The cat blinks slowly. What does it mean?

Cat owners are accustomed to the strange behavior of their pets, such as a sudden sharp sprint to the other side of the room. But what about less common cat behaviors like slow blinking? What does it say?

What does slow blinking mean

Animal behavior experts suggest that slow blinking is a way for a cat to communicate to its family that it feels safe. According to an interview with veterinarian Gary Weitzman, author of How to Talk to a Cat: A Guide to Cat Language Deciphering, slow blinking is indeed a gesture of acceptance. Pets do this when they feel absolutely comfortable.

If the cat lovingly looks into the owner’s eyes and blinks slowly, he is lucky. Although slow blinking may seem ominous, but with the help of this code, the cat says to the owner: “You are my whole world!”

Slow blinking should be thought of as the “butterfly kiss” of the cat world. That is, if a person gently strokes his eyelashes on the cheek of another person to express his love for him, then the cat gently flutters his eyelashes, looking at the owner. Friends cats can also blink slowly at each other, as if to say, “We’re fine.”

Why do cats blink slowly

The myth that cats do not show their affection for people is quite persistent. Although millions of stories, videos and photos of cats prove otherwise. Some cats may indeed be less affectionate in appearance than other pets, but they do know how to express their feelings. You just need to know what to look for and understand the body language of a furry pet. For example, stomping is a common way for cats to show their love. Now you can add slow blinking to this list.

This behavior is a more subtle way for a furry pet to say “I love you” to its owner, and a gesture that can be returned. The “Cat Blinks Back” signal was included in the Best Friends Animal Society’s list of body language signals that show a cat’s relaxed state or curiosity.

The Science of Cat Mimicry

A study published in The Journal of Physiology notes that a cat’s slow blink is when both the closing and opening of the eyelids occurs at a slow pace. It differs in speed from the typical feline blink, when the eyelid closes quickly and opens slowly. This shows that slow blinking is not a reflexive movement, but a deliberate behavior. 

In an article published by the American Association of Cat Practitioners, licensed veterinarian Ellen M. Carozza writes that among the animals she sees in her office, it is the “confident happy cat” that will blink slowly and expect you to blink in answer. The slow blinking of a cat, which can seem like a very mysterious phenomenon, is just one of the many ways an animal draws attention to itself.

Even if the owner loses the first-blink game every time, there are plenty of opportunities to express mutual affection. There are so many ways to say “I love you” to your furry friend!