Deciphering the cat's gaze

Have you ever wondered why your cat has approached someone who does not like these animals? Or, why has he turned away from who they love? The body language of cats it is very interesting, different from that of dogs, and we cannot always know with certainty what it is trying to tell us. That is why it is highly recommended to learn to "speak" like a cat. Don't worry, you don't need to learn how to meow, but you do need to understand some of the signals most used by them.

Today we will focus on the language of look. The poets say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul, and in the case of cats it is also like that. Through the way they look at us, we can decipher their »language».

The most used visual language of cats is:

• We humans are guided a lot by eye contact. However, for a cat, prolonged eye contact with eyes wide open can be threatening. That is why they do not hesitate to turn around when they are in the situation in which someone stares at them. They are animals that always try to avoid conflicts. Cat lovers, when we go to a house where some live, we cannot help looking at them for a long time, to see if we can attract their attention. But unfortunately, we did not achieve our purpose for the reason stated above.
• By contrast, slightly closed eyes are a sign of affection and comfort. It's the look she gives you when she's getting a pampering session, or when she's about to sleep. People who are angry or who do not like cats tend to have narrowed eyes, something that for felines is an invitation to get on the lap and receive caresses from these humans.
• When your pupils are dilated it is because they feel threatened, and will not hesitate to attack if the opponent gets too close. That opponent can be another cat, a dog, or a human. That is why it is so important, not only to know the animal's body signals, but also to avoid leaving it alone with a small child, as both could be harmed.
• Wide eyes, accompanied by raised ears, is a sign that a cat is happy and curious. It is also a look that they put a lot when they want you to give them something (love or food).

The feline gaze is a different gaze from that of any other animal that, if we know how to decipher its meaning, we will make it human-cat relationship is -even stronger-.

Understanding your cat's gaze even better

People tend to understand dogs very well because they know how to express exactly what they want or how they feel at any given moment. They have expressive faces and body language that we can read quite accurately. Cats, on the other hand, are known for their emotional laziness and detachment..

There is a growing belief that cats are as expressive as dogs. It's just that we misunderstand or don't see what they're trying to communicate. When it comes to cats, those meows and tail wags mean… well, a lot of things. With every purr, howl, or even blink, the cats say, "Hello," "Let's snuggle," or "Get out of here."

For the growing number of pet owners who want to connect with their often distant cats, experts say there is something to be gained from such communication attempts. Cats are very independent so they are easily misunderstood.

But, how can the mystery of the gaze of cats be demystified? Next we are going to explain in detail what your cat wants to say when it looks at you.

Cat's eyes

Cats speak to you through their gaze. The direction of your cat's gaze will direct you to the subject of their attention. But the looks vary. Some are intense and focused, while others are casual. When your cat stares without blinking, does he want something from you or is he angry? Either could be true. Although a fixed gaze and a rigid body posture can signify hostility, the same gaze could be requesting petting or other form of attention in a purring, relaxed cat.

What cats say is often determined by the position of the eyelids and the dilatation of the eyes. The messages range from subtle to obvious and can be incredibly powerful. Your cat does not need to vocalize to convey its message, although the intention is often reinforced by the wag of its tail, the position of its ears, and even its fur.

An excited cat

Any emotional arousal can cause a cat's pupil to contract or dilate. In this sense, It is a good idea to look at how their pupils change depending on the situation where you find yourself. to know if your cat is happy, excited or angry.

A confident cat

Cats open their eyes wide when they are alert. They open them as wide as possible also when they are confident. In the same way, they can squint when they rub against you to show you that they have confidence in you and that they love you.

A dominant cat

When the gaze of a cat is without blinking from a distance it may want to be in control, command of the situation or it may even be transmitting aggressiveness. You may not recognize this behavior because it is very subtle but with its fixed gaze a cat warns other felines that they must keep their distance because they are approaching their domain and if they get closer than necessary there may be a fight ... To win the territory.

An aggressive cat

When a cat shows aggressiveness, it is noticeable from its gaze and it can indicate it with slanted eyes to show aggression, fear or imminent attack (the latter would be accompanied by other signals such as ears back, meows and wagging the tail quickly). Squinting also protects them from the clutches of potential adversaries. When you are with a cat you do not know, avoid staring at him or he will think you want to initiate an attack.

A relaxed and loving look

A cat that feels relaxed and confident have droopy eyelids and look sleepy. A sleepy look reflects affection in your cat and if it also blinks slowly at you then your cat is giving you his affection, enjoy that moment of connection with your pet!

The flicker in the cat's gaze

Cats also blink and this is normally good as we have mentioned in the previous point. His gaze informs you depending on the circumstances and how his gaze is. The cat's eyes show you its emotions and it is recognizable if you look and practice to get to know your feline companion better.

A gaze that lasts without blinking between cats is an intimidating gesture as we have discussed above. Since an aggressive cat can use a long distance gaze to control dominance. You may not even realize it, but cats understand hierarchy and know when another cat is guarding an area that they feel is their own and other cats that recognize this gaze will not go that way because it would mean challenging the cat that is dominating that territory in that given moment.

If you want to befriend a cat you don't know, don't stare at him because then you're telling him that you want to intimidate him into leaving or fighting with you. In any case, the best you can do is have subtle glances with that cat to get some close up.

Cats use their looks to show their emotions or even to hide them. A cat's gaze can tell you a lot, so from now on you will only have to pay more attention to your cat's gaze so that you can understand everything he wants to say to you without words. From now on you will understand better what he wants to say to you!

This will help improve your relationship and strengthen your emotional bond. Your cat will feel more understood by you and you will feel more relaxed in your relationship with your feline because you will understand him much more than before. Remember that in addition to the look, you have to pay attention to other aspects of your cat's body language in order to identify exactly what it wants to say to you. This also means looking at their posture, how their ears are, whether they move their tail a lot or a little, whether their taunts are dilated, whether their fur is bristly or soft ... all the little details will tell you exactly how your cat is feeling.