Have you ever had that feeling of being watched as you wander down the street? Well, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but it was probably me! Just your lovable feline friend here, sitting comfortably as I watch the world pass by…
On that note, have you ever wondered why we cats love staring out the window? As a cat myself, I can tell you there are plenty of reasons why we’re drawn to that magical portal to the outside world. And it’s not all fascination with what our humans are up to, either—though that is certainly a part of it.
Find a sunny spot here on my windowsill and I’ll reveal all.
Just Why Exactly Do Cats Like Looking Out the Window?
So, the question of the moment: what are we cats actually looking at? Many cats will happily spend hours watching out the window, but there’s no one reason why. There’s a whole bunch of reasons!
Curiosity and the Great Outdoors
First up, you can’t beat a bit of plain old entertainment. Humans have their televisions; we cats have the great outdoors.
Our inherent curiosity with the world is a major reason why cats look out the window. From our elevated vantage point, we can observe all the hustle and bustle outside. Whether it’s the swaying of trees, buzzing insects, or simply people walking by, we’re naturally drawn to what’s going on outside.
This curiosity is a fundamental part of our cat behaviour, and windowsills provide a great platform for us to be inquisitive.
Hunting Instinct
Birds! Nothing captivates my attention quite like the small flutter of wings. Watching birds and other small prey from behind the glass taps into our primal hunting instincts.
You might even catch us making a chattering sound as we watch the little creatures streak by. This sound can be a mix of excitement and frustration as we can’t get at our prey.
Territorial Behaviour
We cats are a territorial lot, and there’s no better spot to monitor our territory than from a nice, safe vantage point.
If you spot us cats looking out the window, we may be keeping an eye out for any intruders into our territory. The moment a neighbourhood cat crosses onto my turf, believe me, I’ll know!
Sunbathing and Comfort
We cats are the masters of comfort. What can we say—we like to feel warm and cozy!
Windowsills often become our favourite napping spots, especially when the sun is shining. They’re a great place for capturing warmth, enabling us to bask and relax, all while enjoying the view.
Providing Mental Stimulation and Environmental Enrichment
Now, I’ll let you in on a little bit of info. The reasons why cats like to look out the window go beyond mere curiosity and comfort. Window gazing can actually do us cats a great deal of good!
The sights, sounds, and even the smells that waft through a slightly opened window can provide us with vital mental stimulation. Our eyes are particularly good at detecting motion, so anything flitting by—there are those birds again!—will help preoccupy our minds. This environmental enrichment is essential for our wellbeing and helps prevent boredom from setting in.
So, if you spot us cats looking out the window, it’s nothing to be concerned about. In fact, quite the opposite!
Encouraging Healthy Window Gazing
Now, any self-respecting human will naturally want to help us cats be as happy as possible, right? To keep us healthy while we enjoy our window time, you can help us out by making a few adjustments:
- Comfortable Spots: For maximum comfort, provide us with soft window hammocks or place a cat tree near the window. Different windows may appeal at different times—we’re a fickle bunch—so give us a variety of options to choose from.
- Safety First: Ensure the area around the window is safe and secure, so we can’t escape or fall out. Let’s be honest, if I get the chance to chase those pesky birds, you’re going to struggle to get me back inside again!
- Stimulation: You can further enhance our environment with toys and activities around the home. This means we’re less reliant on the window as our sole means of entertainment.
Limiting Frustration and Creating a More Relaxing Environment
Some of us cats can find windows a bit of a concern, especially if we’re able to spot potential threats. The sight of neighbourhood cats can be particularly distressing, even though they can’t get inside our home. Glass is transparent, after all, and we may not realize it is protecting us!
If we do get frustrated by what we see outside, try to limit our access to the window or use opaque film on lower parts of the glass. Don’t worry, you only need to use this film up to cat height. You don’t need to block out the natural sunlight.
While we’re on this subject, it’s a good time to mention that this is one reason why you should avoid feeding us cats near full-length windows or patio doors. We can feel vulnerable when we’re eating with our heads down, so it’s the worst time to look up and see the neighbour’s cat peering through the window.
To help create a relaxing and stress-free environment, my human likes to use FELIWAY Optimum. They simply plug the pheromone diffuser into the room in which I spend most of my time and I’m all set! This can be helpful if the world outside the window is a bit overwhelming or if there are any troubles with the neighbouring cats.
So, what else is there to say? Hang up my hammock and let me gaze away! Those birds aren’t going to watch themselves, you know.
If you’d like to know more about cat behaviour and how we view the world around us, why not check out our other blogs? You can also sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with all our latest tips and product info!