What a cat's slow blink means

A cat that looks at you, narrows its eyes and closes them slowly is paying you a compliment. Cat lovers call it a cat kiss, and research backs up the idea.

What it looks like

The eyes narrow into soft slits, close for a moment, then open again. It is slower and gentler than an ordinary blink, the ears and whiskers usually look relaxed, and the cat often keeps looking your way afterwards.

What it means

Narrowed eyes are a relaxed signal: a cat on alert keeps its eyes wide open. In a 2020 study, researchers at the University of Sussex and the University of Portsmouth found that cats were more likely to narrow their eyes back at owners who slow-blinked at them. In a second experiment, cats were more likely to approach a stranger who had slow-blinked than one who kept a neutral face.

How to blink back

Sit a little way off, soften your gaze and narrow your eyes as if you were smiling. Close them for a second or two, then look slightly away. Staring with wide eyes can feel like a challenge to a cat, so keep it gentle and let the cat decide whether to come closer.

If the cat doesn't blink back

Not every cat will answer, especially at first. A cat that simply looks away is being polite too: in cat language, breaking eye contact says you mean no harm. Try again another day, when the cat is calm and resting.