Want to make your cat like you more? It turns out that just one small action can increase your chances of becoming good friends with your feline companion. A 2020 study from the University of Sussex in the UK discovered that slow blinking at cats helps them feel relaxed and more willing to interact with you.
This slow blink is like a human smile for cats—it is a non-threatening, even friendly expression. The research team designed two experiments to explore this behavior.
Experiment 1: Owners Slow Blink at Their Cats
The researchers visited 14 households and observed 21 cats. When the cats were calm, their owners sat about one meter away and slowly blinked at them. The results showed that cats often returned the slow blink, and this interaction was more noticeable than when owners simply sat silently without interacting. This suggests cats recognize and respond positively to slow blinking from their owners.
Experiment 2: Strangers Try Slow Blinking
In the second experiment, 24 cats were approached by unfamiliar researchers who slowly blinked at them while extending a hand to interact. Not only did the cats often blink back, but some even approached the researchers' hands, indicating trust and affection. Conversely, when researchers just stared directly at the cats without blinking, the cats tended to show avoidance behaviors. This confirms that slow blinking effectively breaks down barriers between cats and humans.
Why Do Cats Like Slow Blinking?
Scientists are not completely sure why cats prefer slow blinking, but one theory is that direct staring makes cats feel threatened or stressed. Slow blinking may be a way for cats to communicate "I mean no harm." Another possibility is that cats have learned this gentle interaction style from humans and evolved to reciprocate it.
Expert Insights
Tasmin Humphrey, a psychologist at the University of Sussex and lead author of the study, explains that this discovery not only helps us understand cats better but could also inspire further research into how cats perceive human emotions and behaviors. "We hope more people will try to understand cats instead of just saying they are hard to get along with," she said.
How to Try This Yourself
Next time you visit a cat café or meet a stray cat, don't rush to pet it or stare intensely. Instead, try slowly blinking your eyes at the cat—narrow your eyes as if smiling softly, then close them gently for a couple of seconds. You might just start a silent conversation and build a new friendship.
