What is it with cats and boxes?

Question

I'm sick of spending money on new cat toys that my cat isn't interested in. A cardboard box keeps her happy for ages.

Answer 1

Cats love to have hiding places. A box satisfies that in cats.

One thing that will be a great toy that your cat will never tire of is a laser pointer. I can sit for hours making the point dart here and there, stopping for an instant, then moving it again. The trick to keep your cat interested is to put a single bite of cat kibble on the floor somewhere and then bring the pointer to the bite. When she pounces on it, turn the pointer off and let her enjoy the treat. When she's finished, start the game again. She'll associate the capturing of the odd bug with getting a tasy morsel.

A cat that chases the strange bug without ever being able to catch anything or get any reward for it will soon lose interest and won't want to play that game any more.

Answer 2

Hi there

Yes, spending money on cat toys is usually a complete waste! Our most expensive mistake was a huge, multicoloured, fish-shaped "scratching post" - nearly a tenner and never touched.

I think the thing with boxes is partly the paper content - paper is a poor insulator and therefore keeps puss warm - and partly a security thing.

We have loads of hilarious photos of our lovely cats in boxes of all sizes, also in brown paper carriers (with the handles safely removed, I hasten to add).

They only seem to like bought toys for that blink of an eyelid till the novelty factor wears off. We still weaken and buy them occasionally - but the boxes and stuff like a screwed up ball of paper win every time!

Love'em all - enjoy!

Answer 3

Cats love the security and the fact that every move they make results in a sound. Believe me, I have spent so much money on toys and I have found my cat loves thing that make sound (like a ball w/ a bell in it) or the cardboard from a paper towel roll. Cats are very independant and a little bit of stimulation will keep them busy for hours. Good luck and maybe you can help me out with my question. Look for it titles "Cats Indoor/Outdoor. Thanks!!

Answer 4

lol that's cats for ya! You can buy the rolls royce of toys and gadgets for your cats but they will play with the boxes (just like small kids at xmas time really!). Scrunch some paper, give'em a box and the cat will spend hours in it either sleeping, jumping in and out, playing hide and seek and generally loving it. Ours has cats toys and only give those a perfunctory glancing blow when the mood's right, otherwise, bags, boxes and newspapers are what they love most. :-)

Answer 5

My cat, Sophie, sits in a cardboard box, then gets to work on it with her teeth, making a sculptured top edge all the way round. She carefully spits all the bits of card outside the box. Every box is different and I swear I'll put them on exhibition one day.
She displays more talent for sculpture than some of the stuff I've seen in galleries lately !!

Answer 6

Mine prefers cardboard boxes too and I am sticking with that. The last cat toy I purchased for him, he ending up eating a piece of it without my knowlege and it almost cost him his life, he had to have the foriegn body removed surgically and it cost $1200.00 So I am definately sticking to boxes and rolled up pieces of loose leaf paper, seems like a safer option. Good Luck.

Answer 7

All of my 5 cats are exactly the same way.
They LOVE cardboard boxes, paper/plastic bags, and clawing the furniture.
We have cat toy galore and a scratching post, and the hate them.

Answer 8

I always have a cardboard box out for my cat. He loves sitting in it and he scratches it. When it gets all torn up, I throw it out and get him another. When he was a kitten he had a shoe box he loved sleeping in. He slept in it until he was so big he popped all the seams one day. It really was cut watching him try to fit himself in a shoe box that was continually growing too small for him. But I was kind of sad for him when he broke it.

Answer 9

I sadly dont have a cat (flat too small, boyfriend too scared) but my neighbours cat often pops in and enjoys napping in my tiny wardrobe or suitcase! My Mum has 2 old cats and they both quite like to sleep on cardboard or a newspaper. Purrrrrrrrr

Answer 10

My cat is the same, eventually what we did was cut various sapes and sizes of holes round the box big ones for her head and small ones for her paws, then when she is inside put toys on string etc through the hole and play.Our cat goes nuts and absolutely loves this.