What Are Cat Eye Kisses?
Cat eye kisses refer to when a cat slowly blinks or winks at a person. The name comes from the shape their eyes make when partially closed – the pupils create an oval shape resembling a cat’s eye.
When a cat stares at a person and blinks slowly or closes their eyes halfway, it’s a sign of affection and trust. This type of gaze and eye contact is sometimes called a “cat kiss” since it’s a cat’s way of expressing love and connection. According to one study on cat behavior, slow blinking shows contentment and can be a signal that a cat wants to socialize with another cat or human (source).
So when your cat gives you cat eye kisses, it means they feel calm and comfortable around you. It’s a form of cat communication and bonding. Returning the gaze and slow blinks lets your cat know the feeling is mutual.
The Cat Eye Shape
Cat eyes have a distinctive shape, with pupils that are elongated and vertical slits rather than round circles. This unique shape is one of the most identifiable characteristics of cat eyes.
When a person makes a cat eye kiss, they pucker their lips into an oval shape that mimics the oval/almond shape of a cat’s eye. Just as a cat’s pupil becomes more vertically elongated in bright light or when a cat is startled or excited, the cat eye kissing shape captures this narrow, feline look.
Cats’ slit-shaped pupils relate to their predatory instincts and ability to see well in low light conditions. The vertically elongated pupil gives cats excellent peripheral vision for hunting. At the same time, the slit pupil can open very wide to let in more light (https://www.comfortzone.com/behavior-blog/cat-behavior/cat-eye-meaning).
When people make the cat eye kiss shape, they are trying to evoke this characteristic catlike appearance – narrowed eyes, excellent vision, and a penetrating gaze. It’s meant to look coy yet exotic and mysterious.
How to Do a Cat Eye Kiss
To create a cat eye kiss, start by pursing your lips together into an “O” shape. This mimics the shape of a cat’s eyes when they are content or expressing affection. Then, place your puckered lips gently against the cheek, forehead, or other part of your partner’s face that you are kissing. The key is to keep your lips in the tight “O” shape rather than pressing them fully against the skin. This creates the appearance of two cat eyes touching the recipient’s face. You can vary the pressure and technique, but maintaining the circular shape with your lips is the core component for making cat eye kisses.
The lip technique is essential for the cat eye effect. Pressing your lips fully flat or into a pout will not achieve the right look. Keep them pursed in a tight round shape, like a smooching fish face. You can vary the size of the “O” based on personal preference and what feels comfortable. Practice the lip position in a mirror first if necessary to perfect the technique. With a bit of practice, making consistent cat eyes with your lips should become second nature.
When making contact with the receiving face, avoid excessive pressure or movement. Gently place your “O” lips onto the desired spot like a cat’s soft touch. You can make static contact and hold briefly, or give a series of blink-like pecks. The lightness keeps it feeling affectionate versus sloppy. For additional nuances, try adding little licks with the tip of your tongue against the recipient’s skin during the kisses.
With the right pucker and technique, delivering cute cat eye kisses to show affection is easy. The key is focusing on and maintaining that signature “O” shape with your lips to mimic a cat’s loving gaze.
Cat Eye Kisses in Pop Culture
Cat eye kisses have become a fun and playful gesture in pop culture. Here are some examples of cat eye kisses in movies, TV shows, and celebrity culture:
In the movie The Princess Diaries 2, Anne Hathaway’s character Mia performs an exaggerated cat eye kiss for the camera. This scene shows Mia goofing around and poking fun at the silly romantic gesture.
On the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Khloe Kardashian was known for giving cat eye kisses to the camera and blowing kisses during confessionals and interviews. Her cat eye kisses became a signature move and a cute way for her to interact with viewers.
Pop singer Ariana Grande is also a fan of the cat eye and has shared photos and videos of herself doing cat eye kisses on social media. Given her love of cats, a cat eye kiss suits her flirty and playful image.
The cat eye kiss is a flirty, cute gesture that celebrities and entertainers have adopted as a signature move or fun way to engage with audiences. As a lighthearted kiss, it often shows up in comedic or light-hearted situations in movies, TV, and celebrity media.
The Meaning and Symbolism of Cat Eye Kisses
Cat eye kisses often convey a sense of trust, affection, and contentment. When a cat slowly blinks at a human, it is communicating that it feels safe and calm in their presence. This type of blink is sometimes referred to as a “kitty kiss” and seen as a cat’s way of saying “I love you.”
According to research, a cat’s slow blink is a social signaling behavior. Cats use slow blinks to communicate with each other, expressing benign intentions. When directed at humans, it signals that the cat is relaxed and trusts the person. The slow blink is like a cat’s version of a kiss or hug.
Some experts also believe a cat’s slow blink indicates a lack of threat or aggression. Wide-open, staring eyes can signify fear, defensiveness, or impending attack. A slow blink instead conveys a friendly and calm disposition. So when a cat blinks slowly at its owner, it is essentially saying “We’re cool” and “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Beyond the meaning of affection and trust, a cat’s slow blink may also represent contentment and happiness. As solitary and aloof as cats can seem, they are social animals that bond closely with their human and animal companions. A cat eye kiss is one way they non-verbally communicate those bonds of friendship and intimacy.
How Cat Eye Kisses Differ from Other Kisses
Cat eye kisses are a unique way that cats show affection. Unlike many other types of kisses, cat eye kisses are completely non-contact. When a cat gives an eye kiss, it slowly blinks at another cat, human, or animal companion. This is very different from other kisses that involve physical touch or contact between two parties.
Cat kisses with contact involve actions like nose touching, head bumping, face rubbing, and licking. With cat eye kisses, the cat simply looks at the recipient of the kiss and blinks slowly. There is no direct physical contact. The communication is primarily visual.
Human kisses involve pressed lips and range from brief pecks to longer, more passionate kisses. Dogs and some other animals “kiss” humans by licking. Cat eye kisses stand out as affectionate gestures that rely solely on eye contact and blinking.
While human kisses are often reciprocal, cat eye kisses are mostly one-directional. The cat blinks at the recipient, but the recipient does not typically blink back in the same way. This makes cat eye kisses unique non-verbal signals that require no action in return.
Overall, the lack of physical closeness or touch is what most distinguishes cat eye kisses from other forms of kisses between humans, cats, and other animals. It is a gentle, non-invasive way for cats to communicate fondness.
Pros and Cons of Cat Eye Kisses
Cat eye kisses have several advantages but also some potential drawbacks to consider:
Pros:
- A cat eye kiss is a clear sign of trust, affection and bonding between a cat and its owner, according to this article.
- Receiving a cat eye kiss from your cat shows they feel safe and relaxed around you.
- Cat eye kisses demonstrate the emotional connection you share with your feline friend.
- These slow eye blinks are a form of cat communication and help strengthen your relationship.
Cons:
- Not all cats give cat eye kisses, some show affection in other ways.
- It can take time and trust building before a cat feels comfortable enough to give you an eye kiss.
- If you try to force a cat to give you a kitty kiss, it may have the opposite effect.
- Some cats rarely or never give eye kisses, even to owners they are bonded with.
Overall, cat eye kisses are a positive sign of trust and bonding when they occur naturally. But each cat shows affection differently, so don’t worry if your cat isn’t inclined to give out kitty kisses.
Do People Enjoy Cat Eye Kisses?
Cat eye kisses are generally received positively by humans, as they convey affection and trust from the cat. According to Inverse, research has shown that when a cat slowly blinks at a human, it is a sign that the cat feels safe and content around that person. The slow blink is thought to mimic the type of eye contact cats make with each other as a friendly greeting. Inverse notes that humans subconsciously understand this gesture, even if they are not consciously aware of the meaning behind it.
Many cat owners report feeling happy and loved when their cat gives them an affectionate slow blink. As The Spruce Pets explains, while an unbroken staredown is seen as aggressive in the cat world, slow blinking breaks the eye contact just long enough to avoid confrontation but still convey affection. Humans tend to enjoy this gesture from their cats as it makes them feel bonded and trusted. There are even reports on Reddit threads of people feeling disappointed when their cat does not return a slow blink. Overall, when cats bestow these cat kisses on their human companions, the humans perceive it as a sign of affection to be treasured.
Tips for Cat Eye Kisses
Executing a successful cat eye kiss requires understanding cat behavior and body language. Here are some tips for sharing this special blink with your feline friend:
First, make sure your cat is relaxed and comfortable. Try sitting or lying down at your cat’s level and avoiding direct eye contact at first, which can seem confrontational. Wait for your cat to make eye contact with you before attempting the slow blink.
When your cat is looking at you, slowly blink your eyes closed for a second or two, then open them again. Don’t break eye contact during the blink. Repeat this a few times, pausing in between. This mimics your cat’s own blinking patterns and tells them you come in peace.
Be patient. It may take a few tries over multiple occasions before your cat returns the gesture. Let them set the pace. Never force interaction or restrain your cat to make them accept a kiss.
Pay attention to your cat’s body language. Relaxed eyes, ears, and posture signal acceptance. Tense muscles, swishing tail, or breaking eye contact suggest discomfort. Respect their boundaries if they seem uninterested.
Make sure young children understand proper technique before attempting cat eye kisses. Supervise all interactions to ensure gentle handling.
While a cat kiss may seem minor, respecting your cat’s signals builds trust between you. With time and consistency, they may return your blinks, deepening the bond you share.
The History and Origins of Cat Eye Kisses
The origins of cat eye kisses can be traced back to cat behavior and communication. Cats tend to blink slowly at each other as a friendly greeting or sign of trust and affection (1). This type of blinking is thought to mimic natural cat behavior between a mother cat and her kittens. Mother cats will slowly blink at their kittens as a way to reassure them and say “I love you.” The kittens often return the slow blink as a sign of trust in their mother (2).
Domesticated cats seem to have adapted this behavior to communicate affection and trust towards their human owners as well. When a cat slowly blinks at a human, it’s communicating a sense of calmness, love and friendship. According to animal behaviorists, slow blinking demonstrates that the cat feels safe and relaxed around that person (1). So when your cat stares at you with wide open eyes and then slowly closes and opens its eyes, it’s basically saying “I trust you” or “I love you.”
This type of cat communication and bonding behavior has been known anecdotally for a long time, but scientific research has backed it up more recently. A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports confirmed that cats use slow blinking to communicate positive emotions in their relationships with humans (2). So when you return your cat’s slow blink with your own cat eye kiss, you’re strengthening that bond.