Love your cat? - Slow blink it

[packman]

Since your cat can’t quite grasp the meaning of “I love you,” “You complete me,” or “You’re the most handsome furry boy in the whole world,” you’ll have to find another way to get your point across. According to a new study published in Scientific Reports, slow-blinking could help.

....what happens when you slow-blink at your cat? Researchers at the University of Sussex and the University of Portsmouth conducted two experiments to find out. In the first, they observed each cat’s behavior in two scenarios: after their owner had slow-blinked at them, and after their owner had been present in the room but hadn’t interacted with their pet. In the second experiment, a researcher took the place of the owner, and again the cat’s behavior was recorded in two scenarios: after the researcher had slow-blinked at them, and after the researcher had adopted a neutral expression and looked next to (but not directly at) the cat.

In both experiments, ScienceAlert reports, the cats were significantly more likely to narrow their eyes when the human participants had slow-blinked at them first—regardless of who the human participant was. The second experiment revealed something else, too. In each trial, the researcher would follow up their slow blink or neutral expression by extending a hand toward the cat. Researchers found that the cats were more likely to approach if the person had slow-blinked first. In other words, the findings suggest that not only do cats consider eye-narrowing a positive gesture, but it can also be used as a form of interspecies communication.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633587/slow-blinking-at-your-cat-helps-communication

[SheltieLover]

1. I've read this recently & tried it with the ferals I feed!

They slow blink back!

No way would they allow me to pet them, but this is one way I can convey caring concern & appreciation to them.

[BComplex]

2. I wonder if it works with lions, tigers, etc. "other cats"

I imagine it would.

[2naSalit]

4. It does...

Sort of. I've known this about cats forever. But I found, when out in the woods, at animal sanctuaries and such, that this lets animals know that you are not a predator. Yje cat thing with the big cats I've done it with, it seems to work, some will do it back.

[BComplex]

6. That's so cool! I wonder if it might ever save a life to know this, ya know?

All the random things we learn here on DU ... you just never know what kind of things might some day come in handy!

[2naSalit]

7. With wild animals...

it's best to tilt your head a little too. They will stand there a little longer and will likely wander off rather than run away.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. It works for Melanoma's eyes, too.

[2naSalit]

8. It's handy when you need to calm a beast.

[Fla Dem]

5. I would try it, but my pal of almost 15 years avoids looking me in the eyes.

I have to be holding her to get her to look at me. Strange, but has always been like that.

She'll look at me from a distance, but never an up close face to face adoring look, although that's what I give to her.

[2naSalit]

9. Do it from a distance...

they need the space.