It is often said that looking into the eyes of a cat is not good, a bad omen, so you can bring trouble on yourself. But even people who are not prone to mysticism believe that a gaze into a cat's eyes can greatly complicate a relationship with an animal, make a cat your enemy. Why is this happening?
Looking into the eyes of a cat: a little mysticism
In many cultures, the cat is assigned a special role of being in a special relationship with the other world, a kind of guide between the world of the living and the world of the dead. It is not for nothing that a cat often acts as an assistant to witches and sorcerers. And people believed that the large, glowing in the dark, hypnotic eyes of cats reflected not ours, but "that" world, inaccessible to the eye of the living. Therefore, it was believed that one should not look a cat in the eye: after all, this meant entering into a forbidden connection with the other world. And in the beliefs of some peoples it was believed that evil spirits could enter a black cat. And a look in the eyes of an animal meant consent to the transfer of this spirit into the human body.
And in Egypt, where the cat, as you know, was a sacred animal, the personification of a deity. And a look into the eyes of a cat meant a look into the eyes of a deity - an irreverence that higher powers, being angry, could punish.
Why cats don't like eye contact
If we digress from the questions of the other world and return to the real world, then we can state that cats really react very nervously to a direct look in the eyes.
Human vision is not structured like that of animals. Only the central part of the retina can clearly see the image, while peripheral vision in humans is much worse than in the same cats, so people have to constantly shift their gaze from object to object. And looking in any direction means attention, interest. Cats do not have to stare at the object of interest to them, they have excellent peripheral vision, and they are able to see well “out of the corner of the eye”. And animals look into each other's eyes only in special cases: as a rule, such a directed gaze speaks of aggression. And the desire to show their superiority over the enemy.
Remember when a cat looks closely at one point for a long time, is intently observing something or someone? This is either a hunting situation, or the appearance in the field of view of a potentially threatening object (dog, rival cat, etc.). Fear and anxiety, aggression, readiness to defend, warning of a possible attack - these are the emotions that accompany this situation. If the animal has recognized itself defeated as a result of the "staring" game, it averts its gaze to the side.
Accordingly, if a person looks into the eyes of a cat, the cat perceives this as a challenge to a duel. And, since predators do not differ in cowardice, the animal may decide to defend itself with teeth and claws.
Surprisingly, but true: unlike domestic cats, tigers, lions and other large predators take a person's gaze rather calmly. Probably, it's a matter of scale: large wild animals do not perceive humans as a rival that deserves attention.
How to look at a cat
In fact, you can look a cat in the eye. But the gaze should not be long, so as not to unnerve the animal, and it is better to admire the cat as if in passing, out of the corner of the eye. In addition, if the person blinks slowly during the exchange of glances, the cat will not perceive the gaze as a threat. If you accidentally meet your eyes - do not avert your eyes hastily, otherwise you will be "considered a defeat", just smile at the cat, blink and slowly look away.
And if we are talking about the relationship between a cat and its owner, then sometimes a direct look in the eyes is even useful - to maintain authority and remind the animal of "who is in charge of the house."You should not overuse this educational measure if you want to maintain a good relationship. But if the cat is naughty, then take her by the scruff and intently, without looking away, look her straight in the eyes - a very effective way to restore order, an explanation "like a cat." At the same time, it is advisable to keep the cat at arm's length so that it physically cannot respond to the call with claws in the face.
