Hilarious Photos of Cats Squeezing Themselves Into Boxes

It really doesn’t matter what size a cat is – the flexible felines still manage to squeeze themselves into seemingly impossible spaces. And these pictures, shared on Twitter by amused owners, show the great lengths their pets are prepared to go to in pursuit of a comfy spot to sleep, Joinfo.com reports with reference to Daily Mail Online.

For these cats it seems a cardboard box, no matter how small, provides the perfect location for a nap.

Some of the moggies in these photos haven’t quite managed to squeeze their whole bodies in, while others, undeterred, have face-planted into boxes in a desperate attempt to fit.

So why DO cats love boxes so much?

Scientists say they haven’t fully understood why our feline friends have an affinity for boxes, but they have a number of theories.

The most popular is that cats are instinctively drawn to boxes because they offer security and shelter from predators while they stalk their prey.

According to a report by Bryan Gardiner in Wired, veterinarian Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently studied stress levels in shelter cats.

She discovered that cats who had boxes got used to their new surroundings faster than those who didn’t because the boxes acted as a coping mechanism.

Boxes also offer safe places for cats to take a nap. Felines can sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day, so seeking out a hidden place would help their chances of survival in the wild.

See also: These geometric pet beds are an ideal resting spot for modern cats and dogs