An expert on the behavior of cats explained the craving of pets for boxes

From generation to generation, cats demonstrate one stable habit — as soon as a box appears in the house, it immediately becomes their favorite place. Michele Delgado, an expert on cat behavior at Ease Pet Vet and a researcher at Purdue University, explained that the box works with hunting, defensive and exploratory instincts. This was reported on November 12 by Popular Science magazine.

The box is an ideal place for hunting with walls that hide it from prying eyes and an open top that the animal can use for attacking purposes. Cats, even domestic ones, remain both predators and potential prey. When hunting birds or insects, cats living on the street look for places where they can hide from prey or potential predators.

Another reason is a sense of security. As Daniel Gunn-Moore, professor of feline medicine at the University of Edinburgh, explains, the desire for shelter is formed literally from birth, when a mother cat is looking for a closed, quiet place for kittens to appear. Studies show that shelter cats have significantly reduced cortisol levels if there is a box nearby.

Changes in the home environment also play a role. Delgado emphasized that for a curious cat, a box is something new and interesting. The animal quickly notices the appearance of any new object, and the box becomes an object of study.

The meaning of the box depends on the context. A pet sleeping peacefully in a box is a normal phenomenon. However, a cat sitting motionless in the depths of the box with its eyes wide open can signal fear. As noted by Gunn-Moore, a cat needs a safe place if it does not control its surroundings, but if the pet hides all the time, this is an alarming sign.

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"When we get cats, we create an environment for them in which they have little or no control over their behavior," Delgado added.

So, a free-walking cat, frightened, can run away to the roof of the nearest garage or to shelter, but a pet may have fewer such opportunities in the appropriate condition. Their reaction in such situations depends on their early life experience.

At the age of two to nine weeks, kittens form an image of the world around them. If pets have experienced injury or lack of contact during this period, they will be more anxious adults. Then boxes and shelters become vital safety zones, and an attempt to hide may indicate the presence of a source of stress in the room.

At the same time, it's a bad sign when a cat is actively hiding. In this case, Delgado recommends contacting a veterinarian or an animal behavior specialist who will help you work with your pet's fears so that they can deal with them better later.

Earlier, on October 31, the president of the Russian Cynological Federation, Vladimir Golubev, spoke about the impossibility of changing the character of a pet. According to him, some animals can be sociable, while others prefer privacy. The specialist pointed out the possibility of correcting undesirable character traits. Golubev emphasized that the main role in this is played by the pet's socialization.

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