The box is full of interesting new smells. They want to share the excitement of opening it up. They are curious about what it might contain.
And… they love packaging.
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While we regard packing materials as something to get through in order to play with our new toys, cats regard packing materials as the toys.
Which is fine, as long as we handle it right.
Packing peanuts are popular because they are small and light, amenable to being batted around, and present in such profusion that the cat is overwhelmed with possibilities for all kinds of acrobatics. The only worry comes if we have a cat who likes to eat them. And, some cats do.
This is usually because the cat gets so into the whole prey scenario offered by packing peanuts they can’t help but go all the way. Also, styrofoam is an oil-based product with a crunchy texture which can appeal to many cats, and they might not notice the lack of taste until too late. If we find bits of chewed styrofoam after a box arrival, this means we might have to unpack the box in a separate room, or put the cat there. These peanuts aren’t digestible, and so can cause problems.
The biodegradable peanuts made from cornstarch are safe for the cat. Yet another reason to support their use!
The fun doesn’t stop there. Those air filled plastic pouches are better than balloons, which can actually pop in a cat’s mouth and send a piece of latex down their throat, suffocating them. And many cats find popping bubble wrap just as addictive as people do.
What about those styrofoam blocks or cardboard dividers that are designed to keep delicates unbroken? Can we say scratching posts?
Packing materials that have this crunchy, pneumatic, or shreddable texture offers variety and feedback that appeals to the wild in our cat. They aren’t getting this same kind of variety in their daily life, so the smells and textures that come into the house in boxes make delivery day a happy one for both us and our cats.
Monitor their use, take precautions, and maybe even put some of these things away for a rainy day. Picking up on their appeal to our cat can help us make better toy decisions, offer some cheap play options, and share the joy we get from new stuff.
Soon, we will both be watching from the window, waiting for the brown truck.
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Speaking of eating things that aren’t good for them, my cats had a whee of a time yesterday playing with a hard-boiled egg that was left out on the counter. They ate a good portion of the egg, which I suspect is probably fine, but they also seem to have eaten some of the shell in the process. We’re watching them closely right now, but is this likely to be cause for concern?
A quick googling indicates that eggshells dissolve in vinegar, and stomach acid is far stronger than that. I would also figure they would have crunched it up, or they would have had trouble swallowing it; not such a whee of a time, that would be.
So keep a lookout for signs of kitty distress, but chances are, that’s the last you’ll see of those eggshells.
My foster kittens loved their packing peanuts. Em, pictured, would choose one and carry it around, and defend it from the others.
So adorable!
I did have to watch them, because Viktor would chew them up (but not eat them) and Jack was just cheerfully thick-witted enough that I didn’t trust him not to give it a try.
My oldest cat loves the cornstarch kind and will always take one or two into a corner to lick. She gets really mad when a package comes and there aren’t any of the dissolving kind.
It never occurred to me to give the cats bubble wrap or the pillows from my Amazon orders. I will have to try that!
I never thought of giving my cats bubble wrap! I will have to try that. One of my cats likes licking plastic, like the plastic bag that contains my cotton balls in the bathroom. She doesn’t try to eat the plastic, just licks the bag. Occasionally she will admire herself in the mirror. I wonder if she thinks it’s another cat?
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That’s an interesting question! I will have to do a post on that. It depends on if the cat acts like their reflection IS another cat; social signals, looking for feedback, etc.
If she “admires” herself; I’m sure she knows it’s “her.”
Free bubble wrap, for felines & humanoids!
You have to pay shipping, though. Meow!!
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Very good to know. We introduced out kitty to our first balloon the other day. She was more interested in the string and afraid of the balloon itself lol. So far we haven’t had any trouble with our Calliope eating the packing materials. However she LOVES clawing a hole into those air filled pillow things and pushing the air out and sniffing it. I guess it has the smell of a totally different place.
I never knew there were cornstarch packing peanuts! My kitty loves packing peanuts, of course, and I always assumed they were all dangerous. Good to know there are some that are safe for her to play with.