A recent study revealed a simple method for humans to enhance communication with their feline companions: slow blinking. According to CNN, scientists confirmed that when a person narrows their eyes and blinks slowly, cats become more receptive and are more likely to approach them.
The research, published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, showed that cat communication is not as complicated as it seems. A team of psychologists designed two experiments to determine whether cats behave differently toward humans who blink slowly.
In the first experiment, cat owners were tasked with slowly blinking at 21 cats from 14 different households while the cats were in a comfortable environment. The results showed that cats were more likely to blink slowly toward humans after the humans blinked at them, compared to the condition without interaction.
The second experiment involved 24 cats from eight different households. This time, it was the researchers, not the owners, who blinked slowly at the cats. They found that cats were not only more likely to blink back but also more likely to approach the human's hand after the human blinked.
Karen McComb, a psychologist from the University of Sussex, stated that cats can communicate with humans through slow blinking, making them warmer and more affectionate. "As a psychologist who has studied animal behavior and also as a cat owner, it's wonderful to be able to prove that cats and humans can communicate in this way," McComb said.
The behavior of cats partially closing their eyes and blinking slowly usually occurs when the cat feels relaxed and content, which experts interpret as a kind of cat smile. This gesture is similar to how humans close their eyes when they smile. The cat's facial expression of partially closing its eyes accompanied by slow blinking is akin to a human's squinting when smiling.
Researchers interpret the cat's smile as a way to signal goodwill, as cats are thought to interpret unbroken staring as a threat. By mimicking this slow blinking, humans can appear less threatening and more approachable to cats.
"Many cat lovers have suspected this for a long time, so it is exciting to find scientific confirmation," McComb added. "This is something you can try yourself with your cat at home or with cats you meet on the street. It's a great way to enhance the bond you have with cats."
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq