Why Does My Cat Stare At Me While I Sleep [Explained]
If your cat stares at you while you sleep, it could be for a few reasons.
You might be surprised to learn that there are many reasons why your cat might stare at you while he’s supposed to be sleeping.
In this article I’ll list some of the most common reasons why cats stare at their owners during the night:
Your cat is bored
Your cat may be bored if you’re not home or interacting with her, which can make her lonely and resort to exploring their surroundings.
Cats are very curious creatures, so they may also use this opportunity to explore the world around them.
If your pet is left on his own for too long, he may become destructive and start chewing on furniture or other household items that could damage them later on in life (like electrical cords).
Cats like attention from humans—they need it in order to feel safe and secure within their environment.
Your cat might be staring at you because they are bored and need you to join them to play.
Your cat thinks you’re sick
While it’s true that cats can sense when humans are sick, there are other reasons why your cat may be staring at you while you sleep.
- Your cat thinks you’re sick and wants to make sure that you’re okay.
- Your cat is trying to figure out if something is wrong with his or her owner (or even another member of the household).
- If they see signs of illness like fever or a runny nose, they will often sit by their owner’s side until the sickness goes away.
- Cats have been known to check on their owners’ health by sitting next to them while sleeping—this way they feel safe knowing someone else will wake up if anything were wrong!
Your cat is hungry
Cats are nocturnal too, which means they hunt and eat at night.
They don’t like to be fed during the day because it makes them feel uncomfortable, and they think you might be trying to poison them.
So if you wake up in the middle of the night and see your cat staring at you, there could be a reason: he or she may be hungry!
The next time your pet looks away from you while sleeping, make sure he/she has had enough food recently by checking his/her bowl every few hours throughout the day (or night).
If he hasn’t eaten in some time then try feeding him immediately after waking up—this will help avoid any stomachache that may occur if left uneaten overnight.
Your cat wants to play or cuddle
If your cat is staring at you while you’re sleeping, it could be a sign that he wants to play or cuddle.
Cats are curious and love to play, so if your kitty has been staring at you for a while and doesn’t seem scared of being around you (which would be unlikely).
Then there’s probably something else going on here. For example:
- Your cat may have seen something interesting in the room—like a shoe or laundry basket—and wants to investigate it more closely
- Your cat might be feeling lonely and wants some attention from his owner
Your cat is concerned about you
Your cat is concerned about your well-being.
Your kitty may be thinking more than he lets on, and it’s likely that he wants to make sure you’re not in any danger.
It’s possible that his worries are related to the health of another person in your family—your mother or father, perhaps? Or maybe even yourself?
After all, cats have a better understanding of human emotions than any human ever could have imagined.
If his focus is on someone else rather than on himself (which would be unusual), then there must be something wrong with that person!
Your cat senses danger
Cats have excellent night vision, and a heightened sense of smell and can sense danger even when they are sleeping.
It is not uncommon for cats to wake up in the middle of the night, stare at you and then go back to sleep.
This is because your cat senses that there is something wrong with the house or environment around them.
Your cat’s instincts tell him/her that something bad is happening and he/she wants to protect his family from it (or someone else).
Your cat is trying to figure out if you’re “dead” or “alive”
There are many reasons why your cat may stare at you while you sleep.
The following list is a combination of common reasons and some less-common ones.
- Your cat is curious about the state of your soul (and not just because he wants to make sure that you’re still breathing).
- Cats are very curious animals, and they will often attempt to figure out if there is something different about their owners when they wake up in the morning or evening.
- If a cat has seen its owner looking perfectly healthy one day and then starts acting strange later on, it can be quite frightening for them!
- Your cat may want to check if you’re still breathing just because he loves playing with us humans! Cats love playing with people (especially children) so this might be what’s going on here.
- Your cat may be hungry after having missed dinner – which means we need our breakfast immediately before leaving our house.
You have a night light on
You have a night light on. Cats are nocturnal animals, so they don’t need bright lights to see their surroundings at night.
Try switching off the light for a few nights and see if your cat’s behavior improves.
If it does, you may want to consider getting rid of the light entirely or using it only as needed.
Territorial reasons
You may think that your cat is staring at you because it’s upset, but there are other reasons for this behavior.
Cats are territorial creatures and will often use their eyes as a way to establish boundaries with other cats or dogs in their area.
Some may be trying to figure out if you’re a threat and others may just be marking their territory.
Your cat may have anxiety
When a cat has anxiety they have trouble sleeping which can cause them to stay awake at night.
There are many possible causes for cat anxiety, including:
- Being left alone.
- Experiencing stress or trauma as a result of a new situation or change in routine (for example, if you move to a new home).
- Being in unfamiliar surroundings.
Cat anxiety is a real thing. It may go away with time, or it might not.
But the best thing you can do for your cat is to understand and accept that she has anxiety – and try not to make her feel worse by reacting negatively to her behavior.
Curiosity
Cats are curious creatures and they love to explore. When you sleep, they may stare at you out of curiosity.
This is a natural behavior for cats, and it doesn’t mean that they are unhappy or concerned.
What to do when your cat keeps staring at you
When your cat keeps staring at you, there are a few things you can do to try and get them to stop.
One is to try and get them interested in other things, like playing with them or giving them a toy. Another is to try and get them to eat.
Sometimes, cats will stare at people to try and figure out what they are going to do next. If you can get them to eat or play, they may stop staring.
You can also tire out your cat before bedtime by playing with them or providing them with enough interactive toys.
Learn more about the reasons cats cry at night.
Conclusion
Try to figure out why your cat is staring at you while you sleep by closely taking a look at your environment.
You also should find a way of exercising your cat before bedtime to allow them to sleep at night too.