We've all seen cats in crates. Most domestic cats share this uncontrollable need. Science has frequently attempted to unravel the riddle of this odd ritual. Why do cats adore boxes so much?

Recent research suggests their actions stem from simple animal desires. The lateral pressure of the walls is a sort of comfort. When a stray cat first enters its new home, this sense of security is vital.

In fact, according to a 2019 PLOS One paper, hiding helps reduce stress in cats that have just arrived at an animal shelter. The researchers used the Cat-Stress-Score, a non-invasive approach that measures cats' stress levels based on posture, vocalization, and movement. Those with a cubicle acclimated more faster (after two days), whereas those without one took longer (about nine days).

It's hardly the only study on cats and boxes. Applied Animal Behavior Science published an essay last year by Gabriella Smith, a PhD candidate in comparative animal cognition at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. So she recruited people for an experiment using the Kanizsa optical effect, which creates the illusion of a geometric figure by just pointing at the corners. But the cats preferred this two-dimensional world.

What do they get from it?
So how does this help cats? One theory is that it keeps them safe. "From an evolutionary standpoint, you don't want to bump into objects; you don't want to fall down a cliff," Smith explains.

Cats prefer boxes because they are predators who use the ambush approach, which has not been verified scientifically. And as any cat owner knows, house cats love to hide in corners and on elevated surfaces before pounce on unwary toys (or human legs).

"When we play, my cat hides behind something to leap," Smith added. "All of this makes sense in 3D enclosures, but it's less clear why it translates to two dimensions on the ground." Not only do domestic cats like boxes, but so do cougars, lions, and tigers.