A team of psychologists has discovered a new way for humans to bond with cats. The new study has shown for the first time that it is possible to bond with a cat by using an eye constricting technique. This eye-constricting action by humans generates what is popularly known as a cat smile — the so-called "slow blink" — and appears to make humans more attractive to the cat. Eye constricting movements in cats show some parallels to the real smile in humans (the Duchenne smile), as well as eye constricting movements given in positive situations in some other species.
The team, led by Dr Tasmin Humphrey and Prof Karen McComb, animal behavior scientists at the University of Sussex, conducted two experiments. The first revealed that cats are more likely to blink slowly at their owners after their owners blink slowly, compared to when they don't interact at all. The second experiment, this time with a researcher on the psychology team, rather than the owner, found that the cats were more likely to approach the researcher's outstretched hand after blinking slowly at the cat, compared to a neutral expression. Taken together, the study shows that this slow blinking technique can provide a form of positive communication between cats and humans.
The study found:
Cats were more likely to blink more slowly when their owners blinked more slowly compared to when the owner was in the room but didn't give a slow blink.
Cats were more likely to blink slowly when an unfamiliar researcher blinked their eyes slowly, compared to when they maintained a neutral expression.
Cats preferred to approach an examiner after blinking slowly at the cat than when maintaining a neutral expression.
Professor Karen McComb, from the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, who oversaw the work, said:"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 communicating It's something many cat owners suspected, so it's exciting to have found evidence for it.
“This study is the first to experimentally investigate the role of slow blinking in cat-human communication. And it's something you can try for yourself with your own cat at home, or with cats you meet on the street. It's a great way to enhance the bond you have with cats. Try constricting your eyes as you would a relaxed smile, followed by closing your eyes for a few seconds. You will notice that they react the same way themselves and you can have a kind of conversation.”
“In terms of why cats behave this way, it could be argued that cats developed the slow blinking behavior because humans perceive slow blinking as positive. Cats may have learned that humans reward them for responding to slow blinks. It's also possible that slow blinking in cats began as a way to interrupt uninterrupted gaze, which is potentially threatening in social interaction.
How the experiments worked
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the significance of the slow blink in cat-human communication. The first experiment involved a total of 21 cats from 14 different households. Fourteen different owners participated in Experiment 1. Ten of the cats were male and 11 of the cats were female, with feline ages ranging from an estimated 0.45-16 years. The experiments took place in each cat's home. The psychologist advised the cat owner how to blink his eyes slowly. Once the cat had settled in one place, the psychologist asked the owner to either sit about 1 m away from the cat.
Experiment 2 included a total of 24 additional cats. Twelve cats were male and 12 cats were female, with feline ages ranging from an estimated 1-17 years. The cats included in the final analyzes were from 8 different households. In this experiment, the researcher, who was unfamiliar with the cat, blinked slowly at the cat or assumed a neutral face without direct eye contact. This experiment also tested in which context the cats preferred the unfamiliar researcher, by offering the cat a flat hand with the palm facing up while sitting or crouching directly in front of the cat. Both experiments were videotaped.
Cat psychology – the existing context
In the new paper, the authors provide some context for their findings. The psychology of cats has not been studied as extensively as dogs, but what is already known includes:
Cats have been shown to effectively attract and manipulate people's attention through 'spiders on demand'.
· That cats can distinguish their name from other words, even when unfamiliar people call.
That cats can be sensitive to human emotional cues, rubbing or bumping their heads at an owner who is feeling sad.
