Why Does My Cat Stare At Me

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Back to results
Enter Your Information All fields are required

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

*Please note: Questions submitted and the answers will appear on our website as a benefit to all pet owners. Please make sure not to include any personal information in the box where you enter your question.

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Thank you! Your question has been submitted.

You will receive an answer from Dr. Lindsay and our vet/tech team as soon as possible, usually the same day.

All answers are provided for informational or educational purposes only, and are intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your pet's veterinarian.

It may be necessary to consult your pet's veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your pet's symptoms or medical condition.

Close
Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Oops! Your question has not been submitted.

An error has occurred, please reload the page and try again.

Close
Ask the Vet
Got questions? Ask Our Vet Team:

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

Do these answer your question?
Showing of | See All
Have another question, or can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
We're Sorry!

There is no answer related to your question

Can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
Category

Why does cat stare

Does your cat ever stare at you? There’s a good chance that they have something on their mind. Learn how to decipher your staring cat’s needs by looking out for these accompanying body language signals and context clues.

Is Your Cat Hungry?
There is a good chance that your cat is staring at you in hopes that you’ll serve up their next meal very soon. Loud, dramatic meows are often paired with a hungry stare. But what if their bowl still has food in it?
For some cats, eating out of a deep dish can irritate their whiskers. So, they would often rather eat from a bowl that’s topped off than eat from the bottom of a deep bowl. To fix this, serve their food out of a shallow dish.

Are Your Cat’s Pupils Dilated?
Next time your cat gazes into your eyes, take note of the shape of their pupils. Are they in their usual, vertical slit shape? Or have they dilated to become big and round?
Dilated pupils may be a sign that your cat is excited or playful. However, their pupils will also dilated right before they attack their prey. Either way, a cat with dilated pupils is anything but calm, and might be about to pounce, so watch out.

What To Do When Your Cat Stares
If your cat seems to be staring at you because they’re feeling anxious or aggressive, you can help calm them down with the “slow blink.”
A “slow blink” is when a cat greets a human or another cat with a slow, heavy blink. It’s a way of saying, “I feel calm around you because I trust you. I’m your friend.” It’s easy, just look back into your cat’s eyes and slowly lower your eyelids, keep them closed for a full second, and repeat. See if your cat “slow blinks” back at you.
Your cat might also stare at you because they’re feeling playful, especially if they’re holding their tail high with a curve in it like a question mark. If you’re too busy to play, you can keep them occupied with an interactive toy like Crazy Circle.
Another reason why your cat might stare: they’re waiting to be invited to a cozy spot. Maybe your laptop is keeping them from snuggling up in your lap, or maybe they’re waiting for you to lift a blanket so they can burrow underneath.