Scientists swear by a simple eye trick that helps you communicate with any cat

It’s only a matter of time before you’re walking with a bunch of felines following you.

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

(L) A smiling female fondling her cat, (R) Man stroking his cat on the couch. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Tatiana Lavrova, (R) Kseniya Ovchinnikova)

The enigmatic nature of cats has led to their popularity as pets only among a certain group of people. But scientists have now discovered a simple hack that can help every cat owner communicate with their mysterious felines. It does not involve treats or snuggles, but a welcoming gesture that mimics a smile in the cat world. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Sussex found positive responses from cats when humans made the gesture. All you need to do is smile.

Owner comforts a sad Burmese pet cat lying down. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Anna Derzhina)

The human way of smiling will not work in the human-cat interaction, the study suggested. After observing several such interactions in 2020, the scientists figured that humans can attract cats with a simple facial expression that involves narrowing their eyes and blinking slowly. This increased the chances of a cat approaching and engaging with the person making the gesture. Psychologist Karen McComb of the University of Sussex told Science Alert, “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 communicate in this way.”

A woman holding a black cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

Let’s accept it, being approached by a cat is truly something special. Although McComb hints that cat owners have long known about this gesture, it has recently been backed by scientific data. Now, this gesture was not whipped up out of the blue but is a mere copying of a cat’s expression when they are feeling calm and content. When cats are relaxed, they pull off the ‘partially closed eyes’ face, paired with slow blinking, hinting at their positive mood. It is the cat version of a smile. The researchers did not base their research only on theory, though. They conducted two experiments to test the idea that humans can copy the expression to communicate friendliness and openness to interaction.

Man's hand stroking tabby cat (Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61) — Man's hand stroking tabby cat. (Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

The first experiment confirmed that cats slow-blinked at their owners once the latter had done the same. However, in the second experiment, the researchers invited the cat by slowly blinking first and then extending a hand. Surprisingly, the cats blinked back at the researchers, who were complete strangers, and also approached their hands. Cats have long been perceived as aloof from owners and difficult to bond with. However, this study is set to reshape interactions between cats and humans. "It's a great way of enhancing the bond you have with cats,” said the researcher. “You'll find they respond in the same way themselves, and you can start a sort of conversation."

A woman hugging her pet cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

The apparent impossibility of interacting with cats has largely influenced feline welfare and the general understanding of felines. Psychologist Tasmin Humphrey explained that finding positive ways to encourage human-cat interactions and forge a deeper connection with the animals can help societies develop better veterinary policies for their good health. With the scientific way of communicating now, it’s only a matter of time before you’re walking with a bunch of felines following you.