If your cat looks at you and slowly closes their eyes, take it as a compliment. Cat people have long called this a cat kiss, and in 2020 a team of researchers finally put it to the test.
What A Slow Blink Looks Like
A slow blink is a series of half-blinks that ends with the eyes narrowed for a moment or fully closed. It can look as if your cat is dozing off, but watch closely and you’ll often see it happen while they are looking right at you.
What The Researchers Found
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, ran two experiments in cats’ own homes.
In the first, owners sat about a meter from their cat and slow blinked. The 21 cats, from 14 homes, narrowed their eyes and half-blinked more when their owners did this than when nobody interacted with them.
In the second, a stranger did the blinking. The 24 cats were more likely to walk over to that person after a slow blink than after a neutral face.
The researchers were careful about what this means. They concluded that slow blinking may work as a form of positive communication between cats and people. They also pointed out that narrowed eyes show up in happy expressions in other animals, and in a genuine human smile. So “I love you” is our translation, not theirs. But it’s a friendly signal, and your cat seems to notice when you send it back.
How To Try It Tonight
- Wait for a calm moment, when your cat is settled and not busy with food or play.
- Sit about a meter away, where they can see your face.
- Soften your face and narrow your eyes, then close them for a couple of seconds.
- Open them slowly and look a little to one side, so it doesn’t feel like a stare.
- Wait. Some cats answer right away, and some take their time.
If Your Cat Doesn’t Blink Back
That doesn’t mean your cat doesn’t care. These were small studies, and not every cat responds in the same way. A cat might show trust by sleeping near you or by rubbing against your legs instead.
It costs nothing to try, and it’s a nice way to tell a cat you’re no threat, especially a shy one who is still making up their mind about you.
