Why do cats love boxes? Let us count the ways
By Kim Campbell Thornton
It's the day after Christmas, so we're guessing your house is filled with empty boxes. And we bet your cat is having a heyday with all the surplus "toys."
Cats and boxes go together like ribbons and bows. What's the attraction? We checked with experts to find out.
Cats have a couple of different motivations for getting inside boxes and bags, says feline behavior expert John Wright, professor emeritus of psychology at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. One is play.
Cats can peer out of a box, climb into it or bat it around. They don't seem to care if it already has stuff in it or if they don't quite fit.
"When you see a cat get inside a box or bag, they start to knock around a little bit and bat at it, and if it makes a noise, that's really great," he says.
For shy cats, or those who simply want some "me" time, boxes provide security and sanctuary. After all, while cats are predators in their own right, they are also small enough to be prey. A box can be a secure hiding place where a cat feels safe from potential threats.
Boxes are also resources in multicat households. If you have more than one cat, you've probably noticed that one gets first pick of toys, food and, yes, hiding places like boxes. When the top cat claims a box, Wright says, other cats won't approach it.
Having access to a box where they can hide has even been shown to reduce stress in shelter cats. Researchers at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands published a paper in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, which found that cats in shelters who had a hiding box had lower stress scores. In case you didn't know, a cat's stress levels are judged using the Kessler-Turner Cat Stress Score -- a system that rates feline stress on a scale from 1 to 7, ranging from relaxed to terrified.
Before you mutter something about silly research topics, keep in mind that a happy cat is a healthier cat. The authors write: "Domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) can experience serious stress in shelters. Stressful experiences can have a major impact on the cats' welfare and may cause higher incidences of infectious diseases in the shelters."
The presence of a box can reduce that risk. The study found that over a two-week period, the shelter cats with a hiding box attained reduced stress levels and adapted more quickly to their new environment than their no-box counterparts.
"The hiding box appears to be an important enrichment for the cat to cope effectively with stressors in a new shelter environment the first weeks after arrival," the researchers conclude.
Not every cat is attracted to boxes. Shy cats may be afraid to approach them, and even adventurous cats may avoid boxes that aren't in their own territory, Wright says.
In one experiment, kittens from two different fathers -- one who produced friendly kittens and one who produced shy kittens -- were placed in an area with a cardboard box they'd never seen before. The kittens with the friendly father were first to explore it, while the others held back. The fathers' genetic influence affected how the kittens reacted to anything unfamiliar.
If your cat loves playing in boxes, you can increase his enjoyment by changing things up, Wright says. Offer boxes in different sizes, or put his box in a different place. In a new environment, set out several boxes to give your cat a place to relax. Your cat will love you for it.
Q&A
Clearing up
tear stains
Q: I have a 7-year-old female poodle-bichon frise, and I have to clean beneath her eyes every day because they tear so much. The staining eventually turns dark brown. What can I do to stop the weeping? -- via email
A: This is a common question asked by owners of white or light-colored dogs. Bichons, poodles, Maltese, Shih Tzu and Lhasa apso are among the breeds often seen with reddish-brown tear stains beneath the eyes, but any dog can have this problem.
The stains can have many possible causes. They include blocked tear ducts, ingrown eyelashes, dental issues such as retained baby teeth, or eye or ear infections.
Sometimes eyelashes grow where they're not supposed to, emerging from glands within the eyelid, rubbing against and irritating the cornea. This condition, called distichiasis, can be hereditary. Depending on its severity, dogs may need eye ointments or surgery to relieve the irritation. Ointments help to lubricate the eye while surgery destroys the hair follicles. Your veterinarian can pluck the hairs, but this is only a temporary fix and must be repeated every month or two.
Eye infections or dental infections can cause excessive tearing. Your dog may need a course of antibiotics or surgical removal of an abscessed tooth or baby teeth that didn't fall out.
Note that eye stain removers contain low levels of antibiotics. The FDA issued a warning to the manufacturers in 2014 about these products because the drugs are not approved for removing tear stains in dogs and cats and have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
This is usually much more than a cosmetic issue. The best thing you can do is to take your dog to the veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist to get to the root of the problem. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Territorial rule:
Why cats spray
-- If your cat is standing with tail high and vibrating, raising and lowering the back paws, watch out! He's about to spray -- in other words, to release a stream of urine, usually onto a vertical surface. Spraying is not a matter of your cat refusing to use the litter box. Instead, the behavior is a way for cats to mark territory. Spraying is the feline equivalent of posting a "no trespassing" sign. It's also a way for cats to feel more secure, by making their surroundings smell like themselves. Tomcats are the worst offenders, but neutered males and females will also spray.
-- Puppies are adorable, even when they're naughty. Maybe especially when they're naughty. You catch your little fluffball with your slipper in his mouth or halfway through the destruction of yet another roll of toilet paper, and instead of being upset, you laugh, grab your phone and record yet another YouTube upload. It is funny, but your puppy is never going to learn to leave slippers and toilet paper alone if you aren't consistent about what's acceptable behavior and what's not. Swap the slipper or toilet paper for something he's allowed to play with, and then praise him for using it. Now you're on the right track!
-- The field spaniel is a mid-size dog: larger than a cocker spaniel but smaller than an English springer spaniel. This rare breed is an excellent family companion, a solid bird dog in field trials and terrific in tracking tests. The field spaniel is a busy, funny dog with a moderate to high energy level. Field spaniels are typically a solid liver color but can also be black, blue roan, black and tan, golden liver and liver roan. Their silky coat is easy to care for with once- or twice-weekly brushing. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker.
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.