Purrs can control people with just one look, but they are powerless to resist the temptation to fit into a box.
A cat named Maru lives in Japan. You’ve probably heard about him, because he is a real celebrity. More than 600 thousand people have subscribed to it on YouTube, and the introduction video, where the cat talks about himself, has been watched more than 23 million times. Maru conquers the inhabitants of the network not only with his purely Japanese cuddiness, because he is plump and funny. But also because he loves boxes. It doesn’t matter how much Maru is bigger than the box, even if only his nose fits into it, but he will definitely try to cram into it. Maybe even from a running start. Yes, it’s even better that way.
What are the boxes! Packages are fine too. Like drawers in the closet, suitcases, wide vases and pans, salad bowls and sinks … And even if you just draw a square on the floor, the cat, as if hypnotized, will go to this square and lie down inside. Even the flash mob was like this on social networks – #catSquared.
But why? Why would a cat prefer a luxurious house, bought especially for him for big money, a cardboard box from under it? Scientists decided to find the answer. And since these were real cat lovers, they found the answer. According to experts, cats are not very fond of open space. Too noisy, too dangerous. Therefore, much more comfortable in a small box is safer.
Scientists have drawn a parallel with swaddling and motion sickness. As children, feeling the warmth of the mother’s body, calm down and fall asleep, so do cats. After all, they are usually born in secluded nests, which the mother-cat is looking for. What’s more, experts believe that the cat’s brain starts producing endorphins when the cat is in a cozy box. This is why cats start to purr. And therefore we are completely powerless over boxes – as we are powerless over chocolate.
By the way, we’ve found a lot of evidence that boxes make cats happier. Scroll the photo gallery on the right arrow!