Can an American Shorthair enjoy cardboard boxes more than expensive toys?

Totally. American Shorthairs are super into anything they can hide in or pounce on, and a cardboard box is like the ultimate hunting blind. I've seen mine ignore a fifty-dollar feather wand for hours just to bat at a plain old box flap. Expensive toys are cool, but a box hits that primal need to ambush and feel safe.

From a purely cost-benefit perspective, it's a no-brainer. A cardboard box offers multiple textures for scratching, a confined space for security, and endless opportunities for ambush play, all while being disposable. An expensive toy often has one function, like a single sound or motion, which gets boring fast. My American Shorthair will methodically explore a box for days, shredding corners and peeking out, whereas a fancy motorized mouse gets maybe ten minutes of interest before it's abandoned under the sofa. The box wins on variety and value every time.

Yeah, absolutely. My cat will ditch a brand new interactive toy for a flattened Amazon box in seconds. The box lets them control the play - hide, ambush, shred, nap inside. Expensive stuff just doesn't give that same feeling of security or hunting practice. It's the simple things, really.

Absolutely, and I’d want to clarify what you mean by “enjoy” - is it about active playtime or overall contentment? In my experience, an American Shorthair often finds more sustained satisfaction in a cardboard box because it offers layered possibilities: a hiding spot, a scratching surface, a warm cave for naps, and a launching pad for ambushes. Expensive toys tend to be static or repetitive, while a box evolves as the cat chews, reshapes, or moves it, keeping curiosity alive for days.