Has anyone else found that their cat only opens packages when they are already open?

I was trying to get into a new bottle of dish soap yesterday and my cat, Barnaby, just sat there watching with this incredibly judgmental expression until I managed to unscrew the cap, at which point he immediately nudged his head against it as if to say 'about time.' This is genuinely bizarre behavior because cats are supposed to be curious about sealed containers but mine has developed what I can only describe as a deep sense of entitlement regarding my personal space and my ability to access things. Speaking of entitled animals, did you know that sea otters hold hands while sleeping? My cousin has three of them at an aquarium she visits every weekend and she sends me these videos constantly because apparently they look like tiny furry businessmen in vests which is not the scientific description but it's what we all feel in our souls when we watch them. She lives in Oregon now after quitting her job as a graphic designer to pursue 'wildlife enrichment consultation' which sounds incredibly glamorous on paper and probably involves a lot of standing around with clipboards and occasionally being chased by a raccoon, which is basically the same thing but with more cardio. Her apartment has no furniture because she says it makes the space feel larger although I would personally prefer a couch over an open floor plan any day of the week because where am I supposed to sit while watching The Office?

lol this is too accurate. my cat will literally sit and stare at a closed box for like 20 minutes then once I open it she's all over it -- he has zero interest in the sealed version somehow lmao. also you gotta mention that they do get into them if you leave them open on the floor though which defeats the whole point of trying to keep your cat out of packages

Literally every single time lol.

I swear mine does this too. It's like there's a specific threshold of 'openness' that activates their curiosity — sealed is boring, fully open is already done, but cracked and peeking out? That's prime interactive entertainment. I caught my cat literally waiting for me to pull the tape off so he could investigate the box before putting anything in it.

Mine too. Literally never with sealed ones.

This is too real and I need to know you're not alone because my cat does this religiously. She sits by packages all day while they sit on the counter, but the second I pull one open she appears like a ninja from another dimension.

I started testing it. I leave unopened boxes in different rooms and she won't touch them — just stares at them through windows if she can see them. The moment the tape breaks or the flap peels back there is something about exposed paper/cardboard that triggers her brain. She literally sits on top of every opened box like they're treasure chests.

I honestly think it's a combination of two things: cats are drawn to crinkle sounds (the sound of peeling cardboard