The Box That Chose Our Cat

We didn’t bring home bananas. Just a box meant to carry everything but bananas—one of those sturdy cardboard crates Costco stacks near the checkout, free for the taking. Reused by shoppers. Destined for recycling.

We set it down by the door, planning to reuse it or break it down later. But before it could make its quiet exit, someone else made a bold entrance.

Basil, our 20-pound Maine Coon—equal parts cat, dog, and low-key house celebrity—stepped in like it had been placed there just for him. No hesitation. No second thoughts. He curled up inside, declared it his own, and we’ve never had the heart to move it since.

The box now lives just beside our front door, not far from the mail slot that drops letters and packages right into the house. For Basil, the location couldn’t be more perfect.

One of his daily rituals is listening for the mail. Somehow, long before it arrives—before the carrier even reaches our neighbor’s front steps—Basil knows. He perks up. He waits. And when the mail finally drops through the slot, it’s like he’s been handed his favorite part of the day.

So yes, if you visit and see a banana box in our entryway, please don’t be judgey. It’s not clutter. It’s not trash. It’s the best cat bed money never bought.

Basil naps in it. Watches the world from it. Waits for mail like it’s his job. He plays fetch, follows us from room to room, and charms everyone who walks through the door. He’s terrified of the outdoors but bold in his affections. And that box? It’s his throne, his lookout post, and his personal postal station—all in one.

Some things we plan for. Others—like a cat and his cardboard kingdom—we simply say yes to.

– The Wallflower