Cats stare at people for several reasons, including asking for attention, soliciting play, requesting food, showing affection, signaling fear or aggression, or simply out of curiosity. They use staring as a form of nonverbal communication to convey their needs or emotions. For example, a soft blink during a stare can be a sign of affection, while a hard, unblinking stare may indicate a warning or threat. Cats might also stare because they are curious or monitoring their environment carefully. Sometimes, staring is related to their hunting instincts or trying to get the owner's attention for feeding or playtime.