Felines are often perceived as independent creatures, sometimes even distant. However, if your connection with your companion cat isn’t as strong as you’d like, the disconnect might stem from a failure to communicate effectively in their preferred language.
Worry not, as scientific inquiry suggests fostering this understanding is remarkably straightforward. The key lies in adopting a specific feline-inspired “smile”—not the human baring of teeth, but a gentle narrowing of the eyes accompanied by slow blinks.
Through observational studies of cat-human interactions conducted in 2020, researchers established that this simple non-verbal cue significantly increases the likelihood of both familiar and unfamiliar cats approaching and engaging with people.
“As an animal behaviorist and a cat owner, it’s gratifying to confirm that cats and humans can indeed establish this form of mutual communication,” stated Karen McComb, a psychologist at the University of Sussex, upon the study’s release.
“This is something many cat custodians had intuitively felt, so it’s thrilling to have empirical validation for it.”
A concise overview of these findings is presented in the video below.
Anyone who has spent time observing felines will likely recognize their characteristic “half-closed eye” expression, often paired with slow blinking. This behavior mirrors the way human eyes soften during a smile and typically indicates a state of relaxation and contentment in cats. This expression is widely interpreted as a feline equivalent of a smile.
Personal accounts from cat owners have suggested that humans can reciprocate this gesture to convey a sense of friendliness and openness to interaction. To rigorously investigate this hypothesis, a team of psychologists undertook two distinct experimental procedures.
The initial experiment involved a cohort of 21 cats drawn from 14 different domestic settings. Once each feline was comfortably settled in its familiar environment, its owner was instructed to position themselves approximately one meter away and engage in slow blinking whenever the cat directed its gaze towards them.
Both the owner’s and the cat’s facial expressions were meticulously recorded by cameras, and the resulting data was then compared against baseline blinking patterns observed in the absence of human interaction.
The analysis revealed a significant finding: cats were considerably more prone to reciprocating slow blinks towards their owners following their owners’ initiated slow blinks, in contrast to the control condition where no human interaction occurred.
The subsequent experiment involved 24 cats from eight separate households. In this phase, the slow-blinking initiator was not the familiar owner but rather the researchers, who had no prior relationship with the animals. For comparative purposes, the cats’ responses were also recorded under a no-blink condition, where humans maintained direct, unblinking eye contact.
Researchers replicated the slow-blinking protocol from the first experiment, additionally extending a hand towards the cat. The findings indicated that not only did the cats exhibit a greater tendency to blink back, but they were also more inclined to approach the offered hand subsequent to the human’s slow blink.
“Our research represents the inaugural experimental examination of the role slow blinking plays in cat-human communication,” McComb elaborated.
“This is a practice that can be readily implemented by cat owners with their pets or even with unfamiliar felines encountered outdoors. It offers an excellent avenue for strengthening the bond between humans and cats.
“Attempt to gently narrow your eyes, akin to a relaxed smile, followed by a deliberate closure of your eyes for a brief duration. You’ll likely observe a reciprocal response from them, initiating a unique form of dialogue.”
While dogs are often more outwardly expressive, this revelation comes as no surprise to seasoned cat enthusiasts. Recent research consistently demonstrates that our feline companions possess a deeper level of attunement to their human housemates than was previously understood, rendering direct comparisons with canines potentially misleading.
For instance, cats exhibit reciprocal behavior towards humans who are receptive to them; therefore, if you perceive cats as reserved, the challenge may lie in your own approach, rather than any inherent trait of the feline.
Furthermore, cats often mirror the personality characteristics of the individuals they cohabitate with. This phenomenon may offer insight into why cats appear to detect when their human companions are experiencing sadness.
Additionally, they possess the cognitive ability to recognize their names, though they frequently choose to disregard them. The depth of their attachments to their human caretakers is also surprisingly profound.
The exact reasons behind cats’ slow blinking towards humans remain somewhat elusive. One prevailing interpretation suggests it serves as a method of signaling non-threatening intentions, as prolonged, unbroken stares are generally perceived as confrontational by felines. However, it is also plausible that cats evolved this behavior in response to positive human reactions. In the context of domesticated species interactions, disentangling cause and effect can be complex.
Regardless of the precise origin, this behavior demonstrably facilitates the establishment of rapport. Understanding this dynamic is highly beneficial. Enhancing our ability to connect with these enigmatic animals can contribute to their emotional well-being, not only within the confines of the home but also across various potentially stressful scenarios.
“Illuminating the positive avenues of interaction between cats and humans can foster greater public comprehension of feline behavior, improve the welfare of cats, and deepen our understanding of the socio-cognitive capabilities of this less-studied species,” remarked Tasmin Humphrey, a psychologist affiliated with the University of Sussex.
“The insights gained from our findings could potentially be applied to the assessment of feline welfare in diverse environments, including veterinary clinics and animal shelters.”
One can surmise you’re eager to put this into practice immediately, can’t you?
The research underpinning these insights was formally published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.
