The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication

Domestic animals are sensitive to human cues that facilitate interspecific communication, including cues to emotional state. The eyes are important in signalling emotions, with eye narrowing associated with positive emotional communication in several species. This study examines the communicatory significance of a cat behaviour involving eye narrowing, referred to as the slow blink sequence, typically comprising a series of half-blinks followed by a prolonged eye narrow or closure. In Experiment 1, cats showed more half-blinks and eye narrowing in response to owners’ slow blink stimuli than during no owner–cat interaction. In Experiment 2, when an experimenter provided the slow blink stimulus, cats were more likely to approach the experimenter after a slow blink interaction than when the experimenter adopted a neutral expression. These results suggest slow blink sequences function as a form of positive emotional communication between cats and humans.

Tasmin Humphrey, Leanne Proops, Jemma Forman, Rebecca Spooner, Karen McComb