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.
Cats are very smart, and over time, they may learn to stare at their owners as a way of getting their attention. Whether they're hungry, scared or just letting you know they love you, there are many reasons cats may stare at their people.
If your cat is staring at you, blinking slowly while he is inches away from your face, this cat behavior is actually a sign of affection.
Staring at humans while they sleep is a common cat behavior, albeit a puzzling (and sometimes annoying) one. As it turns out, cats stare at people a lot, not just while they're sleeping. Cats often stare at you while you're awake for the same reasons they stare at you while you're peacefully sleeping.
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!
“In a way, cats think of us as bigger cats,” Bonk says. “They might not necessarily know that we're a different species or they just don't care.” Stelow suspects cats will treat their human caregivers with similar displays of affection they show toward other felines.
To summarise, cats don't think about their day or how they feel. But they do think about previous situations they have encountered. For example, when your cat is chilling out, it's not thinking about anything in particular.
"It's been my experience that cats who feel very close and comfortable with their person will cuddle up to that person's head during sleep," she explains. "Therefore, I suppose you could take it as a compliment."
Cats are usually quite independent and solitary creatures, so if they are happy to cuddle up to you, it shows that they trust you and see you as a friend. Cats who are bonded to each other will often sleep physically touching or intertwined with each other, and the same goes for cats and their humans.
If you wake up to your cat staring down at you, don't worry—he's not plotting your demise. Living in a home with cats might sometimes feel like you're under surveillance. Their eyes follow you whether you're in bed, making dinner, working from your kitchen-table-turned-office-desk, and even when you're on the toilet.
Your cat might follow you into the bathroom simply because they love you and want to be with you all the time. Although independent animals, felines still form close bonds with their humans and your cat even misses you when you're not around.
It probably feels like your four-legged fur baby has got it in for you, but these perceived acts of aggression are actually an indicator of affection. That can be quite difficult to fathom, right? But it's true; they're actually “love bites” rather than a defense mechanism.
It is a common behavioral interaction that cats usually engage in. This ritualistic "small bite" can be perceived as an act of affection between cat and owner, mainly if the petted animal happens to curl up with its human partner. Your cat is showing you how much they care by giving affectionate licks and bites.
Although a cat may not care (as that word is generally used) about human morals, cats can and do distinguish between good and bad people, and are excellent judges of human character and emotion.
All in all, even the most aloof and brooding cat will be able to pick up on your warmth and devotion. Whether they choose to admit it or not, they can sense when a person loves them (and hates them). So always make sure you're emitting good, kitty-positive vibes, and your cat will be sure to indulge in the lovefest.
According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite. People who communicate with their cat by getting to know their cues and motives are more attractive to their cat companions.
If your cat is busy doing something else, like eating, sleeping or playing they are unlikely to appreciate being touched, or fussed. The same goes for if they're hiding, or in one of their quiet places. If your cat appears scared, or in pain you should generally try and avoid touching them.
Cats are territorial creatures, and one of the ways they safeguard their turf is to scent-mark their belongings. By kneading their paws on the surface of something (yes, including you), they're activating the scent glands in their soft paw pads, thereby marking that item as theirs.
In the wild, cats will mark their territory by rubbing against trees and scratching surfaces. When your pet puts its paws on your face, it means that it claims you as its territory. This behavior is more common in multi-pet households where the cat feels a greater need to have you to herself.
They snuggle up to you, they tap you, or put a paw gently against a cheek and leave it there. It's comforting for them to feel you breathing, feel your warmth, and share in your space. The key here is that the touch is soft, gentle, and keeps the claws firmly sheathed.
Basically, your cat wants your attention, and she wants it now. Recognizing that you'll be distracted by other things, such as the TV, another person or sleep, your fur baby knows that you can't ignore her if she stands on your torso and, in many cases, stares directly into your eyes.
As explained by Popular Science, cats actually don't recognize themselves in the mirror, despite what you see in those cute cat videos or in your own home.
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.
Cats love to roam, especially at night. This is because they are creatures whose instinct is to hunt when it is dark outside, especially at dawn and dusk. Those are the times of day that a cat is most active.