Mary Allen
Cats are masters at staring. However, her intense gaze is not always a threatening gesture. Here’s what your cat is really trying to say when it stares at you.
Many cat owners are irritated when their cat suddenly stares at them intently. However, this behavior is a completely natural part of cat language. With cats, the look is all the more intense because they do not have to moisten the cornea of their eyes as often as we do. This allows them to fix their eyes on us without having to blink.
3 Reasons Your Cat is Staring At You
When cats stare at us, it can be for three reasons. In order to correctly interpret the cat’s gaze, you have to look at the entire situation that the cat and you are in at the moment. Other clues in your cat’s body language also give away what’s going on inside.
The Cat is Very Interested
Are you sitting comfortably at the table and your cat is staring at you from a distance? In this case, the cat just wants to get your attention. The cat is completely relaxed, its ears are not flattened.
Return your cat’s gaze gently and beckon to you. At that moment you can be sure that you are enjoying your cat’s full attention.
Also, take a look at the clock. Feeding coming up? Cats know exactly when they are usually fed. So it may well be that the cat will immediately walk to your feeding place when you return their gaze.
However, cats also quickly learn that we humans often do not even notice their looks and that they draw our attention much more quickly with a powerful meow.
The Cat Shows Her Sympathy
Is your cat staring at you and gently blinking its eyes from time to time? You can be happy because this behavior is a real token of love from your cat. The wink corresponds roughly to our friendly smile.
If you notice that your cat is winking at you, you should return her gaze gently and also – deliberately slowly – wink back with both eyes.
To show your cat your affection, you can of course take the first step and wink at your cat. A nice prelude to a cuddling and stroking session.
Your Cat is Aggressive and Threatening
Staring can also be a threatening gesture in cats, showing their aggressive mood. This often happens to strangers of the same species or even dogs.
The cat’s posture clearly shows its tension:
- She makes herself extra big or small.
- Ears are laid back, auricles pointing backward.
- Whiskers are set forward.
- Tail hair fluffed up, tail whipping back and forth.
- Cat shows her teeth.
- Cat growls or hisses.
Among cats, this behavior is a showdown. Either an opponent averts his gaze and retreats – or a fight ensues.
If your own cat stares at you like that, it doesn’t mean any harm. Actually, you’re friends. You should not return your gaze and turn away from the cat. Since the cat is under the most stress, now would be an opportunity to redirect its energy. Grab a cat rod or throw your cat’s favorite toy.
If a strange cat is staring at you in this way, you should avert your gaze, withdraw and just leave the cat alone.
If you notice a cat staring at your dog like this, slowly lead the dog away from the cat. A claw hit on the face is painful and can injure the dog’s eye in particular.
Cats communicate primarily through body language. The more sensitive you are to your cat’s behavior, the closer the relationship between you and your cat will become.