Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Anyone who has spent time with cats knows that our feline pals are weird. Ask any parent to one of these goofballs and they’ll tell you all about the times they appeared out of nowhere, yowled in the middle of the night, or pounced around the house like there was no tomorrow. As much as we love their little quirks, we often need help decoding our companions.
Out of all of the bizarre cat behavior out there, there’s one that never ceases to amaze us — their mysterious urge to climb and hide in the most unusual places. From cardboard boxes and laundry baskets to kitchen sinks and pots, they seem committed to setting paws on every surface they can find.
There’s a whole online community dedicated to sharing pictures of our beloved furballs finding peculiar spots to crawl into. The aptly titled subreddit 'The Cat Trap Is Working' is a place for all feline lovers to receive their purrfect source of entertainment. Continue scrolling for a selection of posts that vividly illustrate how quirky cats can be and upvote the ones you enjoyed most!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Does This Count?
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
He looks like he's waiting for a ride... I wonder if the original wheelbarrow pusher ran away when lion sat down in it.
RELATED:
#2
Took A Bathroom Break After 5 Hours Of Building This Puzzle And Came Back To This
Shyla Clay 3 years ago
I had a 3d puzzles of the Empire State building. Miles, the ginger I had at the time, either ate or hid several pieces. It's always good to have help.
#3
Captured The Entire Gang
Sergy Yeltsen 3 years ago
"I'll have 5 tubs of kitten, please." "Are you sure?" "Oh yes, very sure."
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
I had a cat who lived to lay down in any pot or dish left unattended. I had to put decoy pots and pans out for him... otherwise he'd think nothing of climbing into a salad or casserole.
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Be my luck I would put a lid on the casserole and stick it in the oven or fridge.
Load More Replies...
'The Cat Trap Is Working' subreddit has been an excellent outlet for feline lovers to share jokes and pictures of their furry friends ever since it was created in 2015. Over 164K members have a place to show off their trap-setting skills and prove that even these clever and smart critters can fall for bait. This online community highlights one particular aspect of weird feline behavior, cats crawling into or curling up in odd places. Although the moderators wrote "cats in boxes" in the community description, you’ll notice in this compilation that felines find shelter in as many small spaces as they can find.
We contacted the group's moderators and one of them, the creator of the page, was kind enough to have a little chat with us. She revealed that 'The Cat Trap Is Working' is one of the very first Reddit communities she started.
"It was made more or less because every once in a while I was seeing posts in /r/Aww that followed this theme, but I wasn't aware of any community that was just specifically for this type of cat behavior. I created it so there could be a spot for folks to post their cat to," the moderator told Bored Panda.
#4
Hmm
Sergy Yeltsen 3 years ago
That you do this to make her/him happy shows what a wonderful owner you are.
Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
The things we do for our cats. LOL! This is brilliant tho. My cats love doing this. I will sit on the toilet for long as F**k just because my cats are cozy as F**k in my pants! Lol. I will only get up when my legs go numb.
🥔SaltyPotato🥔 3 years ago
I agree with Sergy Yeltsen. This is so wholesome. One of my cats really likes being held like a baby. I'll open the door to my house and she will run inside and up under the table. when I pull her out from under it, she'll be purring and wanting me to hold her.
Matthew Wilkins 3 years ago (edited)
One of my cats will do this when I'm sitting on the toilet. 😸
#5
A Less Conventional Way To Catch Felines
Kiss Army 3 years ago
I often ask my husband "How can cats be so smart AND so dumb?"
Load More Replies...
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
This makes me think of the video where the woman draws a spider and as soon as she finishes, her cat pounces on it.
#6
Muahaha! I Outsmarted Her!
Alizabeth Smith 3 years ago
I so should have done this growing up. Plus a decoy pencil. My cat loved doing this and stealing pencils
Elizabeth Butler 3 years ago
Yep. Cat always wanted to sit on whatever I was reading. Tried THIS. He noticed my attention was on the OTHER paper and moved to it. I went back to my original one. He moved again, I moved again, he got very offended and NEVER ever sat on any of my papers ever again. I felt so guilty.
Fortunately, the members of this online group are very active. "I have created right around 200 cat-related subreddits and this one remains one of the top ones for subscribed users to post ratio," she said.
However, it turns out that describing what a cat trap actually is a bit complicated. "When the community was first created, I really didn't know what to set as a hard rule as what defines a cat trap because cats simply gravitate to things that are roughly their size."
"My initial intention was to just allow cats in boxes, but it is just so much more complex than that," the mod continued. "I have a bath towel on my bed for my cat Squishy and she is like a magnet to that when it is time for bed." She added that the one thing she learned from looking after this subreddit is that "if you put a belt on the floor or put tape on the floor, they will even gravitate to that."
#7
Perfection Boxes
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Cats can revert to liquid or plasma states at will, to fill every crevice.
#8
Damn Almonds
#9
Not Only Has The Catrap Worked, But Gary Has Basically Moved In At This Point
Rachel Hall 3 years ago
I don't know what's cuter; that smile on his face, those little fury hearts or the fact that he's named Gary! ❤️❤️❤️
Siobhan Gournay 3 years ago
I have a Gary cat too. Gary cats are a force to be reckoned with
Load More Replies...
When asked why our beloved furballs keep falling for these entertaining traps, the moderator revealed she has pondered this for years. "The one comment I see most often on Reddit is that they get comfort and security from tight spaces," she said and added that this behavior is amusing and never gets old.
The creator of this subreddit also had a few pieces of advice to share with you, dear readers. "If you want your kitty to sleep in a specific spot on your bed, use a folded towel. My cat used to sleep at my feet which I was not comfortable with since I could kick her in my sleep. Putting the towel near my pillow solved this issue, plus she is now within reach of pets and scratches. Win-win for both of us," she told us.
#10
He Realized The Box He Entered Is No Longer Stationary
Janine B. 3 years ago
Same, I can carry him around for hours. He just loves it. 😂
Load More Replies...
MimSorensson 3 years ago
“Mayday, mayday, the box has gone AWAL, I repeat, the box has gone AWAL. I’d look to the two legs for this one.”
Arthur Waite 3 years ago
I was able to park Jade, the family cat, on a doorknob for an entire afternoon. She didn't make a sound until the TV went on, and she knew the evening had started....
#11
Imaginary Cat Trap
"Nobody has had a more productive day than my mother"
Michelle Muirhead 3 years ago
Once I put a postage stamp on the floor and the cat promptly sat on it. Just because I was looking at the stamp.
Connie Bonneville 3 years ago
If you put a rug on the floor my cat will barf on it. Not on the other 1000 square feet of vinyl... just the rug.
Steven Bennett 3 years ago
Tried this with my cat, and yes, it works. The trick is to keep making the box smaller and see how she will squoosh herself to try to fit in it.😂
🥔SaltyPotato🥔 3 years ago
I put a cucumber beside my (now gone) cat and she just sniffed it and walked off. Some cats are very broken.
Pandasizing World Peace 3 years ago
Mine, too. After all the hilarious videos of other cats freaking out, very disappointing!
Load More Replies...
#12
The Cat Trap Worked Better Than Expected
beesechurger elite 3 years ago
for those who dont get it its a soccer reference
Load More Replies...
Ivan Petrov 3 years ago
Please don't exceed your cat trap's holding capacity. This could lead to damage to the trap and even structural failure.
This seemingly strange cat behavior can leave many pet parents quite baffled. Even though we know their quirks are based on their instincts, people can have difficulties figuring out what their pets are trying to tell them. After all, cats are famous for having some of the most perplexing behaviors in the world that make pet parents ask one question over and over again: "Why is my cat so weird?"
Dr. Marci L. Koski, a certified feline behavior and training consultant, explained that there are several reasons for this overwhelming urge to hide. Essentially, it demonstrates how they evolved as both wild predators and prey. They are naturally stealthy because they need to get fairly close to their victim and also glide through their environment unnoticed.
"They are instinctually driven to hide and conceal themselves when they are sneaking up on a prospective prey item, and avoiding being prey for other predators (i.e., any carnivore that is larger than they are)," she wrote.
#13
My Niece Is Fostering Kittens, And Her Daughter Left A Toy On The Floor
lazy panda 3 years ago
When my cat was little, she used to LOVE playing in my Barbie house and she would sit on the roof and watch me. Her 19th birthday would have been May 22nd. Rest easy, Baby. ❤️
#14
Not My Cat But A Very Successfully Executed Trap
"Bean likes to be carried around in empty soda cases"
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
With the addition of leg holes, Bean could walk about and not need to be carried... and look darn cute doing it.
#15
Tiny Trap For Tiny Feet
Stephanie Paich 3 years ago
I had a cat named Georgia who looked just like this. One day she went out and never came home. I miss her.
Hiding in their little jungle we humans call home also offers a place of refuge from the noisy family, annoying dogs, and other stress-inducing factors. Hiding under beds, in the back of closets, and in laundry baskets provides a safe spot and gives them comfort.
Moreover, they may try to tell their owners that they could be ill or not feeling well. "If your cat all of a sudden decides to start hiding for long periods of time or changes her hiding behavior, you will want to make a trip to the veterinarian to make sure everything is okay," Koski said and added it pays to be observant and notice when and where your furball is most likely to hide. That way, you can determine how she’s feeling and whether or not it is something to be concerned about.
#16
This Trap Is Small And Broken But Still Working
Cat Palmer 3 years ago
If I don't fits, I squish it until it breaks then sits on what's left.
Load More Replies...
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Even a tiny box is better than no box. Mine squished into a little box snacks came in... no more than 6" square... but seemed to find it comfy enough to stay.
buttonpusher 3 years ago
It's like the feline equivalent of trying to force yourself into jeans that are too small.
#17
Refused To Use His New Bed Until Now - Check Mate Buddy
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
You could also take an old towel, rub it on your head, then lay it down in the cat bed. Right now it smells like cat bed and the store you bought it from. But if it smells like you (via the old towel), they’ll settle right in it. Works for dogs too.
Anna Bertholf 3 years ago
This is a riot, but you must be owned by a cat to understand the situation.
#18
Got A Weird Looking Cat In The Trap
When it comes to hideout places, few things catch our cats’ attention in the same way as the plain old cardboard box. It may not look so appealing to us, but kitties keep climbing into these lairs every chance they get. Other than the fact that they provide them with a sense of security and help reduce anxiety, they also find them physically comforting. "Boxes can greatly reduce a cat’s stress and help cats regulate their body temperatures," Daniel Rotman, CEO of kitty litter company PrettyLitter told Reader’s Digest. The optimal ambient temperature for cats is upwards of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so small and enclosed spaces can provide insulation that helps them retain body heat.
#19
The Unexpected Guest Fit So Perfectly In This Cattrap Including The Tail
Pandasizing World Peace 3 years ago
Nothing to see here, just a fur scarf to take with you in case it gets cold.
#20
He Dragged The Box All The Way Over To Me To Show Me It Worked!!
#21
Just An Old Lady With Her “Blankie”. Her Favorite Possession
Stephanie Paich 3 years ago
When my dog was put down, the cat I owned at the time GRIEVED over him by laying on his blanket for months.
august is mentally unstable 3 years ago
like the cat from the "IS THAT A F***ING CAT?" video
Load More Replies...
Even when we begin to grasp the intentions of our beloved cats’ movements, their quirky behaviors do not lose their charm. However, it turns out that by describing their activities as amusing, we might be missing out on what’s lying beneath the surface. Dr. Jo Lewis, an award-winning British feline expert vet and author of What’s My Cat Thinking? told Bored Panda in a previous interview that cats "are usually trying to tell us something far more significant than 'hey, I’m so cute!'"
#22
I Put This Down To Sweep The Floor And Accidentally Made A Cat Trap
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Looks like the cat got swept up in the moment. (I’ll let myself out…)
#23
I Have Never Met A Cat Who Loves Cat Traps As Much As Gary
#24
Oh, Hi
"We have to be careful we don’t misinterpret what are actually important clues about their health and wellbeing," she continued. "More often than not, behaviors that we label as 'cute' … are a clue to how they’re feeling in that moment. They might be hungry, but they may also have learned to enjoy the attention or food that you lavish on them when they do that particular 'cute' thing and simply want more of the same. But they might equally be signaling that you could be doing a lot more to better meet their needs."
#25
Works Every Time
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Wicker Turtlecat. Got to be precise when it comes to which species of Turtlecat you’re referring to.
Load More Replies... GoddessOdd 3 years ago
I have the same basket on a high shelf... my cat Claire climbs up there to sit in it and look judgily down on me
Ivan Petrov 3 years ago
The new battle cat-tank. Now with improved, sloped armour for better deflection.
#26
The Tentacle Trap Is Working
Jacob Nunez 3 years ago
Ah yes this phenomena is called “Heterochromia”. It can usually be seen in animals and humans. Around 1% of the population has this.
Load More Replies...
#27
Egg Trap
Patrick McKemie 3 years ago
We used to have a hen that could produce three, sometimes, four kittens a day.
We may label the cheeky or naughty cat behaviors as cute when in reality they’re driven by a cat’s basic survival instincts, an illness, or side effects from medication, Dr. Lewis added. For example, when your beloved feline surfs your kitchen countertops for scraps, "she might have an artificially increased appetite from illnesses like an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or medications like steroids."
Sometimes, their behavior is not even about the food at all: "They might simply need some attention, the chance to interact with you more and this is the first opportunity that day when you’ve been home and sat in one spot." So if you assume they’re just acting cute, "you could be missing out on diagnosing and treating an illness, or be overlooking an opportunity to understand them better."
#28
Unintentional Tiny Trap
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Please keep taking a picture of this every week so we can monitor how long it takes him to no longer fit in the box.
#29
Does This Count As A Trap?
BamBoo Mo 3 years ago
Kitty cat-ciatore recipe: one cat , preferably a kitten for tender results. DO NOT skin prior as the cat will not like this. Even though there are a thousand ways to do so.
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Just throw a top crust over that and you'll have a lovely kitty pot pie.
#30
My Rug Has A Built In Cat Trap That He Naps On Every Single Day
#31
Threw My Belt On The Floor. Trap Working As Intended
#32
Trying To Get Out Of Helping With The Groceries!
Lisa Hoffmeyer 3 years ago
My cats love bags too,until i pick them upin them. It usually results in a arm poking through the bottom.
#33
All It Takes To Keep Him From Gate-Crashing My 6th Grade Class Is A Strategically Placed Potholder
Yawa 3 years ago
My cat gave up and sat on my keyboard I had my camera on, Good thing my whole class likes cats so we teased him by dangling things in front of are cameras, No more Latin.
Atchaco-Leigh 3 years ago
Hello sis. Also yeah, our class had so much fun doing that.
Load More Replies...
Karen Evans 3 years ago
i had to turn off finger pad on laptop - my cat likes a little attention!
#34
My So Laid Out Her Crochet Project On The Floor To Measure It. Not Even 30 Seconds Later...
Potty pagan panda 3 years ago
I have 2 cats and after looking at all these posts I want more. 😩 noooooooooo
#35
A Trap For Each Cat
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Oh... you separate your cats into light and dark loads? I usually do mine all together and hope the colors don't run.
ThePanInPanda 3 years ago
Please tell me these beauties have matching names! (Yin and Yang, Cookies and Cream, etc.)
#36
The Family Cat Likes To Sleep In My Pants
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
I went to put on my jeans that were on my bed. 2 cats were in the legs.
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
If you just put a belt on the floor they'll sleep in that... but this is way cuter!
Lisa Hoffmeyer 3 years ago
Awww,it loves you and is trying to keep you home by thinking if it has your pants you cannot leave. Mine do it with my shoes.
I_am_Allan 3 years ago
One of my boys loves to sleep in my laundry bag. Preferably on dirty underwear. 🤦🏽♂️
#37
Caught Me One!
Jiska Veldhuizen 3 years ago
My cat does this too. Whenever there is the tiniest spot of sun she is going to lay in it
ThePanInPanda 3 years ago
Cats have higher comfortable temperatures than humans, and love warm places. Look up videos of cats in heated blankets, it's so cute!
MotherMayhem 3 years ago
My boy will actually follow the light as it moves around the house and sleep in it until it's gone for the day.😆😆
#38
I Caught A Double. How Rare
#39
The Vet Has Informed Me That This Is A Nearly-Universal Occurrence
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Yes, the sink is a necessary hiding spot. Also the round opening my vet has in the counter for trash. She also keeps an empty drawer for cats who prefer that approach.
Kristel 3 years ago
Yessss! The empty drawer was a favorite of my beloved! 🥰
Load More Replies...
Chinwe Onu 3 years ago
You need two sinks then...cant be yanking your royal highness out of his so comfy position to use the sink.
Polly Culberson 3 years ago
After an exam and as we were waiting to pay the bill, my cat wandered back into the exam room, climbed up on the counter and was browsing in the open instruments cabinet.
A Joy Lehman Fittro 3 years ago
Yes I've had about 15cats or so and they did this some took a bath or shower or just curled up and slept!
Jenni Simpson 3 years ago
There once was a website called cats in sinks. Wonder if it’s still around?
#40
He Knows His Worth
Janine B. 3 years ago
The only thing is, you just don't get them out of the boxes they're delivered in!
Load More Replies...
#41
Caught Myself A Good Boy
#42
Filed Under T For Trouble
Jessica Julian 3 years ago (edited)
There is literally a folder labelled "Cats", so s/he is in the wrong section.
#43
This Portable Trap With A Convenient Handle Works Very Well
#44
Trapped My Cat By Putting 2 Pieces Of Paper On The Floor And Waited
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
I have one cat who will lay on paper, but another one whose sole mission in life is to shred any visible paper, so it's fun to watch the power struggle.
#45
Caught This Foster Potato This Morning
Flash Henry 3 years ago
My best friend had to stop fostering because she just kept adopting them. Her hubbie put his foot down after the 8th cat.
Load More Replies... Pandasizing World Peace 3 years ago
I'll not fall that "fostering" trick again! Shelter was overrun with hurricane evacuees and not enough cages. Being the good animal lover I am, took one in and fell in love and kept her even though she was broken from all she had gone through and is the dictionary definition of a scaredy cat. That was 6 years ago and she is still so jittery at every loud noise, sudden movement or seeing me do anything out of the ordinary. Permanently on high alert! Only time she's feels safe is when I'm sitting and she can jump in my lap and love on me like crazy!
#46
Two Cats. Two Traps. Later Two Naps
#47
The Plant Is No Longer With Us…but We Kept The Tank Because He Loves It
Lisa Hoffmeyer 3 years ago
Mine did it so often with planters they killed the plants. Now only outside plants in this home.
#48
Cleaned The Aquarium And 5 Minutes Later...
Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
I have a cat that likes to do this too. Along with getting in my turtle enclosures with my turtles. Lol.
#49
Does This Count? She Always Sits In This Circle Of Cables
#50
I Received The Happiest Scream When I Walked Into The Room And Found Her In This Trap
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
The cat screamed, “Thank you sooooo much for my cool new bed!”
#51
The Cat Traps Are Working Eerily Well
cute ghost person 3 years ago
Those look so close to my sisters cat down to the gray fur in the black cat
#52
If Not For Cat, Why Cat-Shaped?
#53
My 4 Poster Trap Caught 2 In 1!
#54
Got This For Stuffed Animals. He Disagreed With The Purpose
#56
Please Stop Rubbing Your Face Against The Corner Of My Laptop And Giving A Peep Show Of Your Butthole To My Coworkers
#57
Little Fluff
Steven Bennett 3 years ago
Look at those eyes! She is very clearly in a duck blind covertly tracking your every move!
#58
Unintentional Trap Is Working
#59
Pumpkin Is Trapped/Hiding
#60
Catcats
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Almost took a cat to London with me this way. She climbed under my clothes and had she not moved when I picked the suitcase up, she would have gone, too.
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Michelle C 3 years ago
My daughters cats loved it when I would make the bed...not a single cat to be found but the second they hear me coming out of the garage with a fresh blanket from the dryer they get on the bed and wait for me to toss it on them.
Lara M 3 years ago
My cats do that too! Every time I make the bed it turns out lumpy and the lumps purr like crazy.
Load More Replies...
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
haha they are programmed to get into anything that looks nest-like.
A lonely Concorde 3 years ago
My button up shirt is a trap for my cat chess he always sits on me when I wear it
Alex Foster 3 years ago
I have a storage cube thing with padding on top so that it's dual purpose storage and a stool. I have put it beside my chair at my desk and my cat now prefers to be nowhere else. I have many cute photos of him sprawled there.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Cat traps work for EVERY cat, I love to watch the Youtube videos from Big Cat Rescue (in Tampa/Florida), no matter how big or small or exotic the cats there may be, they love all kinds of boxes. The sanctuary and me are Twitter f(ur)riends.
Michelle C 3 years ago
My daughters cats loved it when I would make the bed...not a single cat to be found but the second they hear me coming out of the garage with a fresh blanket from the dryer they get on the bed and wait for me to toss it on them.
Lara M 3 years ago
My cats do that too! Every time I make the bed it turns out lumpy and the lumps purr like crazy.
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 3 years ago
haha they are programmed to get into anything that looks nest-like.
A lonely Concorde 3 years ago
My button up shirt is a trap for my cat chess he always sits on me when I wear it
Alex Foster 3 years ago
I have a storage cube thing with padding on top so that it's dual purpose storage and a stool. I have put it beside my chair at my desk and my cat now prefers to be nowhere else. I have many cute photos of him sprawled there.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Cat traps work for EVERY cat, I love to watch the Youtube videos from Big Cat Rescue (in Tampa/Florida), no matter how big or small or exotic the cats there may be, they love all kinds of boxes. The sanctuary and me are Twitter f(ur)riends.
You May Like “Kitties Working Hard And Hardly Working”: 109 Delightful Pics Of Working Cats (New Pics) Cat Meme Therapy: 100 Posts to Brighten Your Day 56 Cute Photos Of Bodega Cats That Feel Like Masters Of The Shops
Mantas Kačerauskas
Mantas Kačerauskas
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Related on Bored Panda
