giphy
5月13日に放送された「あさイチ」（NHK）の“ねこ”特集に、視聴者から「猫はなぜ、小さい箱に入りたがるのでしょうか」との質問が寄せられた。猫の生態に詳しい帝京科学大学准教授の加隈良枝（かくま・よしえ）さんはその理由について、箱に入ると安心するからだと説明した。体の周りをピッタリと囲まれることに、安心感を覚えるのだという。
箱に入ってしまう猫たち
Perfect fit(01 of38)
(credit:Benjamin Torode via Getty Images)
cat in a box(02 of38)
(credit:chris van dolleweerd via Getty Images)
Zanzibar in a box, again(03 of38)
Zanzibar, what else? (credit:nromagna/Flickr)
Close-up of a cat playing with a box(04 of38)
(credit:Beth Achenbach / EyeEm via Getty Images)
My cat is playing in the box(05 of38)
(credit:Victor Mu\'s photo via Getty Images)
Cat inside removal box(06 of38)
(credit:Michael Blann via Getty Images)
Cat in a box!!!!(07 of38)
Cat in a boxWhat makes you think it\'s not MY box?\nNothing like a cat in a box :) This happened as soon as the small box was put on the counter.!!!! (credit:neilalderney123/Flickr)
Boxed(08 of38)
Brutus, hanging out in a box. (credit:waferbaby/Flickr)
Cat inside box(09 of38)
(credit:Image taken by Mayte Torres via Getty Images)
Cat inside removal box(10 of38)
(credit:Michael Blann via Getty Images)
funny cats(11 of38)
(credit:by Jorge Pereira via Getty Images)
shipment from Amazon(12 of38)
(credit:MissLudmilla/Flickr)
box cat(13 of38)
(credit:dreamattack/Flickr)
Hidden Cat(14 of38)
(credit:Wafue via Getty Images)
Cat in a brown cardboard box(15 of38)
(credit:Louise Heusinkveld via Getty Images)
cat overflow(16 of38)
(credit:Laura Layera via Getty Images)
Cat in a box(17 of38)
(credit:the_demiurge/Flickr)
Cat in a box(18 of38)
(credit:Serkan Onur via Getty Images)
Roxy in a box 2(19 of38)
What are you looking at? This is a perfectly sensible place to sleep! (credit:sallysetsforth/Flickr)
twigi in a box(20 of38)
(credit:miss pupik/Flickr)
Cat in the box(21 of38)
(credit:Jim Doberman via Getty Images)
Awkward Pet Portraits(22 of38)
(credit:Derek Calhoun via Getty Images)
I have new shoes and my cat a new place to sleep ;)(23 of38)
Tiger in the box (credit:R∂lf (busy)/Flickr)
Rita in a box(24 of38)
(credit:(sam)/Flickr)
simon in smallest box ever - IMG_0659(25 of38)
he loved getting in boxes. the smaller the better.\n(that\'s not a "thousand yard stare"... see next image.) (credit:just_mike/Flickr)
Awkward Pet Portraits(26 of38)
(credit:Derek Calhoun via Getty Images)
Cat in Box(27 of38)
We got this email from a customer today: "I just received a new P-Rod Back Pack in the mail (love it btw). The bag came in a very nice box and my cat would like to thank you for his stylish new home :)" (credit:Incase./Flickr)
Kittens in and atop box(28 of38)
(credit:Benjamin Torode via Getty Images)
Box Cat(29 of38)
For more funsies on Pancakes I regularly update here with videos & pictures:\npancakesthecat.blogspot.com/ (credit:captainpancakes/Flickr)
cat looking out of a box(30 of38)
(credit:Zwilling330 via Getty Images)
Sleeping Kitty(31 of38)
(credit:Hulya Ozkok via Getty Images)
Cat in a box(32 of38)
(credit:Debra Cohn-Orbach via Getty Images)
Kitten in Cardboard Box(33 of38)
(credit:Bettina Salomon via Getty Images)
Awkward Pet Portraits(34 of38)
(credit:Karen Hatch via Getty Images)
Kittens look out from suitcase(35 of38)
(credit:Remains via Getty Images)
Two American Shorthair Cats In a Black Suitcase, High Angle View, Looking at Camera(36 of38)
(credit:- Fotosearch via Getty Images)
Black cat in a box(37 of38)
(credit:Louise LeGresley via Getty Images)
Box o Cat-ey(38 of38)
(credit:maxintoch/Flickr)
さらに加隈さんは、猫がネズミを狩ることを挙げ、「ネズミは穴の中に住む生き物です。そのため猫は、穴に似た箱を、覗かずにはいられないのでしょう」と話した。
なお、この日、番組に出演した俳優の内藤剛志さんは、愛猫が台本の上からなかなかどいてくれず、台詞が覚えられないという悩みを訴えた。加隈さんは、「他の場所よりも少しでも高い場所を、猫は特別な場所だと感じ座る。また、飼い主に『どいて』と言われることが、かまってもらっていると感じるのではないか」と分析した。
【ハフィントンポスト日本版2周年イベント開催】
未来のつくりかた――ダイバーシティの先へ 2015年5月16日(土)14:00開始。
グローバル人材、アジアの女性、子育てしやすい国、これからの働きかた――。小室淑恵さんや瀬谷ルミ子さんら有識者のほか、アジア各国版の編集主幹と「多様性」についてディスカッションします。 詳細は、こちらから
15 GIFs Of Cats In Boxes
Bombs Away!(01 of15)
I meant to do that. (credit:Tumblr via )
I'm Not Stuck...(02 of15)
Just sitting comfortably. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
Get Away, Pig(03 of15)
This box is mine. (credit:Reddit via )
Bad Judgement(04 of15)
I\'ve underestimated my size. (credit:Funny Cute GIFs via Giphy.)
It's A Fit...(05 of15)
Almost. (credit:Tumblr via )
Feisty Feline(06 of15)
Nothing incites rage quite like a cardboard box. (credit:Boring Place via )
Sliding Home(07 of15)
We\'d say this cat is safe. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
Runway Kitty(08 of15)
Modeling the latest in Avant Garde fashion. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
The Daredevil(09 of15)
The audience is not impressed. (credit:Little Animal GIFs via Giphy.)
Pop Up Kitty(10 of15)
In it for the surprise. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
Risk Taker(11 of15)
The risk did not pay off. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
High Jump(12 of15)
Cleared it. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
Clap For Me(13 of15)
I can play AND fit in this box. (credit:ForGIFs via Giphy.)
A Narrow Fit(14 of15)
That I am not narrow enough for. (credit:Tumblr via Giphy.)
Boo!(15 of15)
Scaredy cat. (credit:ForGIFs via Giphy.)
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