The slow blink is the most powerful communication tool you can use with your cat -- and it is backed by peer-reviewed science. A 2020 study published in Scientific Reports confirmed what cat owners have long intuited: slow blinking is genuine positive communication between cats and humans.
The Science
- Study: Humphrey et al., 2020 (University of Sussex, UK)
- Finding 1: Cats slow-blinked more in response to their owners slow-blinking than when owners had a neutral expression
- Finding 2: Cats were more likely to approach a stranger who slow-blinked at them vs a stranger with a neutral face
- Conclusion: Slow blinking is a form of positive emotional communication that works in BOTH directions
How to Slow Blink
- Make soft eye contact with your cat (not a hard stare)
- Slowly close your eyes over 2-3 seconds
- Keep them closed for 1-2 seconds
- Slowly open your eyes
- If your cat blinks back: you are communicating successfully
- If your cat looks away: they acknowledged you but are not engaging right now (still positive)
Why Slow Blinking Works
- Direct staring = threat in cat language (signals aggression or challenge)
- Breaking eye contact (blinking, looking away) = non-threat signal
- Slow blinking: Deliberately showing "I am closing my eyes in your presence = I trust you enough to be vulnerable"
- It is the opposite of the predatory stare -- it communicates peace
When to Use Slow Blinking
- Meeting a new/shy cat: Sit at their level, avoid staring, slow blink. Let them approach.
- At the vet: Slow blink at your cat in the carrier to communicate safety.
- During bonding: Quiet moments together -- slow blink to say "I love you."
- With feral/community cats: Reduces their perception of you as a threat.
- Multi-cat tension: Slow blinking at a tense cat can help de-escalate.
Frequently Asked Questions
My cat never blinks back at me. Does that mean it does not love me?
Not at all. Some cats are simply less visually communicative than others. If your cat is relaxed in your presence (belly exposure, sleeping near you, following you, head bunting), they are showing affection through other channels. Some cats respond better to slow blinks than others, and the response is not always immediate or obvious. A subtle eye softening (not a full blink) also counts as a positive response. The absence of a slow blink does not indicate dislike -- just a different communication preference.
