Why is My Cat Staring at Me?

Just as with humans, there are a number of things you can learn by looking your cat in the eye. Cats rarely meow to other cats, but it is common for them to do so to humans. This suggests that they are also trying to communicate with us.

If you have had a cat for a while, you probably already know a little about their behavior. You will have learned how their facial expressions correlate with their body language. By understanding the way our cat stares at us and its different postures, we can determine if the cat is angry, happy, fearful, etc.

Here are some of the most common postures and expressions of cats and their meanings:

• If their hair is ruffled, they are probably upset and will likely attack soon. This may be because they feel threatened or are angry.
  
  
• On the other hand, if the cat's ears and tail are erect, it may just be happy and chipper.
  
  
• If a cat's eyes widen and its ears are erect, this indicates a happy and curious mood.
  
  
• If a cat looks at you with narrowed eyes and a relaxed posture, it means that it is comfortable with you.

Once we understand these signals, we can better respond to our cat's needs and improve our relationship with them. Furthermore, our cat's gaze can indicate not only its mood, but also a number of health conditions such as central nervous system injuries, tumors, etc.

If you want to learn more about the different body postures of cats and their meaning, do not miss this other article about cat body language.

The shape of their eyes and their body language are an essential part of understanding our cats, but so are their vocalizations. There are different reasons why a cat stares at you and meows, one of the most common is hunger.

Each cat may ask for food in its own way. Some will stand silently next to their plate, others will follow you around the house, and still others will simply stare at you and meow. If your cat is staring at you and meowing, it may be time to check if their food bowl needs to be filled.

Another reason a cat may meow while staring at you is pain or discomfort. Some cats hide and avoid company when they are sick or in pain. This is usually because they feel threatened in their vulnerable state and want to protect themselves. Others, especially those that trust their owners, may try to communicate with a human by meowing and staring.

A cat's pleading looks are not emitted just because it is hungry. If you have been neglecting your cat, they may need physical or mental stimulation, usually in the form of play. They may just want company, or there may be something bothering them. If your cat is an indoor cat but can see the outside, they may have a desire to leave the house. By staring at you, they may be trying to communicate this desire.

If your cat is stressed or upset by something, they may also stare at you for a long time. This stress could be triggered by a change of home, a new family member in the house, or even a change in their cat food. In some cases, if two or more cats live together and one of them dies, the other may stare at you because they miss the other cat.

When a cat feels threatened, whether by a human or another cat, it usually assumes one of two postures:

• If it moves to the side and begin to lick themselves, which means that they are not looking for a conflict.
  
  
• If, on the other hand, they are preparing for a possible fight, they stare at their attacker. They may even hiss or howl to signal that they should not approach.

The sounds a defensive cat makes are very different from those of a cat looking for food or companionship. The sound is much sharper and indicates violence. When this happens, it is best to move out of the cat's field of vision. Alternatively, you can blink several times and slowly move your head from side to side. This gesture conveys that you are not a threat and have no intention of engaging in a fight.

Cats are curious and observant animals, so almost any change in the environment can attract their attention. For this reason, they often follow you around the house because they are interested in what you are doing. Cooking, doing homework, and even sleeping can be a mystery to your cat.

Also, when your cat comes to you at bedtime, they may stare at you in a certain way. Usually, they blink at you lazily. If this is the case, consider yourself lucky. Your cat trusts you and feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable around you. This gesture is common when they snuggle up to you to sleep or when you shower them with petting and affection. The cat wants you to know that they feel relaxed, because they will only allow this with those who make them feel most comfortable with.

If you want to be sure that your cat loves you, read this other article, where we explain the most common signs of love in cats.

If you want to read similar articles to Why is My Cat Staring at Me?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.