STUDY REVEALS A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CAT

Cats may have a reputation for being aloof (and irresistibly floofy), but if you feel like you’re not connecting with your feline friend, you might just be speaking the wrong language.

Good news: research from 2020 suggests there’s an easy way to build a better bond—just blink at them. But not just any blink. You need to do it the cat way: slowly, with partially closed eyes, like a relaxed smile.

Scientists at the University of Sussex observed that when humans slow-blink at cats, the cats are more likely to respond in kind and approach them—whether they’re familiar with the person or not.

“As both a cat owner and someone who studies animal behaviour, it’s exciting to confirm what many cat owners already suspected,” said psychologist Karen McComb. “Cats and humans can communicate this way.”

If you’ve ever seen a cat slowly close its eyes while lounging, you’ve witnessed the feline version of a smile. It’s usually a sign the cat feels safe and content—and it turns out, cats seem to respond positively when humans mimic this gesture.

To test the theory, researchers ran two experiments. In the first, cat owners slow-blinked at their pets from about a meter away while being filmed. The results showed that cats were significantly more likely to slow-blink back, compared to when there was no interaction.

The second experiment involved unfamiliar humans—researchers who hadn’t met the cats before. Again, the humans either slow-blinked or stared without blinking, then offered a hand. Cats were more likely to blink back and approach the person after the slow blink, confirming its role in nonverbal bonding.

“This is the first experimental evidence that slow blinking helps strengthen human-cat communication,” McComb said. “You can try it at home or even with cats you meet outside—it’s a great way to start a little conversation.”

Though dogs are often more demonstrative, cat lovers won’t be surprised by this. Studies increasingly show that cats are more attuned to their humans than we once thought. They mirror our personalities, recognize their names (even if they don’t act like it), and respond to people who are receptive to them. So if a cat seems cold to you… well, it might be personal.

Why cats slow-blink is still unclear. It may be a way of signalling peaceful intent—since unblinking stares are often seen as a threat. Or it could be something they’ve learned because humans respond well to it. Like much about feline behaviour, it’s a little mysterious.

Still, this simple gesture seems to help strengthen the bond between cats and humans. And that could have real benefits—not just at home, but in places like shelters or veterinary clinics, where cats often experience stress.

“Understanding how cats and humans positively interact can improve public perceptions of cats, enhance their welfare, and give us insight into their social intelligence,” said Tasmin Humphrey, a psychologist on the research team.

So, go on—give your cat a slow blink. They just might blink back.

And yes, you’re probably trying it already.