Due to their anatomical features, cats have a piercing gaze. Since ancient times, people have attached mystical significance to both the cat itself and its eyes. But why were they afraid of such a look? There are two explanations: from the point of view of signs and scientifically. Let's try to figure it out.
Cats and magic are inseparable, but there is a scientific explanation
Is it possible to look a cat in the eyes?
Cats have been living next to humans for a long time, but they always remain a mystery to them. A huge number of signs and superstitions are associated with them. Some say that it is absolutely forbidden to look a cat in the eyes. Others, on the contrary, encourage eye contact with the animal.
In some countries, cats were considered divine creatures, an incomprehensible mystery, and in others, on the contrary, they were considered messengers of the afterlife, capable of bringing misfortune.
One of the beliefs is that it is forbidden to look its owner in the eye. Let's look at why.
TOP 5 tips on why you shouldn’t look cats in the eyes
- Cats and magic are inseparable. They know the past and the future. Therefore, it is believed that their eyes are a mirror of fate. If you look at them for a long time, you can change future events. But in what direction they will change is unknown to man. Therefore, it is better to avoid such views.
- There is a superstition that you should especially beware of the eyes of a black cat. Demons can inhabit them. A close look will allow demons to move into a person, damage household members, or lead to loss of money.
- According to another myth, a cat sees a brownie in the dark and loves to play with it at night. You can’t disturb her, because the game makes the brownie kinder.
- According to another sign, you should not look a cat in the eyes, as you may make enemies. The animal experiences discomfort and, defending itself, can cause trouble.
- In the Middle Ages, it was believed that making eye contact and kissing an animal drained its life force. This can be explained by the fact that in those days there were big problems with hygiene, and diseases were transmitted through a kiss and a person became worse. And people attached mystical significance to this.
Poll: Do you have a pet?
(vote to see statistics) YesNo
Mystical look of a cat
Take a closer look at these enchanting, mesmerizing cat eyes! Bottomless green, blue, blue, amber pools, sparkling with the mystical fire of the night! The cat's hypnotic gaze attracts and bewitches.
There is a feeling that a cat, looking somewhere, sees something beyond the control of human gaze. Maybe the furry pet actually has phenomenal abilities and “goes” into the portal of otherworldly entities?
The solution to magic is simple. It's about the structure of a cat's eyes. Thanks to developed peripheral vision, felines see the whole picture at once. They do not need to translate or focus their gaze from one point to another in order to appreciate the whole picture. This is what we humans do. And cats immediately cover everything visible in their field of vision. Therefore, there is a feeling of mysticism that the fluffy is looking into “nowhere” with a hypnotic gaze.
Adding a mysterious note is the ability of a cat’s pupil to contract. A cat's pupil changes width depending on the level of light. On a bright afternoon, with the lamps on, the tailed animals narrow the pupil, turning it into a narrow slit. And at dusk, the pupils dilate, opening as much as possible at night.
Interesting fact.
In ancient times, people determined daytime by the size of a cat's pupil. When the first cameras were invented, photographers took cats with them. The animals served as an exposure meter (a device for determining exposure time and aperture number).
The mood of the animal is determined by the cat's gaze. If the tailed animal’s eyes are open and the pupils are dilated, the animal does not trust and is wary of those present. Fluffy's eyes open wide at the sight of delicious food, but dilated pupils during the day are a sign of the animal's aggressiveness. With half-closed eyes, the cat is resting and in a relaxed state.
Opinion of parapsychologists
Parapsychology today has also paid attention to the peculiarities of the cat's gaze. Parapsychologists do not believe that a demon can penetrate you through it. Or the gaze of this small animal can bewitch you. However, it is not recommended to play staring contest with a cat. After this, you may feel some low mood or fatigue. This can be explained by the effort it takes for a person to concentrate in order to play such “games”.
Parapsychologists do not recommend looking cats closely in the eyes
Focused and curious
©Shutterstock/Fotodom
What it looks like: the cat sits or lies with its front legs extended forward. Her eyes are open, her pupils are narrow. The ears are raised and straight, and the whiskers on the muzzle are directed slightly forward, but without any tension. The pet may lift its nose in the air to catch the scent.
What the cat is trying to say: Your pet may be telling you, “Hey, I'm a little intrigued by what you're doing.” You get his attention without him feeling threatened or worried. He also watches you carefully to see if there is an opportunity to get something useful for himself, such as attention, a treat or a toy.
How to Respond: When your cat is in this strange mood, take the opportunity to have one-on-one time. Introduce your pet to a new game or perhaps a new puzzle to develop his mental and physical skills. You can also just start a fun short conversation. He won't know what you're saying, but he will hear a friendly tone.
The position of its tail can also tell you about your cat's mood. You should pay attention not only to the shape of the tail, but also to the amplitude of movement.
Main features of a cat's eyes
The cat's gaze itself is unusual for a person and raises many questions in him. It is difficult to determine his expression and understand where exactly he is directed so closely. This gives people strange feelings and makes the cat's gaze mysterious to humans.
A cat's gaze is unusual for humans
This is due to the structural features of the visual apparatus. It seems as if cats are looking through you and at the same time at everything around them at once. In addition, some are concerned about the ability of her eyes to glow brightly in the dark. They are especially frightened when the pupil glows red, which only enhances the mystical feeling. This is typical for cats with any eye color: both blue-eyed and green-eyed.
All these strange looks are simply explained from the point of view of physiology and have nothing to do with magic and the other world.
Cats' pupils dilate in the dark, which has given rise to various superstitions.
Physiological features of the visual apparatus of cats:
- Large eyes relative to their body;
- The eyes have no eyelashes;
- Large viewing angle – 185 degrees;
- A cat does not have a clear boundary between peripheral and direct vision, like a human. Her gaze does not focus on anything specific.
- Up close, the cat sees nothing and navigates by smell;
- In bright light she sees worse and her pupils become smaller;
- Sees well into the distance - can see a small object at a distance of 60 meters.
Rational approach
A rational explanation of the sign is based on the cat’s behavior and physiological reasons. Scientists say that cat vision is very different from human vision.
Cats don't need to focus on an object to get a good look at it and perceive it. They look at the entire visible picture at once and perceive every detail perfectly. They can “focus” during a hunt, when the prey is moving and must be followed in order to catch it.
Thus, focusing for a cat is associated with hunting instincts. If a person fixes his gaze on her, she understands this as surveillance, which will be followed by an attack. Hence the aggressive behavior - the animal simply decides not to wait and attacks first.
Domestic cats under close supervision become completely lost: the pet gets worried, nervous, feels discomfort, and most often, turns around and leaves.
According to veterinarians
Veterinarians believe that a cat's gaze in itself does not harm a person. But instincts can indeed produce an unexpected reaction.
The main thing when playing staring contest is to keep your face at a safe distance. Even if the cat does not want to attack you, he may be frightened by some sharp sound, involuntarily jump up and touch you with his clawed paw.
Why do you dream of a cat's eyes?
In different dream books, the dream about cat's eyes is interpreted differently.
In Miller's dream book, seeing a cat and looking into its eyes at the same time means that failures and even troubles await you in the future. You need to be careful when starting new things.
In Vanga’s dream book, seeing the eyes of a cat in a dream means that quarrels with family and friends await you, even to the point of breaking family ties. If in a dream you try to catch a cat that looked at you, then this action will attract an enemy into your life who will destroy your life.
Dream books interpret the meaning of cat's eyes differently
In Tsvetkov’s dream book, a cat’s gaze calls you to actions that will solve accumulated problems.
In the Muslim (Islamic) dream book, a cat is one of the most complex symbols. The meaning of the dream depends on who saw the dream. For a woman, the look of a cat seen in a dream promises harmony in close relationships. For a man - a pleasant and unexpected acquaintance in an unusual place.
In Freud's dream book, a dream about a cat's gaze speaks of emotional excitement and anticipation of a love date.
Prohibition from a biological point of view
Human vision is different from that of cats. People do not have peripheral vision; in order to see something, they need to move their eyes to this object. If he does not do this, the object will remain unclear to him. A cat, on the contrary, sees everything with peripheral vision and does not need to look into a person’s eyes to see where he is looking.
From a cat's point of view, staring exudes aggressive energy.
Therefore, you should not look your pets in the eye. This look can cause them stress. He sees you perfectly well anyway.
Myths about the cat's gaze
Myths about the cat's gaze originate in Ancient Egypt. This was associated with the goddess Bastet, who, according to legend, held the connection between the otherworldly world and the real one. This is the basis of the legend that by looking into the eyes of a cat, a person looked into the underworld. It was also believed that the goddess could transform into the bodies of pets, so only their equals could look into the eyes of cats. All others who allowed themselves to raise their gaze to the great deity were awaited by heavenly punishment.
On a note!
In Ancient Rus', cats were not held in high esteem. Fluffy beauties were considered associated with dark forces; they were not allowed into the bathhouse, since this place was associated with hell, where it was very hot. It was believed that the devil sitting inside the animal, sensing warmth, could acquire its true appearance. And if an ordinary person meets the gaze of such a werewolf, he will go crazy or die.
The main reasons not to look a cat in the eyes for too long in terms of anatomy
The cat does not like to be looked at closely in the eyes. And this is explained by anatomical and physiological reasons. Human and cat eyes differ in their ability to see the central region and the peripheral region.
Human vision is central, that is, focused on a specific object. Objects located on the periphery of focus are seen indistinctly and blurry. In order to see it, a person must shift the focus from the center to the periphery, which, in turn, becomes the center, and everything else goes to the periphery.
With a cat everything is different. She sees at once the entire picture of the area available to her. It has a unique feature, inaccessible to humans - to see everything “out of the corner of the eye.”
Both sections of vision, central and peripheral, are not separated, they practically merge. Therefore, she sees all objects within a viewing angle of 185 degrees. The cat does not need to concentrate its attention on any specific object, because it already sees them clearly, including the owner’s gaze. If it seems to you that the animal is looking into the distance and not noticing anything, then it only seems. It sees everything that happens within a radius of 185 degrees and reacts to everything that happens in this area.
Do you think your cat can't see you? Take a closer look! :)
These anatomical features explain why a cat can suddenly react aggressively to an unexpected gaze. It is incomprehensible to her and can be perceived as a danger and a challenge to defensive or aggressive actions.
Features of vision explain why a cat’s gaze seems unusual, magical or even mystical to people.
Causes
- The cat is curious . This is one of the most common reasons why cats stare at people. Let's face it, you must seem especially strange to your cat. No wonder they want to stare at you from time to time. If you're doing something you don't normally do, your cat probably just wants to know what's going on.
- The cat wants something . The cat may be trying to tell you that it wants something from you, such as attention or food. They may also wave or meow in an attempt to get your attention. This may be a learned behavior rather than an innate one - which is a good way of saying that your cat thinks you're an easy target.
- The cat is bored . If your cat lacks stimulation, she may ask you to provide it. The good news is that staring at you is preferable to other ways your cat may cope with boredom, such as shredding your couch.
- A cat needs confidence . Cats feel sad and anxious just like people—and like people, they seek external sources of comfort. However, your cat has no other options to find a sympathetic shoulder, so she will turn to you. If there have been big changes and upheavals in your home recently, your cat may be feeling stressed, causing her to look at you more often.
- The cat is worried about the owner . Despite your already established weirdness, you represent your cat's entire world. They understand that they rely on you for food, shelter, entertainment and much more, and sometimes they are afraid of losing you. After all, you regularly leave them for hours at a time—what if you don't come back? They may stare at you to gauge your presence while you're around. Cats also tend to reflect your emotional state, so if you are calm and confident, your cat will eventually be the same.
- The cat is sleeping . We don't want to burst your bubble, but maybe you're not as interesting as you think. Some cats sleep with their eyes partially open, so they can catch multiple z's while pointing in your general direction.
- The cat is injured . With some injuries, the cat's eyes stare blankly straight ahead. These injuries can be caused by a variety of things, but the most likely cause is high blood pressure. Take a look at your cat's pupils. If they are dilated, you may want to take your cat to the vet for a check.
Image Credit: Caleb Woods, Unsplash
A few simple rules of conduct when making eye contact with cats
Considering the peculiarities of a cat's vision, experts do not recommend looking closely into the eyes of these little descendants of lions. Knowing the characteristics of a furry pet, the owner will not strive to establish eye contact with it.
A domestic cat also loves its owner. He licks him, recognizing him as a friend, and looks away without showing aggression. But at the same time she experiences discomfort, since the gaze is unpleasant to her. Knowledge of the psychology of a loving creature will help owners maintain good relationships with their pets.
You need to communicate with pets without making eye contact. It is better not to look at them closely, so as not to irritate the animal.
Sensing danger, street cats prefer to simply run away. But sometimes they can attack, deciding that they need to defend themselves
With outdoor cats, remember that direct eye contact means a challenge. Cats with a fighting character can attack. Although they usually understand whose side is strong. But the hopelessness of the situation, for example, there is nowhere to retreat, can cause aggressive behavior.
It's all about body language
Context is key when trying to understand why your cat is looking at you. The same expression will likely mean one thing if your cat is happy and something completely different if your cat is angry or upset.
As a result, you can't view a cat's views in a vacuum. They are just a piece of their behavioral puzzle, and you will need to look at all the pieces together to try to understand what your pet is thinking.
Image Credit: Thomas Bormann, Unsplash
However, it's not surprising that your cat will stare at you no matter how she's feeling. Cats are visual creatures and rely on their eyes to hunt. You really can't turn off this behavior.
Does this mean your cat is hunting you? Not necessarily - but they've probably thought about it once or twice. However, there are probably other reasons why they are watching, so let's look at those first.
How to look at a cat correctly: the opinion of veterinarians
According to veterinarians, it is better not to make eye contact with a stray cat. To prevent her from perceiving direct gaze as a threat, you should blink slowly and slowly look away. Everyone saw how rival street cats looked at each other for a long time with an unblinking gaze, emitting a guttural howl. If an opponent who is unsure of himself lowers his gaze, it means the animal is not ready for a fight, but this does not mean that there will be no fight.
The animal immediately sees the entire available picture of the area. It has a unique feature, inaccessible to humans - to see everything “out of the corner of the eye.”
If you feel that your gaze has aroused anger in the yard cat, do not immediately look away. First, blink, sneeze, look to the side. Or demonstratively turn away and pick up an object. By doing this, you will make it clear that you do not want to enter into conflict.
Angry and excited
©Shutterstock/Fotodom
What it looks like: The cat's ears are laid back and pressed against the head. The mustache is straight and bristling. The pupils are constricted, and the gaze is intent and concentrated. The cat's entire body is tense, and the fur may stand up along the spine and on the tail. She may hiss or make a guttural howl, writes Petsbest.
What the cat is trying to say: This pet is clearly making it clear that he is angry and does not want to be approached or touched. He is upset about something or someone around him. Sometimes we can't determine the source of aggression, but keep in mind that cats have excellent hearing and sense of smell. Ignoring his signals may result in the cat attacking you with its claws or teeth and causing serious injury.
How to respond: Step back and give your cat space so she can go to safety or stay and calm down. If your cat is sitting on your lap, stop petting it, get up and walk away. Trying to pet or appease an angry cat may result in it scratching or biting. If your pet bites your hand, the best way to loosen his grip is to relax your hand and bring it to his mouth. Don't try to quickly remove your hand. A cat may tighten its grip and bite deeper because it is genetically programmed to catch prey.
What if your cat looks into your eyes?
As previously said, looking closely into a cat’s eyes instinctively causes discomfort and nervous stress in him, which is incomprehensible to humans. But sometimes the tailed pet itself tries to look into the eyes of a person. He does this when he expects to get food or a treat.
If a cat looks into your eyes, then it wants something from you: food, affection, or it’s just interesting to watch what you’re doing.
How cats are treated in other countries
In ancient Egypt, the goddess Bastet was revered, who had two incarnations: a woman with the head of a cat and a woman with the head of a lion. They supposedly exist on the border of two worlds: the human world and the afterlife. The good incarnation is the patroness of love, the hearth, and a symbol of fertility. And a woman with the head of a lion is an evil and aggressive embodiment that can destroy a person.
Goddess Bastet in the form of a cat
The ancient Egyptians considered the cat to be the earth's equivalent of the moon. And if you look closely into the eyes of the goddess Bastet, this will be a sign of extreme disrespect for the moon and the sacred gods. Because of this, an unwary person can end up in the afterlife and remain there forever.
Goddess Bastet in the guise of a lioness
Cats are very curious creatures. Being in the apartment for a long time, they watch their household for a long time, happily accepting affection and kind attitude. Ancient signs do not mean that they are associated with evil.
Modern science explains in detail the features of their vision, which were incomprehensible to ancient people and frightened them. These sciences help owners find the right approach to their pets: shaggy Persians, long-haired Maine Coons, hairless Sphynxes.
According to scientists, there are about 400 million domestic cats living on the planet. Americans have the most of these animals. But Australia ranks first in the number of tailed households. In this country, every 10 people keep 9 cats.
Among Asian countries, Indonesia ranks first. There are more than 30 million cats in this country for 270 million inhabitants.
For a long time, cats had a hard time in Vietnam, where these animals were eaten. However, when countless mice bred in this country, destroying grain and rice, the country's president ordered the closure of restaurants serving cat meat.
France is also cruel to cats. In France there is a law according to which a kitten that has not been purchased within a month is of no use to anyone and is euthanized. In Belgium, on the contrary, there is a special holiday for pets. On this day, carnivals, dances are held, and performances featuring black cats and puss in boots are shown.
The Muslim religion does not like dogs, but respects cats. The prophet Magomed himself adored them. He even added the title of father of cats to his many titles.
Superstitions of other countries
Since ancient times, cats have been considered the most mysterious animals. They were credited with unusual abilities: predicting the future, protecting owners from evil spirits, seeing ghosts, and much more. Attitudes towards the animal have changed over thousands of years and depended on the place of residence, traditions, customs and even profession. For example, most people believe that a black cat brings bad luck, but sailors, on the contrary, always take this animal on board to attract good luck and protect themselves. And our ancestors specially got pets with a dark color, because it was believed that such a cat could protect the family from the tricks of the brownie.
Over the course of the long relationship between cats and humans, opinions about animals have constantly changed. Some peoples believed that these furry animals were messengers of the devil, while others believed quite the opposite. In ancient Egypt, cats were long considered sacred animals. They received this status thanks to their natural abilities. There is a legend according to which one cat saved a large harvest by catching all the rodents. Since then, the image of the fluffy beauty has been associated exclusively with higher powers.
This is interesting!
The Egyptians built a temple for pets, where they annually celebrated a holiday in honor of Bastet and praised pets.
Several thousand years later, scientists discovered an animal cemetery near the sacred site. It turned out that four-legged friends were buried with all honors: the bodies were mummified, special tombs were built, and several mice were left next to the body so that the cat would not suffer from hunger in the afterlife. In addition, after the burial, all family members wore mourning, and in some cases even shaved their eyebrows. Killing a pet was prohibited by law and was punishable by death. It was also prohibited to export cats outside the state.
In Europe, these animals were also revered. The cost of a small kitten often exceeded the price of an adult bull. But in France, the tailed animals were not at all lucky: the French often burned them at the stake along with witches, because it was believed that these animals were messengers of the devil. People believed that cats should not be looked into the eyes, because the devil looks through them.
The French came to their senses only in the 17th century. Their friendship and mutually beneficial relationship with cats began during the Age of Enlightenment. It was then that it became fashionable to keep a purring dog at court, but the church still denied and did not approve of tailed pets.
A little history
The cat was domesticated by humans about 10,000 years ago. At this time, the transition from nomadic to sedentary life began. A small animal was ideal for living in one place. It was of great benefit in exterminating small rodents in the house. The skeleton of an ancient cat was found in a Cypriot burial dating back to 7500 BC.
This is evidence of the domestication of the animal at this time and in this place. Around this time, the cat entered the service of humans, helped preserve the harvest, and fought with birds and rodents. At the same time, its small size did not require a large amount of food. Often there was enough food obtained by hunting in the house, in barns, in the barnyard.
There are different points of view regarding the domestication of cats. Some believe that man persistently and consistently tamed her ancestors to live together. He derived practical benefit from this. The cat helped preserve the harvest and at the same time was an easy and undemanding companion, affectionate and pleasant to talk to.
Other researchers believe that the process of bringing cats closer to humans was due to its intelligence. The animal understood that a human home would protect it from the wild and provide comfort to its offspring. And at the same time, it is convenient for hunting small rodents.
