International Box Day on June 19 is the perfect opportunity for you and your cat to enjoy some time together. If you don’t have a cat, you may not get what all the fuss is about. But read on anyway to unwrap the mysteries of International Box Day! Cats and cardboard boxes are a match made in heaven and on International Box Day we celebrate the fun and joy of this incredible pairing.
History of International Box Day
It’s a widely known fact that cats love boxes and most cat owners just don’t know why. You splash out on a fancy bed for them but they insist on staying in the box. What gives?
Cats get comfort and security from enclosed spaces, which makes boxes the perfect place for them to curl up in. Boxes are a great hiding place from predators and they also help reduce stress by offering a safe-zone where your cat can observe and not be seen.
A recent study conducted by the University of Utrecht discovered that cats with boxes adapted to their environment quicker, highlighting the key role boxes can play in dealing with the anxiety that often comes with change. From a cat’s perspective, boxes have it all – the perfect temperature, the personal space, and the required level of comfort.
This isn’t restricted to your little house cat. Big cats such as lions, tigers, and cougars share lots have shown a fondness for a box too. When living in wildlife reserves and given cardboard boxes, they had just as much fun as your pet kitty would. Yep, the tigers and lions were observed jumping in and out of boxes, sitting in them, and generally having a great time. For cats everywhere, a plain old box can keep them entertained for a long time.
International Box Day is our chance to celebrate this curiously odd coupling and for you to give your cat a box to enjoy.
International Box Day timeline
- 2005
A cardboard box is included in the National Toy Hall of Fame
It’s not just cats who love a good box, as any parent of a toddler will attest to.
- 1895
American-Made
Corrugated cardboard boxes are produced in America for the first time.
- 1890
First pre-cut cardboard box invented
A Brooklyn printer and paper-bag maker manufactured flat, pre-cut pieces that could be folded into boxes.
- 1817
The first commercial paper box was made
English firm M. Treverton & Son is believed to have made the first paperboard box.
International Box Day FAQs
Which kind of box can I give to my cat for Box Day?
Any that pleases them! It is perfect as long as our cat feels comfortable.
Why is Box Day important?
It shows us that you can entertain cats with very little as well as showing that boxes can be beneficial to a cat’s well being.
When is International Box Day?
June 19
Facts About Cats
Like Fingerprints
Like a thumbprint, every cats’ nose is unique
Close to ancestors
A house cat is genetically 95.6% tiger.
They have a Jacobson’s Organ
Cats have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents in the air
Heavy sleepers and groomers
Cats sleep 12-16 hours per day and spend 1/3 of their awake hours’ grooming
A name for their lovers
An ailurophile is a person who loves cats, the word ailuro is the ancient Greek word for cat.
International Box Day Activities
Build your cat a box fortress
Head over to the supermarket or another large store and ask if they have any extra boxes. Bring them home and create the ultimate play area for your cat. Leave some open, put some on their sides, and your cat will soon be conquering his new castle.
Join your cat in a box
Ever wonder why your cat has so much fun with a box? Why not find a big one and join him inside? Who knows, you may celebrate International Box Day more than once a year. Don’t take offense though if kitty prefers having the box to himself.
Invite kitty friends over for a ‘boxing’ party
Gather your and your cat’s feline friends together for some insane box time. Collect as many boxes as you can, in all shapes and sizes, and sit back and watch the fun. Cats are good ones for amusing themselves.
Why We Love International Box Day
There aren’t enough cat and human holidays
Dogs may get all the credit for being man's best friend, but we beg to differ — cats make our lives better every day and they deserve a day (or two or seven) to be appreciated for everything they do. Take some extra time today to enjoy some purr time with your feline friend. In addition to a box or two, why not share some catnip?
It’s good for your cat’s brain
Cats thrive on playtime. Supplying them with a box to jump around in, play hide and seek and attack activates those brain cells. It also doubles as exercise which is good for their figures! A special bonus: it tires them out, making them more likely to sleep when you sleep (well that's the idea anyway — we can dream, right?)
It gives us an opportunity to think out of the box
International Box Day is a great day to think about creative ways to play with your cat. What unusual games can you come up with to play with your cat today? Surround you and your cat with some boxes and let your imaginations run wild.
Also on Thu Jun 19, 2025...
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