In the animal world, direct eye contact or a hard or prolonged stare is usually perceived as a threat or challenge to the recipient of that stare. If two cats were to exhibit neutral or even friendly behavior toward each other, they would typically avoid making direct eye contact.
The easiest way to teach your cat to look at you is by holding a treat at eye level and making an interesting sound (e.g. kissy noises, squeak from a squeaky toy). As soon as your cat makes eye contact, give her the treat by moving it in a straight line from your eyes to her mouth.
Cats can be very self-conscious. When it realizes it's being watched, the cat may assess the threat, and then return to whatever he was doing, but in a more self-conscious way. The direct eye contact intimidates your cat, which can make him uncomfortable.
Cats dislike it when a human puts their face near them, because they see it as a threat. If you have ever watched cats fight, they normally begin by attempting to intimidate the other by appearing large and confident, often making ugly, long meows and hissing in the other cat's face.
To cats, a direct stare paired with other aggressive body language can sometimes seem like a challenge to them. This is why cats avert their gaze to show you that they trust you and know you aren't a threat to them.
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.
People who are not a fan of cats tend to look away or give no eye contact to them. Cats find this non threatening. On the other hand, cat lovers love looking directly into their eyes, causing them to feel intimidated or threatened. When cats are in rivalry, they initially try to out-stare each other.
Being picked up and held can make some cats nervous, as they are being restrained in your arms. This limits their options for escape if anything were to startle them. Cats are independent creatures, and although they often like to be up high, they like to choose their own perch and not be restrained whilst doing so.
What are the signs of fear? When frightened, some cats may hide, try to appear smaller, pull their ears back and be immobile. Other cats may show signs of agitation or aggression, such as dilated pupils, arched back, pilo-erection (hair standing on end), and hissing.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Squinted or half-closed eyes are a sign of affection, relaxation and trust. If a cat looks like they're about to fall asleep, they're relaxed and they trust you. Also, they're probably about to fall asleep. Fun fact: Cats also use their eyes to establish the pecking order.
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.
Hissing, growling, biting, slashing, or digging their nails into your skin are fairly clear indications that a cat is not happy with you. Of course, some cats do play a little rough, and most cats will give a love bite now and then, but if your cat bites you hard enough to break the skin, that is one pissed-off cat.
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.
An anxious cat may have physical reactions such as increased heart and respiratory rates, panting, trembling, and salivation. The most obvious behavior changes are increased movement, hiding, destruction, and excessive vocalization.
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.
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.
“Cats don't forgive, and once they realize a person is causing them anxiety or hurt, they keep away.” So says John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist at Bristol University and author of “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.”
Soft eye contact and short peep-like sounds
So, if your cat is happy to look you in the eye with nice soft, relaxed eyes they are very happy in your company and have accepted you as non-threatening. And, if they let out a short peep-like sound, known as a trill, you can be sure they look think of you fondly.
Think of it this way: If a cat closes its eyes around like it's falling asleep, it's signaling that it doesn't view you as a threat. This is similar to the way some cats expose their bellies to their humans, which signals trust and vulnerability.
Generally, a medium sized vertical slit usually indicates a confident, relaxed, happy cat. The more open or dilated the pupils are at certain times, can mean your cat is feeling defensive, may be agitated, and the eyes can warn you that they are about to jump away or may scratch or bite.
This is the feline equivalent of showing you affection and their way of saying “I see you; I feel safe and relaxed around you.” How cute is that?
Take care not to touch the eye itself, or you could damage the cornea. If you give your cat a bath, you can use that time to clean around the eyes. Keep your cat inside – All cats should be kept indoors to help them stay safe and healthy.