Staring Cat...

Lately Phenom has been laying at our feet and staring at us. If we stare back at her then she quickly goes into attack mode. She doesnt claw or bite so i htink she is just trying to be alpha cat. i know they see staring back a challenge too. but why would she stare at us in the first place!!

It is rather funny to watch her hike her tail end up a bit and prepare for the pounce!

Thats strange! Sleeves sometimes stares at me, like he's looking right through me. I just look away because I don't want him to think Im challenging him..! Not that Im scared of him I just don't want that kind of relationship with him.

I think you're taking the "staring" too personally. Cats are always observing their humans. I find my cats always watching me if they're not asleep or doing something else. You're right about the challenge....it's best not to stare back unless you're trying to force a confrontation.

interesting, but I never view this as a sign of agression with my cats. When they are staring at me , they ALWAYS want something. When I catch them staring, I will talk to them and ask them what they want. This usually will induce a lot of meowing by them to tell me what the problem is (food, dirty litter, they just want some attention, they want to be brushed etc.) I think their staring is just them waiting to catch your attention so they can talk to you.

Originally Posted by sbw999

interesting, but I never view this as a sign of agression with my cats. When they are staring at me

, they ALWAYS want something. When I catch them staring, I will talk to them and ask them what they want. This usually will induce a lot of meowing by them to tell me what the problem is (food, dirty litter, they just want some attention, they want to be brushed etc.) I think their staring is just them waiting to catch your attention so they can talk to you.

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I agree here, but sometimes Sleeves looks at me...differently... like he's looking through me, like he's shocked or something. Thats when i just carry on with what im doing

Originally Posted by Pombina

I agree here, but sometimes Sleeves looks at me...differently... like he's looking through me, like he's shocked or something. Thats when i just carry on with what im doing

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i know what you mean..on a very rare occasion Hobbs will be sitting and staring at me..ill try to talk to him, but he will just keep looking with a blank stare, like he doesnt even see me. This is extremely rare, but I really think he is just kind of deep in his little cat thoughts, and really isnt seeing me. But I can say I have never had a cat that I was afraid would attack me if I stared at him. Anyway, its why we love our cats, they are SOOOOOO strange!!!

we arent scared of her at all. she just does the staring thing and i thought it was weird. She isnt aggressive at all. sometimes she plays to rough but it is just play. i wish i could get a picture of her doing that and post it here and see if you guys get the same looks!

Try blinking slowly or closing your eyes when your cat stares. This usually gives the signal that you are not stalking your kitty, and they usually relax!

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

Lately Phenom has been laying at our feet and staring at us. If we stare back at her then she quickly goes into attack mode. She doesnt claw or bite so i htink she is just trying to be alpha cat. i know they see staring back a challenge too. but why would she stare at us in the first place!!

It is rather funny to watch her hike her tail end up a bit and prepare for the pounce!

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actually since she is fuzzing up her tail..she is probably playing with you...my cats, when they run around going crazy like they do sometimes, incorporate me into their little games, by looking at me with their eyes all big, like they are being all tough, and then bolting away at a million miles an hour..it is funny as hell

A direct stare at a cat is an agressive threat,

So when she stares at you, either look at her through squinting eyes, or make sure you don't make direct eye contact.

Also, if you bow your head and put it near hers, she will prolly head butt you - As you have submitted to her and the head butt is her way of recognising that and saying your hers!

My 5 month old kitten is always observing me. Usually when in open area I'll call her, and she'll come over to be pet. Otherwise she follows me everywhere, observes me...then eventually goes to sleep (If I've I've done something like walk to watch TV in a different room) or plays with her toys in my presence.

Sometimes in my room I look back, and I think it scares her, as she usually runs underneath the bed after some time spent inside. So it's good to either not look, or don't look directly otherwise I suppose it's alwyas a challeng.e

My Rocky . . . who at six, still looks like an over-sized kitten and has a Ph.D. in cute! -- is a rolly-polly black Exotic. He learned, early on, that rolling onto his back and letting his belly hang out was simply irresistable to us humans (of course, the belly is just for looking at and for prompting pets elsewhere -- it is not to be touched on any account ) What cracks me up is that once he rolls on his back, he'll just stare at me until he gets my attention. Sometimes, if l catch him posing out of the corner of my eye or see him in the mirror staring at me, I'll purposely wait to turn around and look at him, and he will just stare me down until I do, as if he is just willing me to turn around. If I take too long, he will finally utter a complaining "meowrfff!" to get me to look at him. Oh, he just melts my heart on a regular basis.