International Box Day
Cats and cardboard boxes, it's a classic love affair! See your furry friend's eyes light up as they pounce, hide and play in their favorite cardboard creation.
Leverage cat-box affinity to drive sales of pet enrichment products, cardboard boxes, and cat accessories during June with user-generated content and viral social moments.
- Show your cat's box obsession: Share videos of cats in boxes for a chance to be featured
- DIY luxury cat boxes: Transform cardboard into the ultimate cat retreat with our tips & products
- Box science: Why cats love boxes (backed by research) + how to pick the perfect one
- Cat box challenge: Tag us in your kitty's best box moment for prizes
To some humans, a beige cardboard box might just look like a container that is used for shipping things. But, to cat lovers, a cardboard box is so much more than that! International Box Day is here to show appreciation and pay honor to this seemingly average but delightful space where cats just love to hang out.
International Box Day got its start by cat lovers who realized that these little felines are drawn to boxes that offer a feeling of safety and protection. In fact, researchers have found that cats who have boxes are better able to adapt to a new environment, offering them protection, the preferred temperature and their own kind of personal space.
Although International Box Day is largely driven by internet culture and everyday pet owners, the cat-and-box connection is backed by animal behavior research and common veterinary guidance about feline environmental needs.
Cats are both predators and prey in the wild, and that dual role shapes what feels “safe” to them. A partially enclosed space can reduce the stress of being exposed. It also gives a cat control over social interactions, which is a major factor in feline comfort.
One frequently discussed piece of research comes from work with shelter cats, where stress can be high due to unfamiliar surroundings, new smells, and unpredictable noise. In that setting, providing hiding boxes was associated with reduced stress and quicker adjustment compared to cats without that option.
The takeaway is not that boxes magically solve all feline problems, but that a simple hideaway can be meaningful enrichment, particularly during transitions.
International Box Day also quietly celebrates something practical: cardboard boxes are everywhere. They are a byproduct of modern life, often destined for recycling the moment they are emptied. Turning a box into enrichment gives it a second purpose, even if the second purpose is simply being sat on with great authority.
There is also something charmingly democratic about the whole concept. A cat does not care whether a box came from an expensive purchase or a free giveaway. A box is judged on timeless standards: Does it fit? Does it feel secure? Does it make a satisfying sound when scratched? Does it allow a dramatic entrance?
Over time, the box became a symbol of how cats experience the world. Cats often prefer what is predictable, quiet, and enclosed, yet they also crave novelty and play. A box checks all those boxes, so to speak. That combination helps explain why the “cat in a box” moment is so universal that it became celebration-worthy.
International Box Day is not about perfection. It is about noticing what brings comfort and joy, even when it arrives in plain brown cardboard.
Source a Box for Kitty
The first order of business for celebrating International Box Day is to get into that closet, storage cupboard or basement and scare up a cardboard box for that little kitty to enjoy. Leave a few of these boxes around and let kitty use them as hiding spaces to help them feel safe and secure. For many cats, the appeal is not just that a box is “new.” It is that a box is controllable. Cats often like spaces with clear boundaries where they can observe without being easily approached. A box gives a cat a spot that feels protected on multiple sides, which can be especially comforting in busy homes, in multi-pet households, or anytime there is change. To make the box experience even better, a few small details help: Pick the right size. A box should be large enough for a cat to step in, turn around, and settle. Some cats prefer a snug fit, others want room to sprawl. Offering a couple of options turns it into a choose-your-own-adventure.Add a soft layer. A towel, small blanket, or even a T-shirt that smells like a favorite person can make the box more inviting. Many cats are motivated by familiar scents.Create more than one entrance. Cutting a second opening can prevent a cat from feeling cornered and can reduce squabbles in homes with multiple cats. It also upgrades the box into a tunnel, which is basically cat luxury.Make it a “quiet zone.” Place one box in a calm area away from loud appliances or heavy foot traffic. Cats often use boxes as decompression spaces, so privacy matters. A quick safety check is worth the minute it takes. Remove any staples, plastic straps, or dangling tape that could be chewed. Avoid boxes that have held chemicals or products with strong residues. If the box has ragged edges after cutting holes, smooth them down so the cat does not rub an eye or scrape skin during enthusiastic box entry. Once the box is ready, let the cat take the lead. Some cats move in immediately. Others circle it like a tiny furry shark, then pretend they never cared at all, then occupy it the moment nobody is watching.
Watch Some Funny Cat Videos
Cats are remarkable creatures and many of them have had a long relationship with cardboard boxes. Perhaps it would be fun to celebrate International Box Day by checking out some online videos of cats. They can make people laugh. They can make people cry. And they’ll especially give those cat lovers all the feels. Don’t forget to share some cat videos with friends, just for fun and giggles to raise awareness for the day! To keep it on-theme, box-centric cat videos are the obvious choice. They tend to fall into a few classic categories: the cat who becomes instantly liquid and pours into a too-small box, the cat who launches ambushes from a box like it is a professional sport, and the cat who sits in a box with an expression that says, “This is mine now, please leave.” Watching videos can also be surprisingly educational for cat owners. Box behavior often reveals what a cat finds fun or stressful: Confident cats may use boxes as play stations, popping in and out, pouncing on toys, and rolling around with all the flair.Cautious or newly arrived cats may use boxes as a safe retreat. That is not “antisocial,” it is a normal coping strategy.Cats who play rough might chew cardboard or claw the edges more intensely, which is a reminder to supervise new setups and swap out damaged boxes before they become a mess of loose, tempting bits. Sharing a favorite clip with friends is an easy way to participate. It is also a gentle reminder that cats do not need expensive entertainment to thrive. A clean box, a predictable routine, and a little interactive play can go a long way.
Adopt a Cat
Not sure what all of the hype is about on International Box Day? Well, one good way to find out might be to consider adopting a cat and bringing it home. Shelters are often full of kittens and cats that are looking for a forever family, and perhaps this is just the day to get one. But don’t forget to make sure there are plenty of cardboard boxes around in celebration of the day! Adoption is a big, kind-hearted step, and it is also a practical commitment. International Box Day can serve as a quirky nudge to think about what cats actually need: safety, routine, veterinary care, and an environment that supports normal cat behavior. One of the simplest tools for helping a new cat settle in is, yes, the cardboard box. A newly adopted cat may feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar sounds and smells. Setting up a “starter room” with essentials like food, water, a litter box, scratching options, and at least one hiding place can make the transition smoother. A box is ideal because it is inexpensive, easy to replace, and instantly recognizable as a shelter-like refuge. A few adoption-friendly box tips: Provide multiple hiding spots. One box near the resting area, one closer to where people spend time, and perhaps one elevated spot if it can be made stable. This lets the cat choose the level of social interaction.Respect the hide. If the cat is in the box, avoid reaching in. The box should feel like a safe “no-grab zone.” Let the cat come out on its own terms.Use boxes to reduce conflict. In multi-cat households, more resources usually mean less tension. Multiple boxes can help cats avoid each other when they need space. Adopting a cat is not for everyone, and it should never be an impulse decision. But for those ready to bring home a new companion, a simple box can be part of a thoughtful welcome.
Remember Some Classic Cartoon Cats
Why is it that cats make such interesting cartoon characters? Who knows, really, but it’s certainly true. Get nostalgic for International Box Day and find some fun cartoon shorts and videos of these iconic cool cats: Tom Cat. Arch nemesis of the mouse, Jerry, some believe they are friends and only pretend to hate each other.Sylvester. One of Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird’s friends.Garfield. This comic strip character is famous for hating Mondays. Classic cartoon cats are a reminder that the cat-box obsession did not come out of nowhere. Fiction has always leaned into cats as curious, stubborn, clever creatures who love a cozy nook. Watching a few old favorites can be part of the celebration, especially for households that want to include kids or lean into the playful side of the day. It can also be fun to notice how cartoon cats exaggerate real cat behavior: the intense focus, the sudden bursts of speed, the dramatic indignation, the smug satisfaction of finding the best seat in the house. That “best seat” might be a cushioned chair, but just as often it is a box. For a box-themed twist, families can turn the cartoon marathon into an activity. While watching, set out a few boxes and see what the real cat thinks of the entertainment. Some cats will ignore the screen and occupy the nearest cardboard. Others will sit like a tiny critic, judging the accuracy of the feline representation. If there are no cats in the home, cartoon time still fits the spirit of International Box Day. It is about celebrating a simple object that sparks imagination, and cartoons have been doing that for generations. International Box Day Timeline1600sEarly Cardboard-like Packaging in ChinaChinese artisans developed early thick paper materials used for packaging and containers, laying the groundwork for what would later become cardboard boxes.[1]1817First Commercial Paperboard Box Produced in EnglandAn English firm is credited with making the first commercial paperboard box, marking the start of modern cardboard box manufacturing for consumer goods.[1]1856Patent for Corrugated Paper in EnglandInventors in England patented pleated, corrugated paper for use in hatbands, introducing the corrugation technique that would soon be adapted for sturdier shipping boxes.[1]1871Albert Jones Patents Corrugated Paper for PackagingNew York inventor Albert L. Jones patents corrugated paper as a protective wrapping for fragile items, a key step toward the corrugated shipping box.[1]1874Oliver Long Creates Corrugated Board with LinersOliver Long improves Jones’s concept by adding flat liner sheets to corrugated paper, creating true corrugated board suitable for strong shipping cartons.[1]1879Robert Gair Develops the Folding CartonPrinter Robert Gair devises a way to cut and crease paperboard in one operation, enabling mass production of flat, foldable cardboard cartons used for retail packaging.[1]2014Study Shows Boxes Reduce Stress in Shelter CatsDutch researchers report that newly arrived shelter cats given hiding boxes adapt faster and show lower stress than cats without boxes, confirming the importance of boxes as an important feline enrichment.
Early Cardboard-like Packaging in China
Chinese artisans developed early thick paper materials used for packaging and containers, laying the groundwork for what would later become cardboard boxes. [1]
First Commercial Paperboard Box Produced in England
An English firm is credited with making the first commercial paperboard box, marking the start of modern cardboard box manufacturing for consumer goods. [1]
Patent for Corrugated Paper in England
Inventors in England patented pleated, corrugated paper for use in hatbands, introducing the corrugation technique that would soon be adapted for sturdier shipping boxes. [1]
Albert Jones Patents Corrugated Paper for Packaging
New York inventor Albert L. Jones patents corrugated paper as a protective wrapping for fragile items, a key step toward the corrugated shipping box. [1]
Oliver Long Creates Corrugated Board with Liners
Oliver Long improves Jones’s concept by adding flat liner sheets to corrugated paper, creating true corrugated board suitable for strong shipping cartons. [1]
Robert Gair Develops the Folding Carton
Printer Robert Gair devises a way to cut and crease paperboard in one operation, enabling mass production of flat, foldable cardboard cartons used for retail packaging. [1]
Study Shows Boxes Reduce Stress in Shelter Cats
Dutch researchers report that newly arrived shelter cats given hiding boxes adapt faster and show lower stress than cats without boxes, confirming the importance of boxes as an important feline enrichment.