A good box is not measured by size, cost, or structural integrity. It is measured by mystery. The correct box is usually the one you were about to recycle, the one with one bent flap and just enough room for a cat to imply that physics is being negotiated privately.
Cats seem to appreciate borders. A box says: here is an edge, here is a room inside the room, here is a little kingdom with cardboard walls. Even a shallow box creates a useful declaration. This spot is claimed.
Box selection notes
- Leave new boxes out for a day before flattening them.
- Remove tape, staples, and loose packing material first.
- Try a folded towel nearby for cats who prefer the idea of a box to the box itself.
The funniest box is often the smallest one, but the best box is the one that gets used. Let the cat decide. They have, after all, been conducting this research for longer than we have been taking notes.
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