Why Do Cats Stare at You When You Sleep? Is It Normal?

Cats have the peculiar habit of staring at us while sleeping, but it’s normal if your cat has access to your sleeping space. There are plenty of reasons for this, but the primary one is waiting for their favorite human to wake up and give them affection or ease their anxiety.

Cats do things that raise our curiosity, and one is waking up and finding a cat staring at you—no movement, just a deep stare. The running joke among cat lovers is that the cat is plotting against you but be assured that’s not the case. Even so, we can’t always be sure what they are thinking. Here are some theories about why you’ve found your cat staring at you while sleeping, whether you caught them in person or on video.

Is a cat staring at you while you sleep normal?

If you haven’t lived with cats for long, waking up to a feline staring at you can be startling and scary. If you’ve caught them doing it a couple of times, while it’s an odd habit, you quickly accept that your feline is being ordinary and doing what their fellow felines do. Therefore, put your mind at ease if you’re concerned.

Reasons cats stare at you when you sleep

They are fond of you

If you’ve liked watching someone you love sleeping soundly, then you can appreciate the deep affection that your cat has for you. Peace and bonding come over a parent watching their child sleep soundly or a partner doing the same. Like humans, cats feed bonded when watching your sleep.

They know you’re due to wake up

Your cat knows when you wake up and will sneak into your room and stare at you until you open your eyes. It is part of the fun for them knowing they’ll soon get the petting, attention, and of course, food. Therefore, the stare is them patiently waiting for you to wake up.

They are concerned about you

If you have a routine, your cat will know what time you wake up and wait for you. However, when you break it, your cat may become anxious and wonder why its human is not waking up. This tension grows, especially when it is their expected feeding time. They might stare for a while and then follow up with low meowing and taps that wake you up only to find them staring.

They are anxious

Anxious cats are more the rule than the exception, especially when put in new environments or left alone for long periods. In this case, they will seek out safe spaces or what gives them comfort, including your bed or you, even though you’re sleeping. Take note of this habit and reassure your feline, especially if staring while you sleep is a new habit.

They are protecting you

Cats are active in the evening till morning due to predatory instincts and hunting at twilight. If your cat was in the wild, keeping watch over their family from fellow pray is normal for them if not required. While they are no longer in the great outdoors, their instincts are the same, and since you are their family, they are watching over you.

You woke them up

Cats will sleep next to their owners primarily for warmth- disappointing for those who think their cat only loves cuddles. Like humans, cats don’t appreciate being woke up, and they will show it. If you’re tossing, turning, or snoring, they might wake up and stare at you in annoyance and disgust. Similarly, when someone else did the same to you, you’d wake up and stare at them in exasperation, deciding what to do next.

They are bored and need amusement

They have made several trips around the house, played with their toy, or even nibbled on leftovers. The house is quiet, and they are wondering where their human is. They walk into your room, jump on your bed, and stare at your face as it changes to keep themselves amused. Depending on their personality, your cat might respect your sleep and stare until you wake up or tap your face as part of the play.

It’s a coincidence

The cat could have just walked into the room, settled, and napped. The feline could have been staring at something else, only to turn and watch you in curiosity, and just at this time, you opened your eyes. Maybe they weren’t staring at you; you just opened your eyes, and the cat decided to hold your stare out of interest instead of moving on to something else.

Summary table of reasons cats stare at you when you sleep

Conclusion

Cats are fascinating, and knowing what’s going on in their minds is a guessing game. Fortunately, cat lovers can agree on a couple of common reasons cats stare at you when you sleep.

FAQs

What do I do if I don’t want my cat to stare at me as I sleep?

Keeping the cat active throughout the day or just before bedtime will exhaust them, and they’ll sleep all night. You can also change the feeding time at night, so they don’t come to you expecting food.

Why is my cat awake when I sleep?

Cats are active from dusk to dawn as they are crepuscular creatures. It is the perfect time to hunt for prey. Equally, if they are left home alone during the day, they spend time relaxing, sleeping, and doing the opposite at night.

Maria Giovanni

Maria Giovanni is a pet lover and does have a variety of pets at home, from the lapdogs to parrots and cats. The latter however seems to be her favorite because she operates a shelter that caters specifically to injured and stray cats. You can also leave your cat with her if you have to travel out of town for a longer period and don’t want to lock your cat inside. Over the years Maria has championed for the rights of animals, because of the many vices that are done to the defenseless animals around the world. Compiling information for the Simple Catguide was quite fulfilling because it allowed her to share knowledge on how best people can care for their pet cats.