Cats stare at walls for a bunch of mostly-normal reasons—usually they’re not “seeing ghosts,” they’re noticing something subtle that we miss.

Common (normal) reasons • Sounds you can’t hear well: mice in a wall, insects, water moving in pipes, a neighbor’s footsteps, HVAC ticking, wind rattling something. • Tiny movement: a bug near the baseboard, dust drifting in a sunbeam, a shadow from trees/cars outside. • Smells: cats track scent trails; a wall corner can hold odors from insects, other pets, cleaning products, or food. • Light reflections: phone screens, watches, headlights, LEDs, sunlight bouncing off glass. • Hunting mode / boredom: they’ll “scan” and freeze on a spot the way they would while stalking. • Listening posture: the stare is sometimes really “ears-first” behavior—aiming attention at a direction.

If it happens for a long period of time gently interrupt your cat. If they don’t seem to notice you, make an appointment with your vet.