Kind person adopts their friend's cat after they suddenly pass, and finds out the cat asks to be held in the silliest way: 'Rotisserie Chicken has learned that he needs a box he can't fit in to communicate he wants to be held'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Oct 22, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Each cat has their own unique and ever so slightly hilarious way of showing affection. 

I did not grow up with cats. Despite that, I thought that I knew cats. I always loved them. Pspspsing cute stray cats was one of my favorite activities forever and always. And I did know a lot. But not everything. Of course, a bunch of things ended up surprising me. The fact that cats have purrsonalities - like, the fact that they are really opinionated and like making sure that we know their opinions. The fact that cats are smart - that they learn our patterns and use that knowledge against us all the time. And the fact that they even though cats hate vet visits, they love giving us heart attacks sometimes and forcing us to take them. 

But one thing about cats that I thought was obvious that ended up taking me by surprise is that cats show affection in all kinds of silly ways. I knew about the meaning of slow blinking, and I knew that if a cat comes to cuddle you, that's basically a declaration of love. I did not know that them showing you their bootie is a sign of affection. I didn't know that my cat sleeping by my feet in bed is them showing love. For my cat specifically, I didn't know that her running to greet me when I come home is a way of showing affection until I realized that she only does it for me and no one else. And for Rotisserie Chicken - the kitty in today's story… showing love means being a rotisserie chicken. 

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  • 01

    "How do I convey to my cat that getting stuck upsidedown in a box is no longer a way to communicate he wants to be picked up and held?"

    Cheezburger Image 10671735296
    via Unsplash / Africa Images

    Cute fluffy cat in a cardboard box on a carpet.

    Not actual story subjects.

  • 02
    I recently (around two weeks ago) acquired Rotisserie Chicken (not his real name), from my former friend, A, who passed away, so I can't ask him any questions about how he learned this.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 03
    A only talked about the behavior when it began but no details on how. A did not do anything to make Rotisserie Chicken stop, so Rotisserie Chicken has learned that he needs a box he can't fit in, and can get stuck upsidedown in, to communicates he wants to be held.
    via u/one---punch---man

  • First of all, we know that you completely skipped past this, but we have to stop and talk about the fact that you adopted your friend's cat after they passed away. That's not obvious. It's not something that should be taken for granted. Friends like you are the kind that we all wish we had. It sounds like this was a loss that was unexpected, since you couldn't ask them questions about the cat. In amongst all the pain, to take their cat in and make sure that it has a warm home where it is loved… we're sure that your friend is so, so thankful to you. And since they can't say it, and you don't seem to see it as a huge deal, we will say it. Thank you for doing such an amazing and kind thing. 

  • 04
    Rotisserie Chicken has two methods for this: 1. Specific Times:
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 05
    Option Me - He likes to be held during a specific time, for me it's after I'm done gardening. Usually when I'm done gardening he runs up and rubs himself against my legs and scampers off, otherwise if he doesn't he's either asleep or stuck in the box. Since I garden for a exact timeline, he gets himself stuck in the box before I arrive so I can pick him up right away.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 06
    Option Partner - He has figured out what time my partner gets home and gets stuck in the box near the front door. That way when she opens the door she will see him immediately and pick him up.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 07
    2. Nonspecific times: When he wants to be held on non specific times he'll run off, get the box, meow until we look at him and make sure we're watching before he gets himself stuck.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10671735552
    via Unsplash / georgi benev - georgibenev97

    Adorable white cat peeking up from inside of a large cardboard box. 

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • 09
    This behavior is really cute but I don't want him to accidentally get hurt or continue this when he's older.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 10
    When he gets himself stuck he kind of jump/chucks himself onto his back really roughly which I'm not sure he can sustain if he gets older and more frail.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10671735808
    via Unsplash / Keisha - keish_c

    Cute fluffy cat with a white chest lying inside of a cardboard box. 

    Photo is a representation of scenes.

  • 12
    Plus while he hasn't ever missed his landing (to my knowledge), cats don't always stick the landing. I especially don't want him to try this on concrete or another dangerous landing place and hit himself when he misses.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 13
    (I've also recently gotten a kitten and I don't want him to teach the kitten this behavior.) Any and all advice would be appreciated, thank you.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 14
    Lody KAKTUS 248336 2250 ml/2400 g Mix 45 ml 33001003
    via Unsplash / Piotr Musioł - szamanm

    Fluffy white and brown cat with bright blue eyes lying inside of a box. 

    Picture does not depict real parties.

  • 15
    Edit: here is some information I clarified through various comments and subs. Firstly, Rotisserie Chicken isn't actually stuck he just likes the walls to press against him so he can stick upsidedown and play damsel in distress.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 16
    Secondly, there is just one special, specific, small box he uses. Thirdly, he smacks into the box quite roughly and I'm worried about him missing and hurting himself (he has been known to use high locations to jump and on occasion destroyed the box, hit the floor, and walked away gingerly).
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 17
    Moreover, he's at higher risk for back pain and arthritis when he gets older. While it isn't a guarantee, I don't want him to be sad / stress him out extra if have to teach him a new method he's used for a large majority of his life if he's no longer as physically able as he once was when he's older.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10671735040
    via Canva / Artur Harutyunyan

    Beautiful cat napping in a cardboard box. 

    Model portrayal.

  • 19
    Update: After helpful advice from multiple subs I created a plan to redirect Rotisserie Chicken.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 20
    What I hoped to do was slowly add more blankets into the box until it was entirely soft along with redirecting him to no longer back-jump into the box and use his more normal method. I planned to gently dump rotisserie Chicken out of the box, boop his paw to my arm, hold him, put him down, then repeat the tap and hold him.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 21
    I added a single blanket to the box and when I returned he was utterly baffled. It was so cute how flabbergasted he was. Luckily he wasn't upset or scared, I could just see the little gears turning in his head.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 22
    Anyways I began my plan. After repeating the paw + being held action a few times I thought it would a disservice to my heart to not wrap him in the small blanket thing I left in the box (he likes being tucked into bed so I thought me might enjoy this). Well, he loved it!
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 23
    Cheezburger Image 10671736576
    via Unsplash / Rynco Maekawa - lynzrand

    Gray cat with yellow eyes sitting inside of a cardboard box. 

    Still frame for contextual reference only.

  • 24
    He was purring super loud and was very excited. You know how dogs eat their tails when happy? Well Rotisserie Chicken grew up with a dog so he inherited that action.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 25
    Now during the time he usually asks to be held with the box method it's been a fifty-fifty split. He runs up with his special box with the blanket, waits for me to pick up the blanket out of the box, then watches as I places the blanket flat on the ground, he gets on it, I roll him, then pick him up.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 26
    If he tries the box method, I redirect him with the booping and little blanket instead. I'm really excited for my partner to get home because she's going to find this hilarious and adorable.
    via u/one---punch---man
  • 27
    PO 網路家庭國際資訊股份有 w.wwww- PChome 24&購物
    via Unsplash / Timo Volz - magict1911

    Unique-looking orange cat with bright green eyes sitting inside of a small box. 

    Featured likenesses do not identify those mentioned.

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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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