Why Do Cats Stare at Nothing? 5 Surprising Reasons

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.
Cats don’t sense an unseen spirit when they gaze into the distance, but they usually perceive something we don’t notice. If this is a common occurrence in your home, we’ll explain five reasons cats stare at nothing and when it should be cause for concern.

The 5 Reasons Cats Stare at Nothing

1. They See, Smell, or Hear Something Nearby

Most of the time, a cat seemingly staring at nothing is indeed alert to something we simply don’t 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.

Cats Have Sharper Senses

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.
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.
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.
As they stare, their ears will orient in the direction of your cat’s gaze to help them localize the sound source, telling you they heard something you didn’t.

2. Cognitive Dysfunction

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.
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:

Aimless wandering into unfamiliar areas

Getting lost in familiar places

Becoming stuck around furniture and other obstacles

Inappropriate elimination

Disinterest in play or interactions

Decreased activity, eating, and grooming

Increased agitation and restlessness

More vocalizing at night

Your vet can evaluate your pet to rule out other underlying causes of these behaviors. If they find your cat suffers from age-related cognitive decline, they may offer anti-anxiety medications and provide at-home tips to accommodate your pet’s changing needs and slow the effects.

3. Focal Seizures

Affecting roughly 1%–2% of the cat population, seizures occur when abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes various physical effects, notably convulsions and twitching. Epilepsy is the repeated occurrence of seizures at least 24 hours apart.
Unlike generalized seizures that occur when both brain hemispheres are affected, a focal seizure refers to unusual activity in a particular region. Restricted or involuntary movements are often limited to one area, such as the face, with visible signs varying depending on which part of the brain is affected.
Altered mentation may happen during a focal seizure, causing cats to stare blankly at nothing.
Additional signs may include:

Excessive salivation or swallowing

Facial twitches

Lip smacking

Dilated pupils

Obsessive running

Cats may also snap their mouths in a behavior called fly-biting, with some swatting at the air or becoming aggressive. In rare instances, episodes can progress to generalized seizures.

4. Petit Mal Seizures

Petit mal seizures, or absence seizures, are rare forms of generalized seizures typically only showing minor, non-motor signs. Cats may not go into convulsions but instead act disoriented, unresponsive, and unaware of their surroundings, often staring into space for several seconds.

5. Hyperesthesia

Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS), also called rolling skin disease or twitchy cat disease, is a condition that causes extreme sensitivity in a cat’s skin, primarily on the back. It’s most common in younger cats and those of certain Oriental breeds, including Abyssinian, Burmese, Persian, and Siamese.
Cats with FHS become more agitated when petted or touched and exhibit unique behaviors and signs, including:

Intent staring, often at the tail

Compulsive grooming and body scratching

Aggression toward others

Tail-chasing

Biting at the tail

Pupil dilation

FHS may be related to seizures in some instances, though it can also be a behavioral issue. As with seizures, FHS has numerous potential causes, ranging from toxins to parasitic infections.
Veterinarians can perform comprehensive exams to rule out medical causes of FHS. They may issue medications, create unique diet plans, and provide guidance on environmental enrichment and new routines to ease your cat’s nerves.

What To Do If Your Cat Stares at Nothing

Cats are prone to staring at what seems like nothing, and it’s rarely cause for concern. They’re simply engaging their drive for predation or self-preservation, noticing an odd noise and orienting towards it to determine if they should pursue, retreat, or do nothing.
The behavior can be problematic if your cat’s staring is stressful or accompanies signs of seizures, FHS, or cognitive decline. While some causes, like sporadic focal seizures, may not need treatment, frequent staring and additional signs of health problems should warrant a vet visit.
Stressful stimuli may also catch your cat’s attention. Investigate the source of their staring to determine if it’s an isolated behavior, especially if your cat stares at the same place at predictable points during the day. They may notice outdoor movements, changes in light, or sharp sounds that make them anxious. Sometimes, something as easy as closing the curtains is enough to give them relief.

Conclusion

With their heightened senses and unique ways of thinking, cats almost seem to live in another world entirely. While we might think they’re staring at nothing, we likely aren’t appreciating the minute disturbances that put them on the alert.
Health issues may be at play in rare instances, but more often than not, this behavior is just one of the many fun quirks that make life with pets so magical.