Why Is My Cat Staring at Me? Top 5 Reasons Explained

comments-icon 13 Comments on Why Is My Cat Staring at Me? Top 5 Reasons Explained
Share Email Pinterest Linkedin Twitter Facebook

Have you ever walked into a room to find your cat staring at you, or witnessed them watching you as you eat? Your cat is not challenging you to a staring contest but why is your cat staring at you?

There are a variety of reasons why a cat may be staring at you including trying to communicate with you, out of curiosity, expressing emotion, or waiting for a cue. The majority of the time, a cat’s stare is part of the processing of stimuli around them, as they constantly smell and sees and reacts accordingly.

1. Curiosity

Cats are naturally curious and since they are prey and predator animals, they always like to know what it is going on around. It could just be that they are observing you, maybe you just begun to move after sitting and they shift their focus to you due to the motion in the home.

2. Waiting for a Cue or Asking For Something

A cue is a signal that triggers a behavior. Cats are always learning, and we are teaching them even if we do not realize it. For example, when you take out the can opener when your first wake up, your cat comes running in anticipation of food. The cat has formed a positive association over time with the can opener and delicious breakfast, the can opener becomes a cue to come and stare at you.

Another common example is your cat may have stared at you in the past and when they stare at you, you have taken that as them asking to play, be pet, or be fed. They have learned that eye contact (staring) with you results in something they like and will continue to do it to get the same result (play, petting, food).

The more you reward this behavior over time, the more likely the cat will stare at you for what they want.

3. Communicate With You and Express Emotions

Cats will sometimes stare at you in order to communicate their feelings.

Most cat caregivers would love if their cats could talk to them and they do, but mostly using nonverbal communication. Staring is one of the many forms of nonverbal communication they use along with facial expressions, body posture, ears, whisker position, and more!

The important thing to remember is to look at the entire body of the cat – not just the eyes – and take note of the current context/situation in which the body language occurs. They use their body to show you when they’re feeling calm and relaxed, and when they’re feeling stressed out and anxious.

4. Relaxed and Calm

A cat who is relaxed will have loose body movements and their breathing will be slow and steady. They may fold their feet in front of themselves or stretched way out in front.

A relaxed cat’s ears and whiskers will be at their neutral positions, or maybe slightly forward. The pupils will be thin slits and eyes would be almond shaped. They may have a half open or soft squinty, eye lightly closed or slow blinking along with a soft, relaxed body.

A slow blink indicates that your cat is feeling safe, happy, and is commonly used to express affection to humans and other cats.

5. Fearful or Stressed

In contrast to a relaxed cat, a cat who is staring fearfully will have a rigid appearance, with very wide eyes and generally tense body language.

A cat who is fearful and/or stressed will most likely freeze in place or run and hide. Their body will be tense and limbs and tail with be close to the body unlike with relaxed body language when limbs and tail are away from the body.

They may hold their legs underneath them in a crouched position. Their ears may be to the side or tucked back along with their tail. Their pupils will be dilated appearing big and round. They may be staring with direct eye contact usually in the direction of what is scaring them.

When your cat is exhibiting this body language, they are stressed and possibly scared and may exhibit aggressive behavior because of this.  It is best to not pick up or touch your cat when they are exhibiting this body language and instead move what they are afraid of away from them (including humans) and toss some delicious treats to them or use the treats to lure them to a more comfortable place.

The best way to interpret your cat’s staring is to consider what nearby stimuli (including things humans might not be able to hear or see) could be a source of your cat’s attention, as well as to assess your cat’s body language for other clues to discover what they are trying to communicate.

Also Read: What Your Cat’s Tail Can Tell You?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my cat stare at me creepy?

Cats rarely blink normally, so their gaze may look unusually intense. A nervous or intent cat will not move while watching an object, and this stiff, alert body language combined with a lack of blinking can look creepy.

Should I stare back at my cat?

Generally, no. You can look back at your cat with a soft gaze, but directly staring into your cat's eyes could be perceived as aggressive and may make your cat uncomfortable.

Why you should never look into cats eyes?

It's not true that you should never look into a cat's eyes, but directly staring into your cat's eyes may appear aggressive to your cat. Softly or indirectly gazing at your cat, however, could signal comfort and trust.

Why do cats watch you?

Cats may watch you for a variety of reasons. Cats tend to be very cautious and aware of potential threats, so a wary cat may keep their eyes on something to avoid being surprised by any sudden movements. Your cat may also watch you out of curiosity. Pay attention to your cat's body language to determine whether they are feeling comfortable or nervous.

Why does my cat keep staring at me?

There are a variety of reasons why a cat may be staring at you including trying to communicate with you, out of curiosity, expressing emotion, or waiting for a cue.

Help us do better! Was this article helpful and relevant?
Yes
No
What can you say about this article?
I am completely satisfied, I found useful information and tips in this article
Article was somewhat helpful, but could be improved
Want to share more?
Thank You for the feedback! We work to make the world a better place for cats, and we're getting better for you.

About Tabitha Kucera, RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP

Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free- and Low Stress Handling-certified RVT, CCBC, and KPA-CTP and is the owner of Chirrups and Chatter cat and dog behavior consulting. Tabitha also lectures to the general public, shelters, and veterinary professionals about cat and dog care and behavior, including how to make veterinary visits less stressful, feline friendly handling, community cats, and dog and cat body language. She has presented on various pet topics in Ohio, Florida, Portland, New Orleans, and Michigan.

Want to give your cat better care every day? Get our free day to day care guide.

Based on advice from cat behaviorists, we’ve developed a step-by-step guide to a healthy routine that brings out your cat’s best. From daily habits to yearly must-do’s, we’ve laid out everything you need to set the foundation for a stress-free, happy life.

Inside the day to day guide, you’ll find:
  • Easy to understand infographics
  • Checklists for simple management
  • Must-do’s for a healthy cat

Get your free guide! Get your free guide!

13 thoughts on “Why Is My Cat Staring at Me? Top 5 Reasons Explained”

+ Add Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Randy

    Nice website. Have you rated Halo Adult Cat Holistic Wild Salmon & White Fish. Cat picks and chucks pieces but eats it too. 6 LB bag seems not to be liked much halfway through, becomes less interested..

    Reply
    1. Mallory Crusta

      Hello Randy! Thanks for reaching out. We have reviewed the Halo brand as a whole, so you may be interested in checking out the review here. As for the Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish formula, it looks like it’s very similar to the other dry foods reviewed in that article. Hope this helps!

  2. Lael A Hibshman

    My two cats stare at me for different reasons. The male stares at me because he wants my undivided petting attention. My female cat, sits on the bed, staring and waiting for me to offer my hands as a sacrifice to her need for play under the covers. Both are equally captivating.

    Reply
    1. Mallory Crusta

      Hey David, thanks for asking. I’ve manually added you to the list, and you should receive an email at the address you attached to this comment. Thanks for your interest!

  3. DEBORAH MCCLURE

    HELP HELP – COCO GETS ON THE COUNTER – JUMPS IN THE FRIDGE & GRABS ANYTHING HE CAN WHICH COMES OUT WITH HIM.- OPENS BAGS, BITES PLASTIC BOTTLES UNTIL HE GETS A HOLE IN THEM,
    I HAVE TRIED TIN FOIL DOUBLE STICK TAPE, MATS WITH PONTS-, & PUT IN TIME OUT EVERY TIME HE IS ON THE COUNTER/TABLE. PLAY WITH HIM A LOT. BOUGHT A MOTION SENSOR THAT HAS A HORRIBLE NOISE- HE STARTED PLAYING WITH IT. BOUGHT TONS OF INTERACTIVE TOYS&CATNIP MICE. WE GOT A CAT TUNNES-BUILT A HUGE CAT TREE THAT IS 7 FEET TALL! HE &BROTHER MOCHI ARE 9 MONTHS OLD-MOCHI IS PRETTY GOOD BUT COCO IS TEACHING HIM – I HAVE TRIED LOOKING FOR A TRAINER BUT NO LUCK- I WOULD LOVE TO SEND YOU PICTURES OF HIS BAD HABITS -HELP!!!

    Reply
    1. DEBORAH MCCLURE

      ADDED MORE TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE- HELP HELP – COCO GETS ON THE COUNTER – JUMPS IN THE FRIDGE & GRABS ANYTHING HE CAN WHICH COMES OUT WITH HIM.- OPENS BAGS, AND BITES PLASTIC BOTTLES UNTIL HE GETS A HOLE IN THEM, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IN GLASS OR LOCKED UP. HE EATS COOKIES, HAWIAN ROLLS, LITPON DRY SOUP, POTATO CHIPS, – ALMOST ANYTHING HE CAN FIND.
      I HAVE TRIED TIN FOIL DOUBLE STICK TAPE, MATS WITH PONTS-, & PUT HIM IN TIME OUT EVERY TIME HE IS ON THE COUNTER/TABLE. BOUGHT A MOTION SENSOR THAT HAS A HORRIBLE NOISE BUT IN ONE MINUTE HE WAS PLAYING WITH IT. BOUGHT TONS OF INTERACTIVE TOYS & CATNIP MICE, AND TUNNELS, AND BUILT A HUGE CAT TREE IT IS 7 FEET TALL! WE HAVE HAD THE BROTHERS COCO AND MOCHI SINCE THEY WERE 8 WEEKS OLD- NOW THEY ARE 9 MONTHS. MOCHI IS PRETTY GOOD BUT COCO IS TEACHING HIM – I HAVE TRIED LOOKING FOR A TRAINER BUT NO LUCK- I PLAY WITH BOTH OF THEM EVERY DAY. BOTH ARE SUPER FRIENDLY AND LOVING. COCO DOES SHARE WITH HIS BROTHER EVERYTHING HE OPENS

    2. DEBORAH MCCLURE

      NEW MESSAGE- I AM OVER 70 AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE. BOTH CATS ARE SUPER FRIENDLY AND LOVING. ONE IS TROUBLE! COCO GETS ON THE COUNTER – JUMPS IN THE FRIDGE & GRABS ANYTHING HE CAN WHICH COMES OUT WITH HIM.- OPENS BAGS, AND BITES PLASTIC BOTTLES UNTIL HE GETS A HOLE IN THEM, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IN GLASS OR LOCKED UP. HE EATS COOKIES, HAWIAN ROLLS, LITPON DRY SOUP, POTATO CHIPS, – ALMOST ANYTHING HE CAN FIND.
      I HAVE TRIED TIN FOIL DOUBLE STICK TAPE, MATS WITH PONTS-, & PUT HIM IN TIME OUT EVERY TIME HE IS ON THE COUNTER/TABLE. BOUGHT A MOTION SENSOR THAT HAS A HORRIBLE NOISE BUT IN ONE MINUTE HE WAS PLAYING WITH IT. BOUGHT TONS OF INTERACTIVE TOYS & CATNIP MICE, AND TUNNELS, AND BUILT A HUGE CAT TREE IT IS 7 FEET TALL! WE HAVE HAD THE BROTHERS COCO AND MOCHI SINCE THEY WERE 8 WEEKS OLD- NOW THEY ARE 9 MONTHS. MOCHI IS PRETTY GOOD BUT COCO IS TEACHING HIM – I HAVE TRIED LOOKING FOR A TRAINER BUT NO LUCK- I PLAY WITH BOTH OF THEM EVERY DAY. BOTH ARE SUPER FRIENDLY AND LOVING. COCO DOES SHARE WITH HIS BROTHER EVERYTHING HE OPENS. I LOVE THEM BUT THEY ARE MAKING MY LIFE TOUGH AND MY HUSBAND HAS ABOUT HAD IT.

    3. Melina Grin

      Hi Deborah,

      Thank you so much for reaching out; you came to the right place.

      Coco and Mochi have reached puberty, like human teenagers. This is a turbulent phase, and Coco is trying to push the boundaries.

      Please continue providing mental and physical stimulation to both cats; however, increase one-on-one interactive play with Coco. Harness and leash walks are also great outlets to expend energy. If budget permits, could you engage a cat sitter to drop in several times weekly to play with Coco?

      To stop Coco from eating human food, remove all leftovers and keep food out of reach. Increase the feeding regime to three times per day (just smaller portions) and purchase a puzzle feeder (https://cats.com/puzzle-feeders-for-cats).

      The most effective way to reduce Coco’s counter-surfing is to train him to ‘go onto a mat’ with clicker training. The following video displays Mat Training (https://youtu.be/Zz-7aqN2kKE).

      Remain loving and patient during this boisterous phase since it will pass.

      If none of the above helps, I’m happy to provide you with a training session via zoom (I’m based in Australia).

      All the best
      Melina

  4. Maryanne Harris

    Greetings,
    My cat Zucchini, sounds like an angel compared to others, I do not know if its because he is a rescue (feral), We have been together for just over 3 years now and I am still learning about him. I have had other cats before, but he is nothing like them. He doesn’t know how to play, so toys (and he has plenty of them) are not used, he has towers, tunnels not used he lays at my feet and follows me around the house. I have never heard him meow nor purr, so we are just winging it. We finally found a dry food he likes, but wet food, he won’t eat, haven’t found one yet (not giving up), will not eat any kind of fish, (thought all cats loved fish)
    So our quest continues.

    Reply
  5. Jenn

    OMG! That is my cat’s twin at the top of the article! Down to the lopsided black markings on the nose and everything! Awe!

    Reply