Cats are very curious creatures and if you have one in your home, you’ve probably become accustomed to them staring at you from time to time. If your kitty does this you’ll likely be wondering, “why does my cat stare at me?” Find out why with this article.
If you have the honour of sharing your home with a feline, you’re probably no stranger to that “I’m being watched” feeling. Whether you’re making dinner, sitting on the sofa or just waking up in the morning, it’s common that you’ll find your kitty looking at you with their big, round eyes – but what is the reasoning for it? Is it just pure curiosity on their part? Or is it something more?
We’ve put together this guide to tell you the possible reasons why your cat stares at you, keep reading to unlock the secrets of your pet’s behaviour.
Why does my cat stare at me?
There are actually a number of reasons why your cat may sit and stare at you. The top 3 most common ones are:
1. It’s feeding time
The first and most obvious reason why your cat is staring at you is that they may be trying to convince you to feed them. If you find it’s around the time they’re usually tucking in and they’re staring at you with demanding eyes, it’s likely that they’re trying to use their best mind tricks to convince you to top up their food bowl. For added effect, they may also pair this stare with squeaks and meows to really get your attention!
2. Cats are curious creatures
Cats are incredibly curious by nature and they always want to know what’s going on. It could be just that they’re observing you to see if you’re going to do anything interesting.
Cats are visual hunters and when they go outdoors, they’re on high alert, keeping their keen eyes peeled for anything moving. When they’re indoors, that laser focus will shift to the motion in the household, which is likely you, especially if you’re up and about doing things!
3. Showing you affection
If you spot your cat staring at you and giving long, slow blinks and looking at you through half-closed eyelids, this is actually known as “eye-kisses” and it’s about the best compliment you could get from a cat! This is the feline equivalent of showing you affection and their way of saying “I see you; I feel safe and relaxed around you.” How cute is that?
Body language is key
It can be hard to decipher which of the above is the reasoning behind why your cat’s staring at you, which is why you’ll also need to pay attention to their overall body language.
Stiff, puffed-up body
A cat displaying a stiff, puffed-up body is one that’s likely very annoyed! You may spot them swishing their tail side-to-side too and when paired with staring, this is usually a cat’s way of threatening you and telling you to leave them alone or they may be forced to take action. If your cat is doing this, get some distance between you as soon as possible and avoid returning the eye contact – your cat may see staring as you being threatening too!
Crouched, tail tucked in
If your cat’s staring at you whilst also in a crouched position with their tail tucked in, it’s generally a sign that your cat’s frightened. You may also find them hiding somewhere like underneath a coffee table or bed and when they stare at you like this it’s because they’re keeping an eye on the potential ‘danger’. If you can identify the cause of their fright – maybe you’ve shouted a little too loudly or made a loud bang in the kitchen – stop it and try to offer them some treats as a peace offering. This works particularly well if your feline friend is particularly fond of treats.
That’s our guide to why cats sit and stare at you! Want to understand more about your cat’s behaviour? Read our article on why cats hiss, next.
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