Cats are attracted to many things. Food, comfy bedding, and that window sill with the perfect amount of sunlight and view of the outside world. Those are just a few of the things that pretty much every cat owner knows that cats love. Oh, and don’t forget about boxes either.
A few years ago, a strange phenomenon started to occur. Cat owners began making squares out of tape on the floors of their homes. They would make these squares, and then they would watch closely to see if their cat would be attracted to it. More often than not, the cat was drawn right into this shape. So much so, they’d sashay on over and position themselves smack dab in the middle of it.
Have you ever wondered why cats are attracted to squares? Well, the answer is quite intriguing and you just mind find it rather interesting.
Let’s take a look at why cats are attracted to squares to give you better insight into the feline mind…
Square….or box?
To your cat, one of their favorite things of all is a good old-fashioned cardboard box. Now, I know it’s true that not every single cat on the face of the earth loves cardboard boxes, but the truth is that many cats love them. So, think about the box for a moment. What shape is that box they love sitting, sleeping, and taking over? A square! Although a square made out of tape on the ground isn’t an actual box, in their mind, it closely resembles one. Sort of like why many cats are naturally afraid of cucumbers. To them, it resembles a snake. We will never be able to fully interpret what goes through the feline brain. But, if we better understand the way in which their minds operate, then we can interpret cat logic. So, to your feline friend, square equals box.
Cats are attracted to squares because it gives them peace of mind
Your cat is an interesting little creature that thrives on being calm, calculating, and observant. Obviously, your cat spends a lot of hours each day asleep, but they are not lazy. They sleep more because their bodies need to work hard to process all that protein they put into their bodies each day. Years ago, a study was conducted on shelter cats to see if providing boxes to cats at shelters could help to reduce their stress levels. The study found this to be true without a doubt.
Science Direct shared the study out of the Netherlands where shelter cats in high-stress environments were provided with boxes to test and see if it would serve to reduce their stress. Shelters are often noisy, and as we know, cats aren’t exactly fans of loud noises—likely because their sense of hearing is 5x what ours is!
The results of the study clearly indicated that the boxes provided to the shelter cats greatly reduced their stress levels and helped to calm them. So, again, this square on the ground provides your cat with peace of mind.
Nicholas Dodman, Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Pharmacology and Animal Behavior, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, told PBS NewsHour that when it comes to squares, “This virtual box may provide some misplaced sense of security and psychosomatic comfort.”
Additionally, he said that “Cats like to squeeze into small spaces where they feel much safer and more secure … cats prefer to huddle in smaller, more clearly delineated areas.”
So, in your cat’s mind, this makeshift “box” reminds them of the comfort they would feel from a real box. It’s a wishful thinking sort of thing. And, as we know, cats are incredibly curious by nature. Present them with a square on the ground made simply of tape, and you might have just trapped yourself a feline.
If you have some masking tape lying around, try this cat square experiment for yourself to see if your cat is drawn in. It could be fun to see if you can catch yourself a cat, or if your cat is simply disinterested and not up for your human mind games. Either way, it could be a fun way to pass the time together.
Sometimes, any square will do!
Did you learn anything new and interesting about our feline friends? Share this article with other cat lovers that you know so that they can learn something, too.
Have you ever wondered why your cat always insists on following you to the bathroom? Find out the answer here on cattitudedaily.com.
*Featured image left, Twitter
