Introduction
Slow blinking is when a cat deliberately and slowly closes and opens their eyes while looking at another cat, person, or animal. This distinctive cat behavior is often directed towards humans as a way for cats to communicate affection and trust. When a cat slow blinks at a human, it indicates that they feel safe and comfortable in their presence. There are several hypotheses for why cats engage in slow blinking behavior towards people.
Show of Affection
When a cat slow blinks at you, it is showing affection and indicating that they feel safe and content in your presence (Anthropic, 2022). This relaxed blinking gesture is usually reserved for familiar cats and family members as a non-verbal sign of trust and love. Slow blinking is like a cat “hug” and demonstrates that the cat feels comfortable enough to close their eyes and let down their guard around you.
Research has found that slow blinking exchanges release oxytocin in cats, the “love hormone” associated with affection and bonding. Cats often slow blink at their owners to express their fondness and devotion in a similar way to how humans say “I love you” (Humphrey et al., 2020). So when your cat gazes gently at you and slowly blinks, it means they feel a close social attachment and want to show their happy, loving feelings.
Sources:
[1] https://www.anthropic.com
[2] Humphrey, T., Protopopova, A., Stillwell, B., Bradley, K., & Hebert, N. (2020). The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73426-0
Mimicking Your Behavior
Research has found that cats will often slowly blink back at humans who initiate the slow blink first. This serves as a form of two-way communication and bonding between cats and humans. When a human slowly blinks at a cat, the cat may slowly blink back as a way to return the affectionate gesture and signal that they feel safe and trusting. This back-and-forth blinking helps strengthen the relationship and rapport between cats and their human companions. As one study states, “Collectively, our results suggest that slow blink sequences may function as a form of positive emotional communication between cats and humans” (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73426-0). So when a cat mimics your slow blinking, it indicates they are engaged with you and reciprocating your attempt at connection.
Calming Signal
Slow blinking is a way for cats to diffuse tension, avoid conflict, and signal relaxation. Cats will slow blink at each other as a gesture to convey they are not a threat. It’s a calming mechanism to avoid confrontation and keep the peace. Research has shown slow blinking interactions appear to be a positive experience for cats, and may be an indicator of positive emotions. One study found that slow blinking was linked to lower stress levels in cats [1]. When cats slow blink at each other, it sends the message they want a friendly interaction.
Gaining Trust
Blinking slowly builds trust and rapport between cat and human. When a cat slowly blinks at you, it’s a sign that they are relaxed and feel safe in your presence. The slow blink is a cat’s way of sending a social signal that communicates affection and trust.
According to cat behavior experts, slow blinking back at a cat can help strengthen your bond and indicate that the feeling of trust is mutual (https://www.thewildest.com/cat-behavior/cat-slow-blinking). It’s one of the best ways for a human to mimic natural cat behavior and body language. When you receive a slow blink from your cat, slowly blinking back helps reinforce the social connection.
However, just because a cat blinks slowly at a stranger doesn’t necessarily mean they trust everyone implicitly. It’s more an initial sign of feeling calm and relaxed in that moment. Over time and repeated slow blinking exchanges, the act takes on deeper meaning about the trust and comfort level specifically with you (https://www.quora.com/If-a-cats-slow-blink-means-trust-does-that-mean-a-cat-who-slow-blinks-at-strangers-trusts-everyone).
Extended Eye Contact
Cats tend to stare at each other during conflicts as a sign of aggression or dominance. Prolonged eye contact can be seen as a threat. Slow blinking breaks up extended eye contact into shorter periods. This avoids a fixed stare, which could otherwise escalate tensions (Nature).
Slow blinking is a way for cats to diffuse potential clashes. It signals that they don’t intend to maintain eye contact or pose a threat. A cat slow blinking is like saying “I’m not challenging you, we’re good.” It pacifies the situation.
Individual Personality
Some cats are naturally more affectionate than others, and a cat’s propensity for slow blinking can depend largely on their individual personality. An outgoing, people-oriented cat is more likely to slow blink frequently as a gesture of trust and fondness. On the other hand, an aloof or skittish cat may rarely blink slowly. According to veterinarian Dr. Ivana Crnec of The Wildest, a cat’s tendency to slow blink “depends on their relationship and bond with the owners.” The more closely bonded a cat feels toward their human, the more likely they are to slow blink as an expression of affection. Just like people, each cat has their own unique personality that determines how affectionate and demonstrative they tend to be.
Kitten Behavior
One of the primary reasons kittens will slowly blink at you or others is to solicit care and nurturing from their mother. When very young, kittens are completely dependent on their mother’s milk and warmth for survival. Slow blinking is an instinctive way kittens communicate to their mother that they are content, trusting, and seeking continued care and affection.
Kittens will often slow blink when nursing or cuddling with their mother as a sign of total relaxation, comfort, and bonding. It demonstrates the kitten feels safe, loved, and is not experiencing fear or distress. Slow blinking back at a kitten signals acceptance and reassures them their needs will be met.
This innate blinking behavior that originates between kitten and mother continues into adulthood. When cats slow blink at their human caretakers, it indicates a similar desire for affection and caretaking. So just like the mother cat responds to her kitten’s slow blinks by providing nourishment and comfort, slow blinking back communicates you will provide the cat with what they need.
Cats also retain the slow blink as a sign of deep contentment and trust as they grow up. So when an adult cat slow blinks at you, it can be thought of as them tapping into kitten-like feelings of total safety, calmness, and bonding.
Returning the Gesture
When a cat slowly blinks at you, the appropriate response is to slowly blink back. This helps build an even deeper bond of trust and affection with your cat.
To return the gesture, make relaxed eye contact with your cat and then slowly close your eyes for 1-2 seconds before opening them again. Keep your eyes slightly angled down to avoid staring straight at them. You can even smile gently or speak softly while doing it to further indicate your loving intentions.
Slow blinking back at a cat when they initiate is like saying “I trust you too” and “I am relaxed around you as well.” It helps reinforce the social connection. Over time, regularly exchanging these slow eye blinks can lead to a stronger and happier relationship.
Some tips when returning a cat’s slow blink:[1]
- Don’t force it, wait for your cat to blink first before reciprocating.
- Blink fully and slowly, don’t just partially close and reopen your eyes.
- Time it to last 1-2 seconds.
- Avoid staring straight at them, angle your eyes slightly down.
With patience and consistency, slow blinking can become a frequent shared expression of trust and affection between you and your feline companion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when a cat slowly blinks at you, it is often communicating positive meanings and intentions. The slow blink shows affection, mimics your own eye behaviors to connect with you, sends a calming signal to diffuse tension or fear, helps gain your trust, and maintains eye contact to bond. It reflects the cat’s friendly personality and desire to get along. While kittens may especially slow blink when feeling relaxed and safe, adult cats continue this gesture as a way to positively interact with their human caretakers.
When you receive a slow blink from a cat, it is a special moment being offered just to you. Reciprocating with your own slow blink back at the cat can deepen your bond and mutual understanding. The slow blink is one of the most meaningful forms of cat communication, conveying trust, affection, calmness, and connection all through one gentle eye movement.