According to Dr. Gutierrez, a cat staring into space is simply an alert one who's gathering information about their environment. They pick up on every little noise, even when we think it's dead silent. Dr.
In general, a cat engaging in long gazes at the wall is nothing to worry about. However, occasionally, it can indicate a medical condition that requires attention. Staring at the wall can be a symptom of three concerns: Feline cognitive dysfunction, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, and head pressing.
Your Cat Stares at You to Show Affection
Cats can use staring as a nonverbal way of communicating. Even though a long, unblinking stare may not be the best way for humans to show affection, when your fur baby does this, it may mean they're showing love to their favourite owner.
If you notice a cat focusing on one spot get that spot checked out. It could be mice, rats, roaches, termites or even problems with the electrical wiring in the wall. It may prevent a fire or alert you to other hazards that are present.
For most cats, this is pretty common behavior – it's simply a way to burn off excess energy or initiate play. But for some cats, this behavior can be part of a disorder known as “Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome”, a rare medical condition that affects the brain and causes bizarre and frustrating symptoms in cats.
Some cats will obsessively suck, lick, or chew on fabric. This is often called wool-sucking. Tail-chasing and/or self-mutilation may occur as obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Frequent, repetitive pacing and/or vocalizing are some other potential signs of OCD in cats.
Although staring is usually nothing to worry about in cats, if your cat has only recently started this behaviour then it's a good idea to mention it to your vet so they can rule out any medical causes. In older cats, staring could be a sign of sight loss, so get them checked out as soon as possible.
Your cat may be staring at something you can't see, such as a small insect. She may be looking in the direction of a sound or a smell. Cats sometimes stare fixedly as a result of vision loss or neurological issues.
Cats may stare at their owners for various reasons, including communication, hunting instinct, affection, fear or stress, or simple curiosity. Many cat owners have experienced the creepy sensation of being stared at by their feline friend without blinking.
So when your cat stares at a wall it might be trying to figure out what's going on with the movement it sees or the sound that it hears. Cats may also stay still if they feel that they're in danger. They'll move again when they perceive that they're safe from the threat. Cats are also trained to focus on prey.
Cats love attention, play, food and fuss and may solicit these attentions from you in various ways. Some pets vocalise at their owners, some wind their way around your legs… and some just sit and stare intensely at you until you give in and give them what they want!
They Are Asking for Your Attention
Your cat depends on you for your love and attention. You should aim to give them what they need every day. If you do not give your cat enough attention, they will most likely feel neglected and meow more. This attention-seeking could lead to behavioral issues in your cat.
Researchers at universities in England think slow-blinking at your cat, who might respond in kind, could be a way to get them to warm up to you. Exchanging slow blinks—blinking your eyes for half a second or more—gives you and your feline buddy a special way to communicate.
Direct eye contact
Cats can find direct eye contact quite threatening. They wouldn't look another cat straight in the face unless they were fixing for a fight. When your cat's relaxed, they might look at you with a peaceful gaze or half closed eyes.
So when cats look at each other, blink and look away, they are conveying the message that they are not “threatening” the other cat. When a cat interacts with people and the cat is not threatened by the person, she may look at the person and then perform this same “slow blink.” She then may look away or she may not.
(NEWSER) – If you saw the world through the eyes of your pet, you'd very likely be seeing a lot more than you currently do. That according to new research that has found that cats, dogs, and select other animals may be able to see things that are invisible to the human eye.
A cat's sense of smell is the primary way he identifies people and objects. Cats have more than 200 million odor sensors in their noses; humans have just 5 million. Their sense of smell is 14 times better than that of humans.
They don't rely on their vision as much as we do. Instead, they depend on their sense of smell to identify objects, other felines, and even us – their parents. They simply don't recognise their reflection because it doesn't smell like them!
The strange part of all of this is that cats actually view people as fellow cats. Some researchers believe cats look at us as big, slow, clumsy, uncoordinated cats, but others say they're not quite so judgemental. The good thing is, whether or not they're judging our balance and agility, they still love us!
They do not even recognize their owners by sight, which has led to their erroneous reputation as a species that is aloof. Cats cannot distinguish their owners by staring at them because their faces appear identical when they are at rest. Instead, cats distinguish between humans using sound and smell.
Cat anxiety symptoms include:
Hiding, pacing, crouching defensively. New aggressive or overly clingy behavior. Meowing way more than usual. Coat changes from not grooming or bald patches from over-grooming.
If your cat has gone through a harrowing experience, they might feel like they need to be on the defensive all the time in order to be safe. If you find that your cat is particularly aggressive, clawing, scratching, pawing or biting, this is an important note to discuss with your vet since it may be a sign of PTSD.
Pacing or restlessness. Going outside the litterbox. Overgrooming, which can lead to bald patches and painful skin issues. Changes in behaviors, such as irritability or clinginess especially if your cat is typically independent.