Have you ever wondered what it means that you cat winks its eyes when it sees you? Well, get ready to learn a fact as curious as it is touching that you probably didn’t know about your michi.

People who live with one or more cats know that their language is such a fascinating enigma that they can discover day by day, because between meows, tail movements and those moments when they seem to ignore us completely, felines have developed very subtle ways of communicating with humans. One of those gestures, almost imperceptible, is the slow wink of eyesalso known as slow blink. Here we explain what it is about. Spoiler alert: you’re going to sigh!

Why does my cat wink?

Although at first glance, this act may appear as a simple blink, the truth is that it has a deep and endearing meaning which science has begun to study in more detail. And the best thing: if you learn to recognize it, you will discover that your cat has a very sweet way of saying “I love you, human.”

Science explains why cats blink slowly when they see you

A study conducted by the University of Sussex in 2020 showed that when a cat slowly closes its eyes in front of its human, it is expressing confidence and relaxation.

For an animal that relies so much on its senses to survive, allowing its eyelids to close for a few seconds is a sign of vulnerability. In other words, your cat does not feel in danger with you and, even more, he wants to show you affection with this very particular gesture.

A gesture that strengthens the relationship with your cat

One of the most surprising things about receive these slow blinks or winks from your cat, is that this interaction can help reduce the animal’s stress and strengthen the human-feline relationship.

So it is no coincidence that videos of owners imitating this wink to gain the trust of rescued or stray cats go viral on social networks. And you, have you tried it?

So the next time you notice that you cat winks and close them gently, do not interpret it as indifference, on the contrary, remember that his silent way of telling you that he trusts you, that he is calm and that, in his own way, he also knows how to love.