Ben Madilynn
CATS have gained an unfair reputation for being standoffish, especially when compared with other mammals. It has led to many who love cats or interact with them making it their mission to seek the ultimate key to unlocking kitty camaraderie.
Some research suggests that to win a cat over, one must master the art of the slow blink. Is this the purr-fect way to a cat’s cautious heart?
Verdict:
TRUE
Don’t fret! Earning a cat’s trust isn’t hard, but it can require patience.
If you find your feline friend a little hard to bond with, maybe you’re just not smiling enough. Yes, smiling. Not the human way, the cat way – narrow your eyes and blink slowly.
By observing cat-human interactions, scientists confirmed that this expression makes cats approach and receptive to humans.
Cats find direct staring threatening so by slowly blinking, we can convey we are not a threat. The slow blink should be nice and subtle, ideally with the glance directed slightly past the cat rather than directly at it.
The study also shows that slow-blinking at cats is also a good way to get them to repeat the blink back to you, even if you’re not familiar with the cat.
When a cat feels safe and trusts their environment (including you), they’ll relax their eyes, slowly closing them or squinting.
Wondering how to slow-blink effectively?
Sit comfortably and ensure you’re at the same eye level as your cat, make soft, non-threatening eye contact and gently close your eyes, pausing for a second before slowly opening them.
If your cat reciprocates, continue the slow blinking. If not, give it some time. Trust builds gradually.
References:
https://www.businessinsider.
https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-
https://thenatureofhome.com/
