Why do my cats insist on engaging in staring contests?

Answer 1

its a dominance thing. a lot of times issues about who is the "alpha" cat can be settled just by staring at each other. usually after a while one cat will win. this is when it gets interesting---the other cat will break the stare--but won't run away because to run is to invite the dominant cat to jump on him and kick his ***. so the loser of the stare contest will look away, but not much and will slowly begin to back away.

if the dominant cat feels he can kick the other cat's *** this is usually when a fight will start---as the dominant cat will jump on and begin a fight with the cat that's trying to slink away. if, however, the dominant cat doesn't pursue the loser, the loser will keep back up slowly while facing the dominant cat. then, when the loser feels its safe to make a break for it they'll turn around and run like hell.

the dominant cat will then sit there with their tail swishing and look around menacingly like he's saying "You want a piece of me? Huh? Anybody here want a piece of me?"

then the dominant cat will begin washing itself and all will be right with the world.

Answer 2

its a dominating thing, they look into each others eyes and which ever cat stands down first is the loser so to speak meaning they "winner" is the king or the leader its usually the bigger cat which will dominate the smaller cats. This is the reason u should never look into the eye of a cat. Because they think pretty much ur trying to start a fight with them and they will either not like u and not come near u or if its a wild cat like a tiger or something it will just attack yah

Answer 3

In the animal world, a stare is a challenge. This is why you're not supposed to have a staring contest with Scooby or Salem....

When my cats are play-fighting, they often stop, ears half-****** back, and just stare each other down. Usually one of them gets tired of it after a minute or so and just jumps on the other, lol.

Answer 4

It is about who controls the territory that they perceive (the house) as their own. Out in the wild, a cat would claim .5 miles squared as its own territory. The other cat is invading its territory, which it guards. They also keep an eye on their territory by monitoring window activity. They want to be certain a big scary cat doesn't come their way but are also on the lookout for prey and female or male cats in heat.

By the way, they consider themselves to be your owner, too.

Answer 5

I have heard that if you stare at a cat, they will always back down first because it is a dominance thing and they know we are the dominant one. There could be exceptions to the rule though I assume.

Answer 6

lmao

To take a guess:

I suspect it's posturing before one of them begins whomping the other.

Our cats do the same thing for about a minute, and then the fur begins to FLY a second later.

It's Kitty War III and the whole house just erupts in a bedlam with seven cats and 2 dogs.

It's funny as hell sometimes.

Answer 7

because of the fact means prey can dart off interior the blink of a watch, cats are equipped to no longer blink as often as human beings. what's greater, while searching, cats are extremely nevertheless, as maximum prey can bump into the slightest little bit of stream, like blinking.

Answer 8

they love to do this, try closing your eyes when the cat is staring at you, and then open them, [my cats all do this, ]and they will close their eyes back at you it is a game that amuses them..[if you are holding them up close and stare into their eyes, they do not like that and they might slap you or get mad at you] they think you are attacking them or challenging them

Answer 9

lol ha ha ha my two babies do that too especially my oldest one boo he is a little over a year and he does it all the time especially when he is mad at me and my 9 week old kitten is starting to do it lol i think its just a cat thing they think they are tough lol

Answer 10

Because they lack the thumbs necessary for playing with the X-Box.