2. They Give You the “Slow Blink”

For cats, affection is often communicated through their eyelids rather than a wide-eyed gaze. If your cat looks at you and slowly lowers their eyelids before gently opening them again, they are giving you a “slow blink.” A study published in Scientific Reports demonstrated that this behavior functions as a form of positive emotional communication between cats and humans.

The researchers found that cats are significantly more likely to approach a human who slow blinks at them compared to one who maintains a neutral facial expression. You can easily return this gesture of trust.

When your cat is resting nearby, look at them softly, close your eyes slowly, hold them shut for a brief second, and slowly open them. If your cat blinks back, they are openly reciprocating your affection.