Cats can have peculiar habits such as tipping over objects, napping in awkwardly positioned positions, and occasionally just staring at walls. What is it precisely a blank wall that your cat finds so fascinating?
Why do cats stare at walls?
Why do cats stare at walls?
Your cat may be suddenly obsessed with the paint color you choose for a number of reasons. There are people who may make light of, or perhaps believe earnestly, that their pet is observing a ghost or other paranormal creature. However, there's undoubtedly a more sensible, natural explanation for it. Your cat can look up at the walls for a variety of reasons, most of which stem from their innate curiosity as both predators and prey.
They're able to see
Cats are highly perceptive animals. They may not be able to see as many colors as humans since they do not have as many cones in their eyes, but they do have a great deal more rods, which allow them to see extremely well even in dim light. Additionally, their field of vision is larger than ours. As a matter of fact, your cat sees 200 degrees, whereas we only see 180. This indicates that, compared to humans, your cat has far wider peripheral vision. Your cat might be observing an insect and a shadow on the wall, even though you don't think they are.
Cats are capable of episodic memory as well. Cats with this particular form of long-term memory are able to recall particular occasions, circumstances, and encounters. This implies that your cat is able to recall images of the sun dancing over a particular section of a wall at a certain time of day. Therefore, your cat can be anticipating their favorite game if they are staring at the exact same wall at the same moment of the day.
They're able to hear.
Cats are known for having excellent hearing. They really have a greater range of frequencies of hearing than a number of mammals, including dogs and humans! That means that your cat might hear things that you do not! In addition to settling, buildings also contain air ducts and pipes. It's possible for your cat to hear air hissing down a duct or water rushing through a pipe. Of course, animals from outside can still enter our homes. Your cat can be staring at a wall, as they can hear mice or other animals running around if they manage to get into your house. However, the sound source does not have to be inside the wall. Even though your neighbors appear to be quite quiet, your cat might be able to hear them over the wall when you reside in a flat block.
When Is It Time to Worry?
Your cat's tendency to stare at the wall could occasionally be a sign of a health problem.
1 - Cognitive Dysfunction in Felines
Cat dementia, although officially termed feline cognitive impairment, is a condition that certain senior cats may have. This is not too unlike senility and dementia in humans. Cognitively impaired cats can yowl loudly at night or show confused looks at blank walls.
2 - Syndrome of Feline Hyperesthesia
Your cat could have feline hyperesthesia syndrome when they seem extremely sensitive to touch, if they fiercely attack their own tail, or if they merely stare at blank walls. They may also frantically start grooming their tail base. It is only recently that this ailment has been identified and documented. Although the diagnosis is uncommon, it's unclear if this is due to the rarity of the condition or the difficulty of appreciating a cat's typical behavior in a veterinary context. Cats suffering from hyperesthesia syndrome frequently transition from a manic phase characterized by forceful grooming or tail-swatting to a near-hypnotic condition where they fix their gaze on a wall. Try to capture a video with your phone if you experience any of these symptoms. Video recording your cat's behavior can be a huge help to your veterinarian in determining whether the strange behaviors your cat exhibits at home have a medical basis.
There are various reasons why cats can gaze at walls. Most of the time, they are just monitoring or attempting to identify what they may have seen or heard that we missed.
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