Why Do Cats Like Basements? [ Find Out The Reasons Here ]

If you have a basement in your house and ever let your cat go into a basement, you will see that your cat is often whining near the door.

You might be wondering why your cat is trying to get into there. Do they like only basements or any place that resembles the cold dark space in the house?

Any similar place will also have a similar effect on a cat.

The dark, cold space with a tinge of solitude might be the ideal place for your cat. There can be other reasons for their weird obsession with basements as well.

We will look into this behavior in more detail and give you a broader picture of what is happening when the cat is whining to go to the basement.

Apart from the reasons, we will also answer some of the vital questions that you might have regarding cats and basements.

Let us start by explaining the reasons for which cats might like basements.

Why Do Cats Like Basements?

Every cat is entitled to its views and emotions about anything.

It is quite hard to exactly determine what is making the cat do a particular behavior. The same can be said about their obsession with basements as well.

However, we can guess some possible reasons that might explain why your cat likes to visit the eerie atmosphere of the basement.


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Curiosity:

Cats are houses of indomitable curiosity, and there is no end to this. If you have ever had a cat, you certainly know what we are talking about here. A basement is a curious place for a cat.

You might understand this because generally, basements are quite different from the rest of the house.

The dark and cold place with unique corners and space is heaven for curious cats.

If you use your basement as a storage room, it is even better for cats.

They will have plenty of places to sleep, play around, and have a blast on their own. There is nothing better for a cat than a place of its own.

Some Lonely Time:

Cats need quite a bit of solitude for their mental peace. Sometimes, they want to have a bit of time to themselves, where they are doing things independently. Mostly, they feel the need for a lonely time when they want a little space from you.

As basements are perfect for such purposes, cats tend to get attracted to these places as well.

Often humanless basements serve as the ideal place to unwind, play around, and do cat things at their convenience.

Prey:

Cats are predators from early civilization. Although they have lost the need to hunt wild rodents or small animals, cats are still amazing hunters. That said, cats also love playing hunting games with you.

What is better than an actual hunting game for the cat? No matter how clean your basement is, there is always a possibility of rodents crawling inside.

In those cases, you have the world’s best pest control in your house.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on pest control. Instead, give free rein to your cat.

Maine Coons used to be the pest control in barns in the early days of the breed. Later it gained popularity due to its beautiful nature, and now it is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world.

Silence:

Cats need a relatively low noise level for peace of mind.

If you have a basement, it provides a place where the cat can be at peace. As the basements are often below the ground, it is well proof against the outside noise.

Cats can get quite irritated if they are subjected to loud noise continuously.

It is a concerning problem for the people who live by the busy road. If you see that the cat is only trying to get into the basement where the noise level is too high, you know what is causing the problem.


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Can Cats Survive In A Basement?

The answer to this depends on how your basement is in general. As basements tend to be quite different in every house, you must check whether the cat can live in your basement. You might need to know some of the most crucial things for the cat’s survival for the decision.

First of all, you need to make sure that the basement is well ventilated.

The ventilation is necessary as the air gets moldy and pungent with time. Apart from that, you need to make sure there is some sunlight coming through a window or two.

Cats generally tend to find a warm spot in the sun for their daytime naps.

It brings us to another vital point. The temperature of the basement should be compatible with the living condition of a cat.

If you see that the basement is particularly cold, you can always install an insulator so that the cat is comfortable.

Lastly, the cleanliness of the basement is also crucial. If the cat lives in an unhygienic situation for a long time, it becomes prone to develop various diseases.

Is It Okay To Put My Cat In The Basement At Night?

It is not a problem if you put your cat in the basement if you satisfy all the conditions we have stated in the previous section, and the cat is comfortable spending time alone in the basement.

The best trick is to have a slow change if you are trying to train your cat to spend nights in the basements.

You have to remember that cats do not like sudden changes.

That means you cannot suddenly change their night routine from spending it with you to spending it alone in the basement.

A slow and gradual approach should be the way to go about it.

Also, it would help if you made sure that the cat has access to food, water, and a litter box during the night. If you can make sure of these conditions, and the cat is okay with it, you don’t have any problem.


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Why Does My Cat Go To The Basement and Howl?

There is no right answer to this. There could be various reasons for this behavior, and we can only speculate what is going on. However, here are some of the possible reasons that might be making the cat howl in the basement:

  • Senile cats often get confused when they are suffering from various diseases. If your cat is particularly old, it is best to keep them in a safe environment.
  • Cats can often howl when it is their time to mate.
  • Howling can also be a victory call over a dead rodent. You never know what is happening till you go and see it.
  • Cats can also howl if they are ill or having pain.

Why Does Your Cat Sleep In The Basement?

You might consider basements to be the worst place to sleep for some reason probably.

But the cats might love sleeping in the basement because of the same reasons.

The cold, dark place serves as their ultimate place to thrive and have their solitude.

If the cat finds their surroundings to be suitable in the basement, you should have no problem letting them sleep there. Just make sure the place is clean, ventilated, and temperature regulated.

Conclusion:

Cats can have weird obsessions with almost anything. One of those is the liking towards basements. If you understand the needs of cats, it is not very absurd for them to be in love with the dark basements. No matter the reason, if the cat is fine in the basement, you should let them be.

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