Why Do Cats Blink Slowly?

What Is It?

A slow blink is when your cat closes its eyes very slowly and opens them again. It looks like a sleepy yawn or a gentle kiss.

Why Do They Do It?

Cats are both hunters and prey. In the wild, closing eyes makes you vulnerable to attack. When a cat blinks slowly at you, they are saying I trust you. They know you will not hurt them.

How You Can Respond

If your cat looks at you with those big eyes, try blinking back! Close your eyes for two seconds and open them. Watch what happens. Your cat might blink again to say hello.

It is like a secret language between pets and people.

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Examples

  1. A kitten closes its eyes while sitting on your lap and opens them slowly.
  2. You look at the cat, close your eyes for a count of two, and open them to see it looking back calmly.
  3. The dog barks loudly but the cat just blinks its eyelids down gently.

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