{"id":609886,"date":"2024-06-10T10:27:50","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T14:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=609886"},"modified":"2024-09-06T17:22:20","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T21:22:20","slug":"why-do-cats-stare-at-nothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-behavior\/why-do-cats-stare-at-nothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Cats Stare at Nothing? 5 Surprising Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nReasons Cats Stare at Nothing<\/a>
\nWhat To Do<\/a>
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Experienced cat owners know that no matter how much we bond with and learn about our pets, there will always be at least a few behaviors that leave us scratching our heads. Cats have all kinds of quirks ranging from entertaining to frustrating to just plain creepy, and if your cat is the type to stare at nothing, you know how eerie it can be.<\/p>\n

Cats don\u2019t sense an unseen spirit when they gaze into the distance, but they usually perceive something we don\u2019t notice.<\/strong> If this is a common occurrence in your home, we\u2019ll explain five reasons cats stare at nothing and when it should be cause for concern.<\/p>\n

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The 5 Reasons Cats Stare at Nothing<\/h2>\n

1. They See, Smell, or Hear Something Nearby<\/h3>\n

Most of the time, a cat seemingly staring at nothing is indeed alert to something we simply don\u2019t notice. As a natural predator, cats have highly tuned senses to pick up minor movements and faint traces of prey to aid them while hunting.<\/p>\n

Cats Have Sharper Senses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cats have remarkable hearing. They pick up frequencies up to 64,000 Hz (versus our 20,000 Hz maximum) and catch noises from further away than humans can, capturing sounds we could never hear.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a superior nose allows cats to register smells up to 14 times better. With their sharp eyesight, which some believe can process UV light, we can see they have several ways of sensing stimuli that pass right under our noses.<\/p>\n

When cats stare intensely at nothing, their keen senses may reveal something as minor as an insect, a leaky pipe in the wall, or a flash of light. If you catch your cat looking intently in a random direction, watch their ear pinnae.<\/p>\n

As they stare, their ears will orient in the direction of your cat\u2019s gaze to help them localize the sound source, telling you they heard something you didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: NTP_RASTA, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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2. Cognitive Dysfunction<\/h3>\n

Cognitive dysfunction is a common occurrence as cats age. Most cats experience some form of cognitive decline over 11 years old, with memory, awareness, learning ability, and sensory perception potentially failing gradually.<\/p>\n

As cats experience confusion that comes with mental decline, they may stare blankly at walls or off into space, often showing additional signs such as:<\/p>\n

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