Over the millennia , cats have been loved , hated , feared , and hero-worship . But above all , they have just confuse the hell out of us .
In jubilation ofWorld Cat Day , August 8 , we set out to respond one of the great mysteries of the cat : Why do they wish sitting in cardboard boxes , drawers , laundry baskets , shopping bags , washing machines , or any mistily box seat - like watercraft ?
First of all , the “ if it fit , I sits ” philosophy could stanch from a care about condom and protection . Considering that domestic cats can sleep upwards of 15 hours a day , it bodes well to have an obscure and seal safe outer space to loosen up in . Of course , a domesticated CT likely does n’t have too many threats to consider , other thana rogue cucumber . However , their evolutionary cousins would be wary of birds of prey , jackals , and foxes , as well as rogue Cucumis sativus .
Furthermore , the thermoneutral geographical zone for domestic big cat is30 - 38 ° C ( 86 - 100.4 ° F ) , which is believably slightly higher than your thermoregulator at home . Curling up in an insulated box seat , therefore , could give them that vital few more degree .
A field in 2014wanted to find out whether provide shelter cats with boxes could help to cut their stress level . They give half of the new arriving cats a hiding boxwood , while the other one-half were squeeze to endure a box - less stay . Over a 2 - week period , they study the behavior of the cats and find that those provided with a box seat conform to their young environs considerably quicker . This was shown by displaying relaxed body terminology , such as resting a slew , fully continue legs , dozy - seem eyes , and minimal meowing .
Another field of study from1989showed how it ’s possible to make a sense of rest in some mammals ( pigs in this compositor’s case ) by applying light pressure to the side of their dead body , a piece like a clinch or being cradled . Perhaps , the side of the corner can mime this soothe sensation for khat .
However , you might be wondering : Dogs and other pets do n’t have this aching need for a box seat , so what ’s up with cats specifically ?
As any cad - lover will tell you ( over and over again ) , cats are notably less sociable than their canine tooth counterpart . Although domestic cat are a societal specie , they are solitary hunters and do n’t rely on other individuals for natural selection . This means that African tea are really , really unspeakable at conflict declaration . So , just like a moody teen , their solution to tenseness is to obliterate in the iniquity .
“ Cats do not appear to grow conflict resolution strategies to the extent that more gregarious species do , so they may attempt to besiege combative encounters by avoiding others or lessen their activity , ” Dennis C Turner , evolutionary life scientist and ethologist , explain in the bookThe Domestic Cat : The Biology of its Behaviour .
As for why computerized axial tomography wish to sit in square drawn on the floor , well , they ’ve get to keep some of their secrets .
