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.
They love their owner(s) and feel dependent on them for security, comfort, play and food. Having a staring contest is just another way to affirm your bond. When you are calm, they are, too. They are constantly sizing you up to see how you're feeling so they can react in kind.
Apart from showing love and affection, it may also be because cats feel safe when their owners are close by or are curious about where you're going or what you're doing while also acting on their instincts.
Your Cat Is Simply Curious
Cats are often curious beings. They may simply be staring at you in an attempt to just see what you're up to. If you're moving around or doing an activity around the house, this could very well be the reason for your cat's eyes being on you.
When cats are in rivalry, they initially try to out-stare each other. If one of the cats eventually looks away, it usually signals surrender. However, if prolonged staring cannot resolve the problem, it may progress into swatting or wrestling on the ground while continue to stare at each other.
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.
Yes, you read that right: A recent study revealed that getting your pet's attention is as simple as speaking with a high-pitched tone and extended vowels, just like how you'd communicate with a human baby. Additionally, the study suggested that your cat can actually tell you apart from strangers.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
If your cat stares at you while you sleep, it might simply be conveying its deep love and affection for you. If the staring is accompanied by purring, head butts, slow blinks, and facial rubbing, you can be certain that she's expressing her love.
But cats are capable of feeling and showing love.
If your cat looks at you with half-closed eyelids, you may be getting eye kisses from them. If their staring is accompanied by purring and kneading, they're saying they love you. So, don't be creeped out by the staring; you're being adored!
This means they often prefer to communicate at a distance and is the reason why some cats may be content just to be in the same room as their human, rather than being constantly stroked and cuddled.”
Fear or Stress: In some cases, a cat's intense gaze can be a sign of fear or stress. If your cat is staring at you with wide eyes and a rigid posture, it may indicate that they are feeling scared or threatened.
One of the most plausible and sweetest reasons why your cat “follows” you even into the bathroom is that he loves you. The cat wants to take advantage of every second of your presence and every possible opportunity to spend time with you! He adores you so much that he will follow you everywhere in the house.
The Cat Is Curious Or Surprised
“It doesn't mean that cats are upset, but if they're staring at you without blinking they're likely very interested or surprised by a sound you're making or something you're doing,” as Dr. Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM at Better With Cats, tells Romper.
They can also sense the differences in behavior both physically and psychologically due to an illness. It's been known that both dogs and cats have saved many lives by recognizing and identifying the scent of human illness through the scent of chemical changes.
According to a study1 published in 2019 in the journal Scientific Reports, cats do, in fact, recognize their own names. The lead author of the study is a behavioral scientist named Atsuko Saito from Sophia University in Tokyo, whose prior research2 demonstrated that cats can recognize their owners' voices.
Yes, they can tell when you are asleep. Whether they respect your sleep is another matter. Cats tend to be selfish, and if they want something they want it, and the fact that you may be sleeping won't deter them.
"Sploot" is a slang term for the position pets take when they lay on their stomach with their legs stretched out behind them.
Cats tend to favor one person over others even if they were well-socialized as kittens. Cats are expert communicators and gravitate towards people that they communicate well with. Look for communication cues from your cat, such as your cat approaching you in search of food or petting.
When your cat is curled up near you, they're simply letting you know that they feel safe. This is your feline friend's way of letting you know that they trust you.
Will My Cat Understand If I “Meow”? Sorry to break it to you, but human meows mean nothing to cats. At most, you can get your cat's attention and they may even appreciate your attempts to communicate by purring or even meowing back. But to most cats, human meows sound like human language.
In addition to being petted, do cats like to be held? Sometimes. Most cats love to snuggle, and they're typically responsive to being held if you introduce them to it gradually. The best way to approach your cat for a hug is to start with a few soft pets, then carefully pick them up.
“Technically, cats can't understand human words because their cognitive skills are not advanced enough,” Glover told The Dodo. Cats understand language the same way that we understand what they're trying to say when they meow. They know that we're talking to them, but they don't know exactly what we're saying.