cats. A box to climb and hide in is a cheap start.

Then step back. The point of the box is that the cat chooses it.

What hiding means for the cats you meet outside

The same wildcat habits show up on the street. A cat tucked into a hidden corner, or watching from somewhere high, is doing what Cats Protection describes: keeping itself out of the way of anything it sees as a danger. It is best left where it is. Our guide on how to approach a cat you don't know sets out what cat charities advise.

Cat Go is a game that plays in your web browser, built around those outdoor cats: "Walk anywhere, photograph a real cat, lure it with food and catch it." You catch a cat by taking its photo, and the food is in the game, so there is no need to go closer.

Cat Go's map, where each catch is recorded with the place you found the cat.

The camera screen says "Fit the whole cat in the frame", which is a good reason to wait for a cat to step out on its own. When you toss in-game treats, the game warns that "Cats you've startled leave quickly. Stay calm with your tosses." Our guides on why a cat follows you and cat ear positions cover more of what cats are telling you.

Frequently asked questions

Why do cats sit in boxes?

Cats Protection says a box gives a cat a hidden, safe place to rest and, on its side, a raised lookout, two habits inherited from the African wildcat.

Why do cats like cardboard?

The charity says cardboard insulates well, so it keeps a cat warm, and it is cosy, sturdy and good to chew.

Why does my cat ignore its bed for a box?

A box is small, enclosed and warm, and gives a sense of safety. Cats Protection says it is simply hard to beat.

Do lions and tigers like boxes?

Yes. The charity says big cats in captivity have been seen using boxes much as house cats do, with lions often playing with and shredding them.

Get started

Keep the next box that arrives, line it with an old jumper, and see what your cat does. And on your next walk, look for the cats watching from their own hiding places.

Play Cat Go in your browser: walk anywhere, photograph a real cat, lure it with food and catch it.