Are you really communicating with your cat? A scientific study reveals the right way to do it
Cats have their own way of communicating and connecting, and if you’re looking to do so with yours, scientists say there’s a simple way of going about it.
While cats have a reputation for being less snuggly and friendly than their canine counterparts, it’s not as hard as you might think to connect more deeply with them. Research from 2020 shows that you simply need to smile at them more often - but not in the human way, in the cat way.
How to “smile” at your cat and how it helps connect with them
Scientists confirmed that narrowing your eyes and slowly blinking at cats will help them to be more receptive to you as a human (even if you’re a stranger to the cat). By observing interactions between humans and cats, the study found that cats are more likely to return the gesture and approach you if you use this cat-like facial expression. It also helps them to build trust and communication with you. The expression suggests to them that we are friendly and willing to interact with them.
“As someone who has both studied animal behavior and is a cat owner, it’s great to be able to show that cats and humans can communicate in this way,” Karen McComb, a University of Sussex psychologist, said in a 2020 statement. “It’s something that many cat owners had already suspected, so it’s exciting to have found evidence for it.”
The study implemented two experiments - one with cats and their owners, and another with researchers with whom the cats were not familiar. In both cases, cats were more responsive and friendly when slow blinking was used as compared with neutral staring. The slow-blink expression likely signifies kind intentions since cats can sometimes perceive unbroken stares as threatening, and may have actually evolved simply because humans respond positively to it.
“And it is something you can try yourself with your own cat at home or with cats you meet in the street,” said McComb. “It’s a great way of enhancing the bond you have with cats. Try narrowing your eyes at them as you would in a relaxed smile, followed by closing your eyes for a couple of seconds. You’ll find they respond in the same way themselves, and you can start a sort of conversation.”
The study suggests that cats are much more socially aware and emotionally responsive than we give them credit for. In fact, research shows that cats often mimic the traits of their owners, so if your cat is more aloof, it may be a you problem - not the cat. We simply need to learn to “speak their language” in order to enhance bonds and improve their overall well-being, especially in homes, vets, and shelters.
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