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Cats love cardboard boxes — maybe too much

Many news outlets have covered the story of Galena, a 6-year-old house cat from Utah, who stowed away in an Amazon box that its mom packed up and shipped to California with some items she was returning. Galena’s family thought it had gotten out and searched their neighborhood for days. They were shocked when they got a call that its microchip had been scanned hundreds of miles away. Luckily, Galena was no worse for wear after the trip in the mail. And all because the cat loves cardboard boxes so much.

When shopping for your cat, you might consider the best hanging scratchers or scratching posts. But before you drop a pretty penny on cat supplies, consider that many felines, just like Galena, absolutely love cardboard. They like to climb on it, scratch it, sleep inside it and yes, hide away in cardboard boxes. And while an Amazon box can be the perfect low-cost toy for your cat, there are also tons of cute cat toys that are purposefully made out of their preferred material: cardboard.

In this article: SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats, Cardboard Cat House with Scratchers, Izakaya Bar, Furhaven Multi-Level Cardboard Cat House w/ Catnip for Indoor Cats, Ft. Scratching Pads & Toys – Farmhouse and SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats, Cardboard Cat House with Scratchers, Coffee Shop

We’ve rounded up some of our favorites for you to check out. If you have a cat that can’t get enough of your discarded boxes, don’t risk them taking a trip like Galena’s — recycle that Amazon box and get your cat one of these cardboard toys instead.

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Some of the highest-rated (and most affordable) cat toys are made out of cardboard

SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats

SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats, Cardboard Cat House with Scratchers, Izakaya Bar

This cardboard cat house is designed to look like an adorable sushi restaurant, with a scratching pad inside and a rope toy attached to the exterior.

Furhaven Multi-Level Cardboard Cat House w-Catnip

Furhaven Multi-Level Cardboard Cat House w/ Catnip for Indoor Cats, Ft. Scratching Pads & Toys – Farmhouse

This multi-level cardboard farmhouse has room for multiple cats — plus an attached mouse toy for extra fun.

SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats, Cardboard Cat House with Scratchers, Coffee Shop

SMILE PAWS Cat Beds for Indoor Cats, Cardboard Cat House with Scratchers, Coffee Shop

Give your cat the perfect place to lounge and hide with this cardboard house that looks like a tiny coffee shop.

VARLNALY Cat Scratcher, Cat Cardboard House

VARLNALY Cat Scratcher, Cat Cardboard House with 2 PCS Cat Scratch Pads

This cardboard house has two levels of scratchers and an exterior made to look like wood so it blends in with your home décor.

CusieryMax Magic Organ Cat Scratching Toy

CusieryMax Magic Organ Cat Scratching Toy

This accordion toy turns into a track where your cat can chase balls and other toys, made of cardboard that’s perfect for scratching.

Navaris Modular Cardboard Cat House

Navaris Modular Cardboard Cat House – DIY Corrugated Cardboard Configurable Play Tower Condo

This configurable cardboard tower comes with four cubes and two bridges that you can set up however you want for your cat to climb and play.

Conlun Cardboard Cat House with Cat Scratch Pad&Catnip

Conlun Cardboard Cat House with Cat Scratch Pad & Catnip

This cardboard cat house has a scratcher at the bottom and holes for your cat to climb and peek through, with a midcentury-inspired color-block design.

KISSAKOTI No Glue Refillable Jumbo Cat Scratcher

KISSAKOTI No Glue Refillable Jumbo Cat Scratcher

This jumbo, tunnel-shaped scratcher can be loaded with catnip to make it even more appealing to cats to climb, play and scratch.

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