He jolted awake from his dream, hunching over and coughing excessively. He was fighting to take a breath once again. The time was 4:03 a.m. He got up to fetch a cup of water and as he made his way to the kitchen, he spotted him. One side of his face was lighted by the moonlight, while the other was immersed in shadows. His bright eyes were still fixed on him.

Struggling To Breathe

One of the most enriching experiences in one&#8217;s life is adopting an animal. However, it is oftentimes a gamble due to the unpredictability thereof. Their behaviors which they picked up from previous homes might startle or amaze you. The Hawkins family landed in a situation where their newly adopted pet cat brought a disturbing habit into their home, which prevented them from peacefully going to sleep over the course of the next few weeks.

A Wonderful Experience

Daniel knew that it is more ethical to adopt a pet instead of buying one from a breeder. Thus, he did what felt right and made his way to a local shelter to find a new furry friend to join his family. 
He stumbled upon the sweetest kitten. Initially, he was charming and friendly but soon he would reveal who he truly was and the family was not prepared for that.

His True Colors

Muffins instantly became part of the Hawkins family. The moment Daniel locked eyes with Muffins, he knew he needed to bring him home. It was as if his big brown eyes were begging Daniel to take him home. Daniel’s heart was warmed by the charming kitten, and so that day, Muffins the tabby cat became his family’s new companion. They didn&#8217;t realize, however, that this was no typical cat.

An Instant Connection 

The children adored Muffins. They would play with the cat all day and at night they would often spend the entire night cuddling with him, stroking his beautiful coat, and enjoying his soothing purr. Muffins integrated well with the family and it did not take long for him to feel at home. However, he was concealing a tendency that would frighten his new owners. A strange habit that would only emerge at night.

Everybody Loved Him

Since the first-night Muffins spent at his new home, he would awkwardly sit in Daniel and his wife’s doorway while they were sleeping. It was as if he could not comprehend that he was supposed to sleep in his new expensive bed. Daniel eventually gave in and agreed to let him sleep on their bed with them. It was a decision that he would soon regret.

Acting Strange 

Muffins was permitted onto the bed, but Daniel quickly observed that the cat didn&#8217;t close an eye. Instead, he opted to glare Daniel and his wife down while they slept. This tendency remained night after night, leaving his owners perplexed. Could his conduct be a symptom of something more severe? Was he attempting to communicate with his owners? What exactly was he staring at?

Perplexed 

At the age of 13, Daniel was diagnosed with asthma. He has struggled to breathe ever since and it got a lot worse at night. He slept with an inhaler on his bedside table in the event that he has an asthma attack. He had seen a slew of medical specialists, but none of them could help him with his symptoms. And his &#8220;asthma&#8221; had been becoming considerably worse recently.

He Had Asthma

It seemed like since Muffins joined the Hawkins family, Daniel’s breathing troubles began worsening. However, it was peculiar as Daniel did not have a cat allergy. The reality was far more disturbing. At times during the night, he felt as if shards of glass were scraping his neck. He spent several nights attempting to catch his breath and waking up in a cold sweat. Daniel continued to look for answers as time passed. He had no idea that he would acquire one soon enough.

Not A Coincidence

One night, at 4:03 am Daniel woke up in a panic. He was coughing uncontrollably and he felt like his throat was closing. His wife was sleeping peacefully next to him, so he decided to grab a cup of water to calm down. But then, something caught his eye. He spotted Muffins doing something that made him stop in his tracks.

Hidden In The Shadows

Under the moonlight, wrapped up in silence, Muffins watched Daniel intently. As Daniel got up to get his water, Muffins&#8217; reflective yellow eyes followed him eerily across the room. A sudden, irrational feeling of fear crept into Daniel’s mind. Daniel took a drink and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He froze as he realized something was on his mouth.

Watching Him

It was covered in fur. It was obvious that his cat had been on his mouth. This must have been why he was finding it hard to breathe but what on earth was he doing? 
After the same situation happened again and again, Daniel decided he was going to find out what his cat was doing to him, and why.

Furry Lips

The following morning, as Daniel ate his toast and cereal, he watched Muffins creep around the house. His two girls were playing with him while they watched TV. His youngest, Ella, scooped Muffins up and cuddled him closely. He looked so lovable, cute and harmless but unsurprisingly, Daniel couldn’t let go of this nervous feeling,

Screaming Intuition 

He knew he had to find out what his cat was up to at night So he grabbed his wallet, car keys, kissed his wife goodbye and set off to the store. While driving there, all he could think of was Muffins’ alarming and creepy stare as he watched his every move. He needed some answers, now.

 Race To The Store

“I’m looking for a video camera, please. Preferably one with night vision?” Daniel asks the store worker, who was busy packing another customers&#8217; items. “Sure thing!” The employee replied with a polite smile. She leaves him for a few minutes before coming back with his video camera. He was finally going to get some answers.

Lights, Camera, Action

Daniel sets up the camera before bedtime, making sure to focus the lens on his side of the bed. He noticed Muffins already lingering in the hallway. His green eyes were focused on Daniel’s every move. Daniel gets into bed, kisses his wife goodnight and snuggles into his duvet. Darkness fills the room and he slowly drifts off to sleep, knowing that in the morning he’ll finally have answers.

Goodnight

The following morning Daniel woke up and immediately remembered the camera. He waved goodbye to his kids, who were off to play soccer, and sprinted back upstairs while Muffin continued to watch his every move. He shut the bedroom door, pulled out the memory card from the camera and plugged it into his computer. While he waited for it to load, excitement jolted through his body.

The Morning After

As Daniel pressed play, he clenched his hands. “Time for some answers!”, he whispered. The video showed nothing at first. Just Daniel and his wife tossing and turning in their bed. He fast forwarded the video, until his jaw dropped. Pressing pause, he rewinded the clip to the beginning of the action. Muffins is perched at the end of the bed. Then slowly he makes his way up to Daniel’s mouth, who’s fast asleep. What was he doing?

Pressing Play

“No way!”, shouts Daniel. The video shows Muffins slowly creeping his way closer and closer to Daniel’s face before getting completely comfortable and settling down on top of his nose and mouth. Daniel can’t believe it. All he was doing was lying on his face? This is why he had trouble breathing at night! He hit pause and got up. Then Muffins creeped into the room and Daniel turned to him before cracking a laugh.

Truth Revealed

Daniel goes back downstairs. Over a cup of coffee and freshly toasted bread, Daniel explained everything to his wife. She was equally shocked and amused at Muffins odd behavior. She was also glad that her husband’s health was fine. “That’s one way to show his love,” she joked. “Yeah, I guess it is,” he smirked.

Relief And Humor

As Daniel finished reading his morning newspaper, he heard a meow. He looked down to see Muffins underneath his chair, staring up at him. Daniel put down the newspaper and picked him up. He placed Muffins in his chest while stroking his silky, smooth fur. Muffins looked at his owner and let out a purr. He was exactly where he wanted to be.

Right Where He Wanted To Be

This story just goes to show that our dearly beloved pets really do have a mind of their own! 
And when they want something, whether that’s food, drink, playtime, or in Muffins’ case, cuddles, they’ll stop at absolutely nothing to get it. Even if that may result in choking their owners &#8211; with love of course!

Man Tries To Understand Why Cat Stares At Him While He Sleeps