Why does my cat keep staring at me? They might want something!｜Fluv Professional Cat Sitter

We all know there are situations where intense eye contact with another person feels completely normal — like a job interview (eye contact = confidence!) or a bride and groom gazing at each other during their vows. But intense eye contact outside of those moments, the kind where someone just stares or glares at you, always feels a little odd. That’s true for humans, and it’s just as true with your cat!

If your cat stares at you a lot, you might find it funny, strange, or a little unsettling. But you’re probably wondering: “Why is my cat doing this?”

So what are the reasons behind all that staring? Why do cats love to stare? And is there any way to figure out what they’re trying to communicate through that intense gaze?

Why does your cat stare at you?

First things first — why do cats stare at you? Honestly, there’s no single definitive answer.

Unfortunately, cats can’t tell us what’s on their mind. So when they display certain behaviors, like staring, we can never be completely sure why they’re doing it.

That said, there are a few possible reasons your cat might be staring at you:

Your cat wants something

As you know, cats can’t communicate with us directly. So when they’re hungry, they can’t tap you on the shoulder and say “Hey, it’s almost dinnertime — how about we eat in 15 minutes?” Instead, your cat might stare at you to get a message across, especially when they need your help.

If you notice your cat has been staring at you for what feels like hours (and shows no sign of stopping), try to figure out what they might need. Is it almost feeding time? Put some food out. Has the litter box gone uncleaned for a while? Grab your scoop. Has it been a while since you gave your cat some love and attention? Pull out a toy and spend some quality one-on-one time with your pet.

It might take a bit of detective work to figure out exactly what they need, but if this is the reason behind the staring, once you give them what they’re after, that intense gaze should stop.

Your cat is curious

Have you heard the saying “curious as a cat”? That trait is absolutely spot-on.

Cats are naturally curious creatures. So all that staring might simply come down to pure curiosity.

It makes sense. To your cat, you are the most interesting thing in the world (you are their owner, after all!). Of course they’re going to be curious about what you’re up to — so staring might just be their way of satisfying that curiosity and keeping tabs on your day.

Your cat is sleeping

Not all cat staring is the same — and what you think is your cat staring at you might actually be them dozing off.

Cats sleep a lot, and interestingly, some cats sleep with their eyes slightly (or even fully) open. So what looks like an intense stare might not be a stare at all — they might just be sneaking in a few extra minutes of sleep.

Your cat is in pain

This is rare, but certain health issues — high blood pressure in particular — can cause eye problems that may look like staring.

If you notice your cat’s pupils are dilated along with the staring, book a vet appointment right away to have their blood pressure checked.

To sum up

There are plenty of reasons your cat might be staring at you — maybe they need or want something (let’s be honest, it’s probably food), or they’re sneaking in a nap with their eyes open. In most cases, though, a cat’s stare is pretty harmless. If you suspect your cat is staring because something’s wrong, take them to the vet — otherwise, just let them stare.

 

 

 

Author: Deanna deBara

Translated from: ‘Why Does My Cat Stare At Me’ https://www.rover.com/blog/why-does-my-cat-stare-at-me/

 

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