BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
Cat lovers, rejoice! If you’ve ever wished your feline friend would be a little more affectionate, science has a simple solution—just blink slowly. According to a 2020 study, narrowing your eyes and giving a relaxed slow blink at your cat is the key to unlocking their trust and affection.
“It’s something that many cat owners had already suspected, so it’s exciting to have found evidence for it,” says Karen McComb, a psychologist from the University of Sussex and one of the researchers behind the study.
So, if you’ve been wondering how to get your aloof kitty to warm up to you, it’s time to start blinking.
Why do cats blink slowly?
If you’ve ever caught your cat narrowing their eyes and blinking at you slowly, it’s not just drowsiness—it’s actually a sign of trust. This expression, often referred to as the cat smile, occurs when felines are feeling relaxed and content.
McComb’s study confirmed what many cat owners already suspected: humans can mimic this expression to communicate that they are friendly and open to interaction.
The study: how scientists uncovered the power of the slow blink
To put this theory to the test, researchers conducted two experiments to see how cats responded to slow-blinking humans.
- In the first experiment, cat owners were instructed to sit one meter away from their cat and give them a slow blink when the cat was looking at them. The cats were far more likely to return the blink when their humans initiated it.
- In the second experiment, researchers who had no prior contact with the cats performed the same slow-blinking technique—this time, extending a hand towards the cat after blinking. Not only did the cats blink back, but they were more likely to approach the researcher’s hand, showing a greater level of trust.
“This study is the first to experimentally investigate the role of slow blinking in cat-human communication,”McComb says. “It’s a great way of enhancing the bond you have with cats.”
How to slow blink at your cat (and win them over)
Ready to put science to the test? Here’s how you can try the slow blink technique at home (or even with a stranger’s cat):
- Relax and make eye contact with your cat (but don’t stare aggressively—cats interpret prolonged staring as a threat!).
- Narrow your eyes as if you are giving a soft, relaxed smile.
- Slowly close your eyes for a couple of seconds, then open them again gently.
- Wait for your cat’s response. If they return in the slow blink, congratulations! You’ve just started a conversation in cat language.
Why this matters: improving cat-human relationships
Beyond just strengthening your bond with your pet, understanding feline body language has broader implications. Cats are often misunderstood, and research is showing that they are far more attuned to human emotions and behavior than previously believed.
- Cats mirror the personality of their owners.
- They recognize their names (even if they pretend not to!).
- They sense human emotions and respond accordingly.
Understanding positive ways to interact with cats can be transformational—especially for cats in shelters or veterinary clinics, where stress levels are high.
“Our findings could potentially be used to assess the welfare of cats in a variety of settings, including veterinary practices and shelters,” says psychologist Tasmin Humphrey from the University of Sussex.
The bottom line? start blinking!
Dogs may be the gold standard for demonstrative pets, but cats have their own way of showing affection—and now we know how to speak their language. If you’ve ever thought a cat was ignoring you, try slow blinking instead. You might just get a blink back—and maybe even a cuddle.
Source study: Scientific Reports—The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication
