Cat owners understand that their four-legged companions have a language all their own. Cats tend to make sure their human is aware of their wants, needs, and feelings at all times. Odd behavior and body language coming from your cat may not be an uncommon occurrence. Obviously, blinking serves its typical purpose of keeping the eyes wet, but can it be included in a cat’s means of communication and body language? The answer is, yes. Whether it’s that slow, drawn-out blink or the wide-eyed dead stare followed by what seems like a perfectly timed blink, your cat has something to say. The good news is you are not crazy. While your cat does blink out of necessity, those blinks that give you a feeling your cat has something to say do have some substance regarding cat language. Let’s look into what it means when your cat blinks at you, for any reason.

Reasons Behind When a Cat Blinks

  1. Regular Blink Not all blinking has some deeper, emotional meaning behind it. Cats, just like humans, must blink to cleanse and moisten their eyes. Every time they close their eyelids, salty secretions from the tear glands are swept over the surface of their eyes to flush away any dirt, debris, and dust particles. Not only does it cleanse but it lubricates the surface of the eyeball and is a necessary, involuntary function. Image Credit: Piqsels

  2. Slow Blink A cat’s slow blink is very recognizable, and you are likely picturing your cat doing as you read about it. It may not be something you think of instantly when interacting with your cat, but it can happen quite often and if it does, that’s a great sign. The slow blink will only come from a relaxed and comfortable cat and their overall body language is a telltale sign. When a cat is under stress, the blinks tend to be faster since they are on high alert, and they may even wince. You will notice the slow blink when the body and ears are in a relaxed position. The pupils are typically dilated and it may even look like they are dozing off. This subtle way of communicating through body language is a way that your cat is telling you they are relaxed and content and is like when a human gives a soft, warm smile. Studies even show that you can bond with your cat by slow blinking back at them. These studies showed that most cats will respond to a human’s slow blink at them with one in return. They are even more likely to approach an unknown person that slowly blinks at them since it is reflecting the contentment and peace they reflect through this behavior. Having your cat exhibit this behavior with you is a true sign that they trust you and feel affection toward you. Doing it back and forth is a way of sharing those affections and forming a stronger bond and rapport with your cat. Make sure to keep your body language calm and be stress-free when trying this, cats are great at picking up on your energy.

  3. Direct Stare with Quick Blinks A direct stare with erect ears is threatening and a sign of possible confrontation. This goes for many mammals. If you notice that a cat is staring intensely at you with quick, almost undetectable blinks, this could mean they are feeling threatened by you or are being threatened toward you. A cat on the offense may have severely dilated pupils or they may look like slits. If you notice this intense kind of stare, it’s best to avoid the interaction entirely, especially if you don’t know the cat well. You will undoubtedly want to avoid staring directly back at the cat, as you will confirm the threat. Image Credit: TheCats, Shutterstock

Signs of a Happy Cat

Relaxed body posture

Ears in a natural position

Eyes shaped normally

Closed mouth

Stretching

Laying down

Exposed abdomen

Tail held loosely from the body and sometimes curved upward

Image Credit: Piqsels Related Read: How to Keep a Single Cat Happy (8 Tips You Need To Know)

Signs of a Playful Cat

Ears positioned forward

Pupils dilated

Whiskers erect and forward

Tail in an upward position

Crouching

Rearing and even wiggling the hind end

Batting around objects with the paws

Quick bursts of sprinting and ricocheting off objects

Image Credit: Melissa Sue, Shutterstock

Signs of an Angry Cat

Lying close to the ground

Body flat

Pupils dilated

Tail and limbs tucked tightly into their body

Tense posture

Open mouth with baring teeth

Paw slightly lifted and ready to strike

Arched back

Body held sideways

Hair raised on the back

Ears flattened to the head or low and pointing to the sides

Unbreakable stare

Image Credit: pixbull, Shutterstock

Signs of a Stressed or Fearful Cat

Tense body

Tailed tucked close to the body

Head lowered

Dilated pupils

Ear rotating to pick up surrounding noises

Staring with quick blinks and occasional quick side glances to plan an escape

Bolting and hiding if possible

Fearful facial expression

Image Credit: Cattrall, Shutterstock

Conclusion Now that you know your cat’s blinks can mean more than just lubrication and cleansing of the eyes, you are better suited to communicate back when your feline live-in decides to speak out by using their eyes. Of course, the slow blink is the much-preferred form of communication, as it means our cats are happy, comfortable, and are genuinely enjoying our company.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

Cat owners understand that their four-legged companions have a language all their own. Cats tend to make sure their human is aware of their wants, needs, and feelings at all times. Odd behavior and body language coming from your cat may not be an uncommon occurrence.

Obviously, blinking serves its typical purpose of keeping the eyes wet, but can it be included in a cat’s means of communication and body language? The answer is, yes. Whether it’s that slow, drawn-out blink or the wide-eyed dead stare followed by what seems like a perfectly timed blink, your cat has something to say.

The good news is you are not crazy. While your cat does blink out of necessity, those blinks that give you a feeling your cat has something to say do have some substance regarding cat language. Let’s look into what it means when your cat blinks at you, for any reason.

Not all blinking has some deeper, emotional meaning behind it. Cats, just like humans, must blink to cleanse and moisten their eyes. Every time they close their eyelids, salty secretions from the tear glands are swept over the surface of their eyes to flush away any dirt, debris, and dust particles. Not only does it cleanse but it lubricates the surface of the eyeball and is a necessary, involuntary function.

A cat’s slow blink is very recognizable, and you are likely picturing your cat doing as you read about it. It may not be something you think of instantly when interacting with your cat, but it can happen quite often and if it does, that’s a great sign.

The slow blink will only come from a relaxed and comfortable cat and their overall body language is a telltale sign. When a cat is under stress, the blinks tend to be faster since they are on high alert, and they may even wince. You will notice the slow blink when the body and ears are in a relaxed position. The pupils are typically dilated and it may even look like they are dozing off.

This subtle way of communicating through body language is a way that your cat is telling you they are relaxed and content and is like when a human gives a soft, warm smile. Studies even show that you can bond with your cat by slow blinking back at them.

These studies showed that most cats will respond to a human’s slow blink at them with one in return. They are even more likely to approach an unknown person that slowly blinks at them since it is reflecting the contentment and peace they reflect through this behavior.

Having your cat exhibit this behavior with you is a true sign that they trust you and feel affection toward you. Doing it back and forth is a way of sharing those affections and forming a stronger bond and rapport with your cat. Make sure to keep your body language calm and be stress-free when trying this, cats are great at picking up on your energy.

A direct stare with erect ears is threatening and a sign of possible confrontation. This goes for many mammals. If you notice that a cat is staring intensely at you with quick, almost undetectable blinks, this could mean they are feeling threatened by you or are being threatened toward you.

A cat on the offense may have severely dilated pupils or they may look like slits. If you notice this intense kind of stare, it’s best to avoid the interaction entirely, especially if you don’t know the cat well. You will undoubtedly want to avoid staring directly back at the cat, as you will confirm the threat.

Signs of a Happy Cat

Relaxed body posture

Ears in a natural position

Eyes shaped normally

Closed mouth

Stretching

Laying down

Exposed abdomen

Tail held loosely from the body and sometimes curved upward

Related Read: How to Keep a Single Cat Happy (8 Tips You Need To Know)

Relaxed body posture

Ears in a natural position

Eyes shaped normally

Closed mouth

Stretching

Laying down

Exposed abdomen

Tail held loosely from the body and sometimes curved upward

  • Relaxed body posture
  • Ears in a natural position
  • Eyes shaped normally
  • Closed mouth
  • Stretching
  • Laying down
  • Exposed abdomen
  • Tail held loosely from the body and sometimes curved upward

Signs of a Playful Cat

Ears positioned forward

Pupils dilated

Whiskers erect and forward

Tail in an upward position

Crouching

Rearing and even wiggling the hind end

Batting around objects with the paws

Quick bursts of sprinting and ricocheting off objects

Signs of an Angry Cat

Lying close to the ground

Body flat

Pupils dilated

Tail and limbs tucked tightly into their body

Tense posture

Open mouth with baring teeth

Paw slightly lifted and ready to strike

Arched back

Body held sideways

Hair raised on the back

Ears flattened to the head or low and pointing to the sides

Unbreakable stare

Signs of a Stressed or Fearful Cat

Tense body

Tailed tucked close to the body

Head lowered

Dilated pupils

Ear rotating to pick up surrounding noises

Staring with quick blinks and occasional quick side glances to plan an escape

Bolting and hiding if possible

Fearful facial expression

Ears positioned forward

Pupils dilated

Whiskers erect and forward

Tail in an upward position

Crouching

Rearing and even wiggling the hind end

Batting around objects with the paws

Quick bursts of sprinting and ricocheting off objects

  • Ears positioned forward
  • Pupils dilated
  • Whiskers erect and forward
  • Tail in an upward position
  • Crouching
  • Rearing and even wiggling the hind end
  • Batting around objects with the paws
  • Quick bursts of sprinting and ricocheting off objects

Lying close to the ground

Body flat

Pupils dilated

Tail and limbs tucked tightly into their body

Tense posture

Open mouth with baring teeth

Paw slightly lifted and ready to strike

Arched back

Body held sideways

Hair raised on the back

Ears flattened to the head or low and pointing to the sides

Unbreakable stare

  • Lying close to the ground
  • Body flat
  • Pupils dilated
  • Tail and limbs tucked tightly into their body
  • Tense posture
  • Open mouth with baring teeth
  • Paw slightly lifted and ready to strike
  • Arched back
  • Body held sideways
  • Hair raised on the back
  • Ears flattened to the head or low and pointing to the sides
  • Unbreakable stare

Tense body

Tailed tucked close to the body

Head lowered

Dilated pupils

Ear rotating to pick up surrounding noises

Staring with quick blinks and occasional quick side glances to plan an escape

Bolting and hiding if possible

Fearful facial expression

  • Tense body
  • Tailed tucked close to the body
  • Head lowered
  • Dilated pupils
  • Ear rotating to pick up surrounding noises
  • Staring with quick blinks and occasional quick side glances to plan an escape
  • Bolting and hiding if possible
  • Fearful facial expression

Conclusion

Now that you know your cat’s blinks can mean more than just lubrication and cleansing of the eyes, you are better suited to communicate back when your feline live-in decides to speak out by using their eyes. Of course, the slow blink is the much-preferred form of communication, as it means our cats are happy, comfortable, and are genuinely enjoying our company.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay