Why you can’t look a cat in the eyes for a long time: signs

Myths about the cat's gaze

Its origins date back to Ancient Egypt. And this was associated with the cat goddess Bast, who was believed to hold the connection between the human world and the other world, silently overcoming these boundaries. This is where the belief came from that, by looking into her eyes, a person looks into the underworld. And only her equals could look into the clear eyes of the goddess. All others who allowed themselves to raise their gaze to the deity faced a terrible punishment.

Egyptian cat goddess Bast

Over time, cats spread from Ancient Egypt to Ancient Rome and further to Europe, where each family rejoiced in its hunter. But the dark Middle Ages came, when cats, as servants of the devil, often with their mistresses, who were assigned the regalia of witches, were burned at the stake by the Inquisition. It was then that the myth about the inadmissibility of looking a cat directly in the eyes was finally strengthened. So that the unclean does not enter a person and drag him into a noose or into a river.

Myths were born one after another. If you kiss a cat on the face, your energy will go away. I saw cat’s eyes in a dream, according to the dream book - this is a warning about grief, misfortune, failure. Be careful. Beware of evil spirits. The appearance of the photograph also did not spare the cat. Even an animal accidentally caught in the frame promised terrible troubles or death. Not to mention taking a special photo with your tailed pet, who will look at the people in the photograph with his own eyes. Then troubles certainly cannot be avoided.

One cannot help but recall fairy tales about witches who always had black cats with glowing eyes, which served them as an attribute of witchcraft. After all, this color has always been associated with the devil and mysticism.

In ancient, pagan Rus', cats were also not held in high esteem. She was considered a dark force that could not be allowed into the bathhouse. Because it was very hot there, this place was associated with hell. And the animals, acquiring their true appearance there, could begin to speak in a human voice. And, having met the gaze of such a werewolf, those nearby went crazy or died immediately.

Why is this look so creepy?

We agree: under such a prickly gaze you want to shiver. Remember where and when you crossed your pet’s path. But the real solution may be unexpected. Or rather, pleasantly unexpected. A long, attentive cat's gaze actually means great affection for a person, bordering on great love and adoration. “What a big and wonderful cat,” the pet thinks, looking at you intently. – Kind, affectionate, will always pet you and praise you, and treat you to something tasty. How lucky I am in this life!”

In principle, nothing unusual: cats and I just have a different interpretation of a long and intrusive gaze.

The other side of the coin

Cats were not always or everywhere associated with evil. For example, in Ancient Egypt they were especially revered animals. The Egyptians loved these graceful and independent creatures. Each pharaoh had a pair of cats. They were cared for and worshiped. The most ancient rock paintings eloquently testify to this.

Japanese emperors also treated cats with special reverence. In China there is a saying that every merchant has his own pet. If it is not there, it is a bad trader.

There is an opinion that a cat has some kind of connection with the other world, which a person cannot see. Using a special channel, the animal receives information. Agree, it’s not very pleasant to know that your pet chats in the evenings with someone you can’t see. However, there is no scientific confirmation of this.

Breed predisposition

Breeds differ not only in appearance, but also in their predisposition to certain diseases. This does not mean that the pet will necessarily have problems, but if symptoms appear, the responsible owner should consult a doctor, bypassing the stage of self-medication.

The following cat breeds are predisposed to eye diseases:

• Persian;
• British;
• exotics (the breed was obtained artificially by crossing an American shorthair with a Persian);
• Maine Coons;
• sphinxes.

Basically, lacrimation in the listed breeds occurs due to:

• deformed nasolacrimal duct due to the structural features of the muzzle;
• inversion of the lower eyelids.

Why you can’t look a cat in the eyes: mysticism

For centuries there has been a belief why you should not look a cat in the eye. If you look into them, they begin to attract, bewitch and bewitch. And all because they reflect the other world, evil forces. After all, cats are the guardians of the underworld.

There has long been a sign that if a cat looks into the eyes, then a person’s vitality begins to decline, he is overcome by weakness, chills, illness, which ultimately can even lead to death.

People were afraid of the cat's eyes, glowing in the twilight. Therefore, when they saw the animal, they turned away and tried to leave as quickly as possible the place where the animal, which had gone out hunting at night, was located.

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.

The mystical side of cats

The cat is very friendly with the brownie; it is through him, as a conductor between worlds, that the brownie communicates with its owners. If a brownie is deprived of such joy, he will easily begin to take revenge on the person. In addition, a cat can be a real doctor: lying on a sore spot, it takes away human pain. And simply stroking this animal will relieve a person from depression, stress and obsessive unpleasant thoughts.

Cats are very good at anticipating danger. That is why in Italian Naples cats live in every family. There is an active volcano called Vesuvius, the destructive power of which everyone knows. People living in that area trust cats, who can notify their owners of approaching danger.

There are many signs and superstitions associated with cats. I want to refute one of them right now. This applies to black cats and cats that cross the road and are harbingers of failure. Esotericists assure suspicious people that a black cat, on the contrary, gives people happiness.

In England, people respect black cats and consider them to be good omens. Now let’s try to figure out what a cat’s gaze conceals, why you can’t look a cat in the eyes, and what are the reasons for this.

Other superstitions

Cats are very sensitive animals, capable of transmitting information to other worlds. The body itself is a kind of transmitter. Based on their mystical history, there are many superstitions and legends surrounding these cute pets.

It is believed that a cat should never be kissed on the face. It is believed that when human lips touch a cat's nose, some of the person's energy is transferred to the animal. The pet, without even wanting to, takes away the person’s life force, which is sent to parallel worlds. And science does not approve of kissing; through it you can become infected with unpleasant diseases.

Is it possible to look a cat in the eyes for a long time: reality

But not in all cases, the behavior of a cat can be explained from the mystical side; the scientific side of the issue must also be taken into account. A cat is a predator and its eye is designed in such a way that in the dark its pupils dilate noticeably, and the specific shape of the lens makes it possible to see perfectly.

Their vision is peripheral and they can clearly see any object out of the corner of their eye. In addition, if a cat looks in one direction for a long time, this means that it is either watching what is happening or resting with its eyes closed.

Cats rarely look into their eyes. And this is explained by the fact that they can only do this in a state of aggression or hunting.

Well, if you see eye to eye with a cat, then watch her. Maybe she expresses her dissatisfaction, bad mood, well-being and even stress. Perhaps you forgot to feed her, and in this way she asks you to do it immediately.

What to do at home

When prescribing medications, it is important to observe their dosage and frequency of administration.

At home, it is necessary to ensure proper storage of medications, following the medical instructions.

If your doctor prescribes drops or ointment, then before instilling them (putting them in), you should clean your pet’s eyes of any dirt. This is done with a disinfectant or special wipes in the direction from the outer corner to the animal’s nose. A new swab (cotton swab) should be used for each eye.

The owner's hands must be clean during procedures - thoroughly washed with soap.

Egyptian legends

According to ancient Egyptian legends, all cats are descendants of the goddess Bastet , who was revered as the mother of life. Being the daughter of Osiris and Isis, she also personified the light of the moon and the sun. They asked her for the blessings of life and health. Offending a cat was the same as cursing oneself, so they treated it with deep respect, and bowed their heads when they met.

The Egyptians believed that these animals could speak to the souls of the dead, so they brought them offerings of meat and asked them to convey the message to their deceased relatives. However, at the same time, they carefully avoided their gaze, since they believed that it was he who broke the line between the world of the living and the dead.

Possible complications

If a kitten has watery eyes and refuses to go to the clinic, irreversible processes may begin in the animal’s body.

It must be remembered that dangerous viral diseases that occur with lightning speed and are destructive for a fragile pet can manifest themselves as lacrimation. A problem noticed in time can be overcome much faster and easier than an advanced severe form of the disease.

Why does a cat look into its owner's eyes?

The reason that a cat looks into his eyes may also be that she wants to catch his mood or state of mind. Thus, he analyzes whether he can ask for a treat now or wait for a more convenient moment.

If the pet does not really like to meow, then with the help of eye contact he tells the owner that he wants to eat or drink. But there are also times when a cat behaves this way before attacking. Maybe she feels threatened by the person, or she wants to play.

Causes

A healthy kitten should have clear, clean eyes. If your pet has lacrimation, the causes of the disease may be:

• weak immunity;
• early separation from mother and inability to care for oneself;
• conjunctivitis;
• colds;
• viral infection;
• helminthic infestation (infection of a pet with parasites);
• neoplasms in the nasal cavity;
• reaction to vaccination;
• trauma, mechanical damage;
• presence of a foreign body (mote);
• allergic reaction, for example, to new food, shampoo;
• pathology of the conjunctiva and cornea;
• the breed's predisposition to eye diseases;
• blockage of the lacrimal glands.

Realistic look

In reality, of course, all cat owners no, no, and they will look into the wondrous eyes of their pet. And no one has yet been seriously harmed by this. And the myth is supported by the fact that most of these inscrutable animals do show noticeable anxiety when making direct visual contact.

The thing is that the structure of the visual apparatus in cats is very different from that of humans. In humans, a clear image is transmitted only to the central part of the retina, so in order to better see an object, he needs to move his gaze. A person's peripheral vision is blurry and unclear. For cats, everything is different and they see objects located on the periphery of their gaze just as well as those directly in focus. They don’t have to look closely at the object that interests them; they can clearly distinguish it, which is called “out of the corner of their eye.”

Cats, like their wild ancestors, use their gaze and direct gaze at the moment of confrontation. Thus, they demonstrate both an aggressive attitude towards the enemy and a lack of fear. Everyone is familiar with the scene when two cats glare at each other, nervously twitching their tails and making guttural sounds. This is exactly the case when animals share something and try to prove their superiority to each other.

When eye contact is interrupted, it means that at the next moment one of the opponents will attack (or will flee, deciding that the opponent is stronger).

Sometimes a cat can stare at one point for a long time, not move and, it seems, not even breathe. At such moments, she experiences fear and prepares to attack or defend. As a rule, a tense gaze directed at something is observed in a hunting situation. This is why people are so scared when cats look like this into empty space (it is unknown what she sees there).

When a cat makes eye contact with a person, it experiences the same emotions as when making visual contact with other animals. For her, this is a confrontation, a struggle, and the one who first looks away (and then does not attack), in her opinion, turns out to be a loser, worthy of contempt, giving up without a fight.

This is why it is believed that you should not look cats in the eyes. Often in such situations the animal attacks.

Surprisingly, large representatives of cats are completely calm in visual contact with humans. Although their habits in the wild are the same: visual confrontation, and then fight. They apparently don’t consider a person to be a serious adversary, so they don’t worry when he looks them straight in the eye.

Treatment

You cannot do without a visit to the veterinarian. A specialist will examine the kitten’s sore eyes and find out the causes of suppuration. Sometimes it is impossible to establish an accurate diagnosis with the help of an initial examination. In this case, the veterinarian will refer you for additional diagnostics. More experienced doctors will take tests and give an accurate diagnosis. Only after this can effective treatment begin.

Attention! Viral causes of eye suppuration are difficult to treat with folk remedies. Therefore, all “grandmother’s” methods are suitable only as a preventive measure or to accelerate recovery from mechanical damage to the tissue around the eyes.

Recommended drugs

Here are the most popular eye medications for kittens recommended by doctors:

• Tsiprolet. The active substance is ciprofloxacin. It has a local bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. Effective against eye damage from infections and microorganisms. For example, staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, chlamydia. This is a prophylactic agent that is used in the initial stages of suppuration. Dosage – 1 drop 3-4 times a day. If persistent purulent and mucous discharge is observed, the dose is increased.
• Levomycetin. The antibiotic drug kills bacteria that are resistant to penicillin and its derivatives. It can cure a kitten’s eyes from conjunctivitis, blepharitis and keratitis. This is a well-known effective antibiotic with positive reviews.
• Diamond eyes. The active ingredients are chlorhexidine and taurine. It is used for all types of conjunctivitis and degenerative changes in the retina. Drops are a good preventative against cataracts. The dosage depends on the duration of treatment: 1 drop per day – 45 days, 2 drops per day – 20 days, 3 drops per day – 10 days.
• Leopard. The active substances are chloramphenicol and furatsilin. The drug has extensive antibacterial effects and provides good relief from conjunctivitis, keratitis and blepharitis. Dosage – 1-2 drops 3-4 times a day.
• Iris. The main antibacterial substance is gentamicin sulfate. Treats conjunctivitis in acute and chronic stages, blepharitis, stye, septic ulcers of the cornea. Used for injuries, wounds, mechanical damage to the eyes. Use strictly according to instructions.
• Tsiprovet. The active substance and pharmacological action are exactly the same as those of the drug Tsiprolet. Destroys single-celled microorganisms that parasitize the mucous membrane of the eye.
• Tetracycline ointment. This is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Apply under the eyelid and on the area around the eyes in small doses.

How to look at a cat correctly

There is nothing wrong with looking your pet in the eyes. But experts who understand the psychology of cats do not recommend doing this for a long time and carefully. This may make him nervous because he will think that you are being aggressive. It is best to look at the tailed animal without making eye contact.

But if eye contact is established between you, then you should start blinking slowly. This way the cat will not perceive your gaze as aggressive. You shouldn’t take your eyes off your cat right away; she may consider you weak and stop respecting you. Nothing bad will happen if it is a simple street cat, but if it is your pet, then it is better not to practice abruptly stopping eye contact with it.

Experts also recommend practicing the gaze technique in some cases. This way the owner can establish authority, or in this way tell the pet that he has done something wrong. To do this, just take him by the scruff of the neck and look closely into his eyes. This way the cat will understand that it did something wrong and will continue to try to avoid such punishment.

But you shouldn't use this technique too often. The cat may lose trust in its owner and begin to fear him, which ultimately will not lead to anything good in the relationship.

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.