Why do cats like sitting in boxes so much?

A peer-reviewed study on shelter cats found that cats given access to a hiding box showed lower stress scores and adapted to a new environment faster than cats without one, which points to the real driver: enclosed spaces make a cat feel secure and hidden from potential threats, not just cozy. That instinct doesn’t disappear once a cat is settled and comfortable at home; a box still offers a defined, enclosed space that limits how she can be approached from behind. It’s also a genuinely efficient way to conserve body heat, since a curled-up cat in a snug box loses less warmth than one out in the open room.