What does it mean when a cat stares at its owner?

Staring at the owner by a cat mainly expresses curiosity, hunger, seeking attention, and challenging the owner.

1. Curiosity towards the owner: When a cat is curious about its owner, it will continuously stare at them, wanting to know what the owner is doing or planning to do. The cat will closely observe the owner's movements and not let them out of their sight, which is also a way for the cat to express love.

2. Hunger: If the cat stares at the owner continuously and meows persistently, or even rubs its head against the owner, it might be hungry and asking for food. In this case, the owner should prepare food for the cat promptly.

3. Seeking attention: If the owner hasn't spent time playing with the cat for a long time, the cat might feel ignored. Therefore, the cat will stare at the owner until they notice it. If the owner gently pets the cat, it will enjoy it and emit purring sounds.

4. Challenging the owner: Before a cat attacks its prey, its eyes will stare intently at the prey, searching for potential weaknesses while assuming an attacking posture. If the cat is staring at the owner while its fur is standing on end, the owner should be cautious, as the cat might launch an attack in the next second.