“Slow blink” is a term used by veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and pet owners to describe when a cat's eyes open and close slowly and repeatedly. Slow blinks often occur when your cat is looking at you serenely.
Cats blink slowly only with their most trusted family members, so it's a sign of a strong bond between cat and pet parent.
Key takeaways
- Slow cat blinking occurs when a cat slowly closes and opens its eyes while looking at someone it trusts.
- Slow, intentional blinking is a common sign that your cat is happy and loves you.
- Slowly blinking at your cat can strengthen your bond.
What does a cat's slow blinks mean?
Slow blinking is a means of positive emotional communication that cats use to interact with humans. This means that cats will only blink slowly when they feel comfortable and close to someone.
Your cat trusts you
Cats are prey-predators, meaning they hunt smaller prey in the wild, but are also hunted by larger predators. For this reason, they are naturally wary animals, so turning a blind eye can put them at risk of being attacked by letting their guard down.
Cats will simply close their eyes and narrow their field of vision around someone they know is safe and won't harm them. It's basically a way for cats to say, “I love you.”
Your cat is not a threat
When a cat's eyes are wide open and staring, it's a signal that many other cats find threatening. For example, some cats blink slowly at humans, dogs, and other cats to indicate that they are not a danger.
Cats will only blink slowly when they feel comfortable and close to someone.
Is it good for cats to blink slowly?
Yes, blinking slowly is a great way to bond with your cat.
Cats not only engage in slow blinking behavior when they feel relaxed and satisfied, but they answer to slow down the blinking of other family members, such as humans and other cats.
In fact, a 2020 study found that cats were more likely to approach people who blinked slowly than those who kept a straight face.
Slowly blinking at your cat shows him that you are a safe person he can trust. Slow blinks are also a great tool for initiating other bonding activities, like playing, petting, and grooming.
Other Ways to Respond to a Slowly Blinking Cat
While slowly blinking at your cat is the easiest way to respond in the moment, it's not the only way you can choose to respond.
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Caress: If your cat approaches you after blinking slowly, you can hold out your hand for him to sniff. If your cat hits your hand with its head, it means it would like to be a pet. You can start with light scratches on the chin and slowly move on to other areas of their body depending on their preferences, which may vary from cat to cat.
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Talk: You can also speak to your cat in a calm, soft, slightly higher pitched voice while he blinks slowly. This type of talk can be calming for cats.
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Grooming: A slow, relaxed blink can indicate that it's a good time to brush your cat. Grooming not only keeps a cat's coat healthy and free of tangles, but it is also a way to bond with your pet, as closely bonded cats often groom each other as part of their social interaction.
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Reinforcement: You may even consider strengthening your cat's slow blinking with clicker training. Use a clicker, like the Frisco Pet Training Clicker, and cat treats every time they blink slowly. Positive reinforcement creates an even stronger association between slow blinking and a positive state of mind, so you can know with even more certainty that when your cat blinks slowly, she is truly happy.
