The gaze should always be analyzed in context with the rest of the body, recommends a specialist.
Cats communicate with their humans in many ways, especially with intense glances, whose meaning varies according to the occasion and it could be both an expression of sympathy as well as a warning or threat.
Do you love me or do you want something to eat? Owners know their cats and their piercing gazes, although some find it difficult to identify what the animal wants to express.
In fact, there are several possible interpretationssays Hester Pommerening of the German Association for Animal Welfare. “The gaze should always be analyzed in context with the rest of the body”, It indicates.
Is the cat sitting or upright? Move the booty? How are your ears? Meow? All this must be taken into account to detect the mood of the animal.
Pet trainer Michaela Asmuss meets seven different interpretation possibilities, but warns beforehand: “Staring is considered rude and threatening among cats.” However, over time they have learned that looks with humans can lead to something good, like food and attention.
A) Yes, some cats look at their keepers with an intense gaze to remind them that it is time to eat. At first, the animal is reserved, sits quietly and just stares immobile.
If the human does not react as the cat wishes, the next step could eventually be a “meow.” The animal may also start walking around its keeper and rub its back against the latter’s legs.
When the human finally moves, the cat tries to lead him in the direction of the kitchen. “Cats have an internal clock that rarely deceives them,” says the expert.
Cats learn this behavior through misunderstanding: they stare at their human for some reason, he thinks the animal is hungry and rushes to the refrigerator. As a result, the smart cat stares at its caretaker naturally more often.
This also happens when the human is eating and the cat wants something. Some communicate it very clearly by repeatedly taking their gaze from the owner to the plate and vice versa. or following each bite with your eyes.
Others they stare at their owner as they lift their tails erect and make it tremble. In this situation, some also resort to combination of gazes and purr, while others prefer to raise their paw to discreetly express their claim.
Cats also stare at their owners when they want to get their attention. “For example, when you are sitting in front of the computer, absorbed in a book or asleep. Some cats are masters in the art of staring at the sitter when he is sleeping until he wakes him up.”, Dice Asmuss.
In these cases, the cat sits or lies completely relaxed, its ears pointed attentively forward. Some also meow or raise a leg to signal their desire for contact. If the person responds, the cat purrs or begins to kick its paws.
The most beautiful thing about looks is that they can also be a gesture of sympathy, even love. It is that if the cat did not like its owner, eye contact would be uncomfortable. The blink goes a step further, because with it cats express their deep affection. “Answer with a blink”, recommends the cat expert.
Another of the rPositive gazes may be curiosity, such as when the owner of the cat is doing something interestingFrom the cat’s point of view, what it would be like to hold a small, rapidly moving object in your hands.
The animal perceives it as a possible prey and he gets ready in a hunting position, his body slightly tense and perhaps leaning forward a little. The ears and whiskers are also tilted forward, while the tail wags a bit in excitement.
However, rIt is very risky when cats stare at their owners’ feet or toes with this posture: it is an imminent attack and the person should better guard their limbs.
The gaze can also be observed in the actual hunting situation. Since cats only have to moisten their corneas relatively infrequently by blinking, they can keep a close eye on their potential victim and then launch the attack at the right time.
“They also look threateningly at other strange cats in their territory.”says Pommerening of the Association for Animal Welfare. If neither looks down, it can lead to a fight.
The cat can also express a threat with its gaze when dealing with humans. The animal stiffens its body and widens, with the head slightly lower than the trunk, the ears are turned back, the pupils are narrowed. The tail lowers and forms an “L”, the coat stands on end. Also, a growl can be heard. “So caution is advised,” Asmuss cautions.
Even fearful cats stare, because they try to perceive every move of their potential enemy to make the decision to attack or flee.
The cat fearfully crouches in a corner or against the wall. The pupils are enlarged, the ears turn to the sides or back. The tail surrounds the cat as if it were a protection. If the person approaches the cat, the animal may hiss, something that should be taken very seriously as a warning.
Pet Trainer Recommends Calming Threatening or Scared Cats With a Blink, then looking away and coming back slowly, speaking in a low and calm voice.
“Blinking and looking away always shows good intentions”, summarizes. In general, the expert recommends not staring at cats, even if they have been staring for several minutes. Because even if cats do, deep down they feel that staring is rude.
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