A slow blink from a cat is a friendly signal
#0049 Animals & plants
Fact rank
A
Confirmed in an experimental paper (primary). The samples are small (21 and 18 cats), so not S
Wow rank
S
Just blinking back makes a cat more likely to approach
Usefulness
A
Usable today as a greeting with cats
Verification: Supported by evidence
AI verification reports the evidence it found; it does not guarantee that a claim is true.
When a cat looks at you, narrows its eyes and blinks slowly, it is thought to be a sign of friendliness and ease. If you slow-blink back, the cat is more likely to return it or come closer.
Why
Staring is a threat to cats, so narrowing the eyes and softening the gaze is thought to signal that there is no hostility.Evidence
Primary Humphrey et al. (2020, Scientific Reports). Cats narrowed their eyes more when their owner slow-blinked (21 cats), and were more likely to approach an unfamiliar experimenter after a slow blink than after a neutral expression (18 cats). Slow blinks may work as positive communication between cats and humans link
Notes and limits
The "why" (staring as a threat) comes from the paper's discussion and expert explanations. Avoid staring at an unfamiliar cat. English Wikipedia's "Cat communication" also mentions slow blinking.
Derivations
Derived from: 猫がおなかを見せて転がっても触ってほしいとは限らない
Derived facts: —