Why Does My Cat Stare At Me? Cats Behavior and Body Language Explanation

If you have ever noticed that your cat sometimes is demonstrating or showering you with some intense eye contact, you may have wondered why. You also might have found it rather amusing, or maybe it has even made you feel a little uneasy.

So, why is your pet staring? There might not always be an easy answer to this.

Instinctively it seems to many people that direct eye contact can feel threatening, so you may have thought that your pet is upset with you somehow. The truth is, it could be nothing at all. Sometimes cats just stare. Cats are very visual and typically are always on high alert for movements with their eyes, so sometimes that focus could just be on you simply because you’re moving.

However, there are multiple reasons that your pet stares at you, and here are some helpful ways to help tell why so that you can assess and figure out what that reason is.

Body Language Indicators

The way that your pet positions itself at you should be able to tell you a lot. For instance, a stiff stance with a tail down might indicate stress or anxiety. Slow blinks are indicators of affection and tend to be more friendly in gesture. Their inability to communicate makes them stare to seek out our attention. Here is a breakdown of the body language you might see in your pet while staring, what it means, and what you can do to fix it:

Angry or Upset

Cats who are mad or upset will lay their ears down to the sides and stiffen their bodies. Their pupils might also dilate, and when a pet is irritated, its tail will move from side to side. This stare most likely proposes a potential threat, where your cat might become aggressive, and a signal that you should move away from the pet.

It would be helpful in this situation if you avert your eyes, leave the area if possible, or distract your cat from directing its attention elsewhere by presenting another activity or focus. You can throw something or knock on something to cause an abrupt motion and sound. If nothing else, the action will break the eye contact and release the tension. 

Happy or Content

If your pet is staring at you with long, slow blinks or laying on your lap or chest, this usually indicates that your cat is content. The blinks are called “eye kisses” and are their way of showing you affection. Loose, relaxed body language like a lowered tail and the sound of purring that accompany the stare will indicate that your pet wants to be close to you.

Your cat may also just want something and show its sweet nature by asking with a calm, non-threatening stare. It could be that your pet just wants to be close to and play with you. Basically, your cat is staring in this fashion because it just wants your attention in some way. Give it a pet, rub, or long cuddle to show your affection back.

Scared or Anxious

If your pet is staring with very alert eyes and body language shows crouching or hiding with its tail tucked in, this indicates that your pet is probably in fear or anxious about something. Sometimes, explosive motions or noises can cause a cat to become scared. If you dropped something that caused a banging sound, or the pet heard something outside, it might stare at you in this way.

The cat is alert to any danger, so it will stare at whoever happens to be there to alert them as well. In this case – that would be you. If you accidentally made the noise or can tell that your cat is fearful, you can work to diffuse this situation. Speaking to your pet calmly or providing it with a pet treat can help it to relax. Any sort of distraction, such as a pet toy or interactive playtime, will help take its mind off of being scared.

READ MORE: Cat Sleeping Positions

Hunger or Curiosity

There are many times that cats will stare at their owners because they want something, and more often than not, something is food. If you have become too busy and missed their standard feeding time, you may find your pet has sought you out and is staring at you demandingly. 

Usually, this type of stare may be paired with sounds as well, like meows and squeaks to be sure they are grabbing your attention. If the gaze doesn’t work, cats resort to an invasion of your space – rubbing against your legs or face to further get their point across – they are hungry.

Cats are also curious creatures by nature. We are all familiar with the phrase “curious as a cat,” – and this saying makes perfect sense because we know how curious they are! They almost seem nosy in the way that they want to know what is going on. Sometimes, they might just be staring at you because they want to see what you are doing. As a pet owner, you are the most important (and most interesting) person to your cat. 

With the recent global pandemic of COVID-19, many people have started working from home. Your cats may become curious about your computer or your typing if it isn’t something that you often did before now. They may stare at you if you take many phone calls throughout the day, wondering what this new thing is that you’re doing. 

Sleeping

Cats that stare with their eyes partially open or half-closed, or possibly as if they are winking at you – depending on how you look at it, they most likely are taking a quick “cat nap.” Cats do sleep a lot during the day, and sometimes they will sleep with their eyes open so that you perceive as your pet staring may actually be your petsleeping. In this situation, your cat is not staring at you at all!

Health Issue or Pain

Though this is a more uncommon reason for a pet to stare, it may be that something is seriously wrong with your cat. Your cat may be injured in some way and attempting to get your attention by staring. It might also be an eye issue, like an ocular injury, sometimes associated with cats who have high blood pressure.

The experts at Bond Vet ^[1] in Garden City, New Jersey state how important it is that you do not ignore a health issue or symptom that your pet may be displaying by staring. They encourage you to check for dilated pupils and call your local veterinarian as soon as possible, as this could be correlated with a blood pressure issue.

READ MORE: Cat Eye Injury: Vet Advice

Staring is Caring

Overall, there are plenty of reasons that your pet stares at you. You can play detective and quickly figure out why your cat is doing so. By assessing their body language, the time of day (in case you missed its feeding or it needs to go outside), and if the staring is just bothersome, you can work to distract your pet with another activity. 

The bottom line: when your pet is staring at you, it is most likely a harmless act, like sleeping or curiosity. However, if you sense that something more serious could be wrong with your cat then you should call your vet to have them seen. Otherwise, don’t mind the stare and let them continue. 

Article Sources:

1. “What’s Normal Behavior for My Cat? | Bond Vet.” Bond Vet, 7 Apr. 2021, bondvet.com/b/whats-normal-behavior-for-my-cat.