This Online Group Exists To Show All The Hilariously Adorable Ways Kitties Can Get “Cat Trapped” And Here Are 40 Of Their Newest Catches

Cats are known for doing all sorts of odd things, one of the main ones of which is chilling in random places. They can be spotted everywhere, from backpacks to cupboards, but for some of them, there is nothing more appealing than an empty box. It makes a lot of people wonder what is so special about that piece of cardboard that they just can’t leave behind.

Well, according to Live Science, being somewhat trapped feels comforting to our feline friends. They cram their little bodies into enclosed spaces as the walls provide cover, which makes them feel safe. Research has shown that they find boxes especially comforting when they’re stressed; however, that in no way means that they would enjoy one any less when they are just fine.

Live Science also suggested that cats’ love for boxes is likely related to the instinct of ambushing their prey, whether it’s a mouse—a real or a toy one—or their beloved human. Anyone with a cat at home must have seen their critter just about ready to launch at whatever it is that they’re hunting. Using a box or a similar container allows them to hide from the prey until they’re ready for the sudden attack.

Research into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats revealed that the box doesn’t even have to be real to be appealing to them. An experiment on felines’ visual cognition and perception of borders showed that they would rather sit in a square marked on the floor instead of anywhere else on the same flooring. That proves that cats find “boxes” equally fascinating even if they’re two-dimensional.

Their love for boxes and outlines is likely the reason their owners can trick their cats and “trap” them this easily. A few of the pictures on this list show that for some cats, even the reflection of sunshine in the shape of a square has a strong enough draw. Not to mention all sorts of bags and crates. All of them seem to be good enough to start the operation ‘if I fits, I sits’.

Sitting in random places is far from the only peculiar thing cats do. People who have ever owned one have likely been presented with a “gift” from their beloved pet at one point or another. Whether it’s something that’s alive and still moving (a mouse, for instance) or a less lively object brought from outside, cats often bring whatever it is they find on their adventures. You might find it disgusting, but in reality, it’s a sign of love and affection; it’s them sharing their prize with the rest of the pack, which, in the case of domesticated cats, are their owners.

Great Pet Care revealed that pets view us as family—as one of their own—which is why they share things with us, whether it’s the prey itself or knowledge of how to hunt it. That is another reason they often bring dead animals to us, as in their minds, they’re teaching us skills necessary for survival. It can also be their way of storing the “food” for later consumption.

Great Pet Care emphasized that hunting is a natural instinct, which, even if to a smaller extent, is present in domesticated cats as well. However, they are usually leading a Garfield-like lifestyle and don’t really need to worry about hunting down their dinner, while a wild feline typically hunts 10 to 20 times a day.

Kneading is another example of typical cat behavior, that might catch someone who’s never owned a feline quite off guard. They might be thinking that the kitty’s there for cuddles, when all of the sudden, the little animal starts working those paws and kneading the person as if they were a lump of cookie dough.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), kneading is also an instinctive trait. One of the possible explanations for it is the fact that kittens would develop the habit of kneading while nursing, which would continue into adulthood.

Other possible explanations when it comes to kneading, according to AAHA, are conveying comfort, creating a place for rest, or marking their territory. The latter is done with the help of scent glands in the critter’s paws, which they also often use to mark their territory on, you guessed it right, cardboard boxes.