Researchers at universities in England think slow-blinking at your cat, who might respond in kind, could be a way to get them to warm up to you. Exchanging slow blinks—blinking your eyes for half a second or more—gives you and your feline buddy a special way to communicate.
New research suggests cats like it when humans blink at them — and they might blink back in response. Psychologists at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth conducted an experiment with 21 cats and 14 cat owners to see how cats respond to slow blinking in humans.
Cats are stereotyped as being more aloof and independent than other pets. So you may not believe you need to work on improving your relationship with your cat. Now, according to a new study, you can bond with your feline by just narrowing your eyes and blinking slowly.
According to Science Alert, people may have finally learned how to “smile” at house cats. “By observing cat-human interactions, scientists were able to confirm that [narrowing your eyes and blinking slowly] makes cats—both familiar and strange—approach and be receptive to humans,” the article said.
To cats, slow blinking is a form of smiling, and solicits happy, positive emotions. The researchers found that a cat will respond to a human's slow blink with a slow blink of their own, and is more likely to approach an unfamiliar person who is slow blinking at them.
It's been interpreted as a means of signalling benign intentions, since cats are thought to interpret unbroken staring as threatening. But it's also possible that cats developed the expression since humans respond positively to it. With domesticated animals, it's often impossible to tell.
To cats, a direct stare paired with other aggressive body language can sometimes seem like a challenge to them. This is why cats avert their gaze to show you that they trust you and know you aren't a threat to them.
The slow blink and wink is thought to be a cat's way of smiling at you or showing their love. Cat's slow blink and wink to show that they're happy and also that they trust you. However, if your cat is staring at you without blinking, it's a sign that they may need some space.
In a two-way food selection situation, cats followed a human gaze (with a head movement) in about 70% of the trials. In the condition for selecting one of two food bowls, cats also followed the movements of humans, not just their gaze.
Eye Blink Kitty Kisses
The eye blink is another way that non-aggressive cats signal that their intentions are not hostile. Cats blink at each other, as well as at the humans they trust, with a slow eye blink "cat kiss." Kitties that use this non-threat signal are able to smooth their interactions with other cats.
Staring is a sign of aggression. Never forget that your cute, furry friend is one of he world's most efficient predators. Don't make him angry!
Cat owners are often encouraged to slowly blink or wink their eyes (e.g. sleepy eyes) when directly looking toward their cats. This sends a message that you are not a threat and they should not be alarmed. However, cats always prefer their owners using their peripheral vision to look at them rather than a direct gaze.
Your Cat Stares at You to Show Affection
Cats can use staring as a nonverbal way of communicating. Even though a long, unblinking stare may not be the best way for humans to show affection, when your fur baby does this, it may mean they're showing love to their favourite owner.
As well as being a method of communication, staring is also a sign of a close bond between you and your cat, as they are unlikely to hold eye contact with someone they don't like or trust.
Direct eye contact
Cats can find direct eye contact quite threatening. They wouldn't look another cat straight in the face unless they were fixing for a fight. When your cat's relaxed, they might look at you with a peaceful gaze or half closed eyes. A “slow blink” is your cat's way of saying they love you.
Our cats treat us as equals as opposed to a totally different species. According to recent studies, dogs behave differently around humans than they do other dogs. This clearly indicates that dogs view humans as different from themselves. However, cats treat humans the same as they treat other cats.
Unfortunately, your cat sees your pet-owner relationship much differently, according to the new book Cat Sense by English biologist Dr. John Bradshaw. It actually thinks you're a “larger, non-hostile” cat.
They love spending time with you!
If your kitty loves to lounge around with you and seems relaxed in your company, this is a good sign that they trust you. If cats feel worried or uncomfortable in a situation then they are likely to go and hide, so if your cat is happy to spend time with you it's a good sign!
One simple way to know if your cat trusts you is if her tail stands straight up, especially when she sees you or walks toward you. Some cat experts consider it to be a “thumbs up” in cat lingo. If the tail quivers slightly, it's even more indication that the cat has positive feelings toward you.
“The slow blink is a demonstration of eye contact without staring, and we interpret this behavior as a sign of relaxation and trust. Some might call that love.” Think of it this way: If a cat closes its eyes around like it's falling asleep, it's signaling that it doesn't view you as a threat.
If your cat isn't answering when you call them, it could simply be because they are comfortable where they are and see no compelling reason to come. Mother cats typically only call their young only when there is danger. Your cat could be comfortable enough with you to ignore your calls as those of a worrying parent.
Squinted or half-closed eyes are a sign of affection, relaxation and trust. If a cat looks like they're about to fall asleep, they're relaxed and they trust you. Also, they're probably about to fall asleep. Fun fact: Cats also use their eyes to establish the pecking order.
Many cats will choose to ignore something they perceive as a threat, or that they are stressed by. If you have punished or swatted your cat in the past, or even yelled at them, they may now see you as a potential threat. Your cat doesn't know if your intentions are good or bad, so they try to ignore you.