Cats have a bit of a reputation for being standoffish – sure, they’re cute and fluffy, but try to cuddle them at the wrong time, and you might get the cold shoulder (or worse, the dreaded claw). But if you’re not feeling the love from your feline friend, maybe you’re just not speaking their language.

Turns out, it’s not as tricky as you’d think. In fact, according to a 2020 study, you don’t need to shower them with treats or learn to purr. The secret? Smile at them more often – and no, not the human kind with all your teeth on display. We’re talking about the cat smile: a slow blink with a side of narrowed eyes.

Researchers found that giving your kitty a slow blink – that relaxed, half-closed-eye look that says, “Hey, I’m chill” – makes cats, even the ones you’ve never met, more likely to come up to you. Finally, science backs up what cat lovers have suspected all along: those little slow blinks can help bridge the gap between species.

Psychologist Karen McComb from the University of Sussex, who also happens to be a cat owner (go figure), explained it best: “As someone who has both studied animal behavior and lived with cats, it’s fantastic to confirm that humans and cats can communicate in this way,” she said in a 2020 statement. “It’s something that many cat owners had already suspected, so it’s exciting to have evidence to back it up.”

Kedilerle İletişim Kurmanın Bilimsel Yolu Doğrulandı

Anyone who’s hung out with cats has seen that classic kitty expression – partially closed eyes, a little squinty action, followed by a slow blink. It’s their way of saying they’re feeling content and relaxed, kind of like a cat smile. It’s almost as if they’re giving you the feline version of a wink. And guess what? You can do it right back at them to let them know you’re friendly and open for a little bonding.

To test the magic of the slow blink, a team of psychologists ran a couple of experiments. In the first one, cat owners tried out the technique on 21 cats from 14 different households. Once the cats were nice and cozy in their usual chill spots, the owners sat about a meter away and slow-blinked at their furry friends when they made eye contact. The results? The cats were significantly more likely to blink back after their humans made the first move. It’s like feline flirting, people!

In the second experiment, they upped the ante. This time, researchers who’d never met the cats before did the blinking at 24 cats from eight different homes. As a control, the team also observed how the cats reacted to humans just staring at them without blinking (spoiler alert: the kitties weren’t impressed). When the researchers gave the slow-blink treatment and extended a hand toward the cats, the felines not only blinked back but were more likely to approach the friendly human.

“This study is the first to experimentally investigate the role of slow blinking in cat-human communication,” McComb said. “It’s something you can try with your own cat at home, or with any cat you meet on the street. Narrow your eyes at them as you would in a relaxed smile, then slowly close your eyes for a couple of seconds. You’ll find they respond in the same way, and you can start a sort of conversation.”

Kedilerle İletişim Kurmanın Bilimsel Yolu Doğrulandı

Dog people might argue that pups are more openly affectionate, but this is no surprise to cat lovers. Recent studies show our feline friends are far more in sync with their human companions than we give them credit for. Comparing them to dogs is just unfair – cats are just, well, different.

Research has shown that cats mirror the personalities of their owners (which might explain why your grumpy cat acts like a mini version of you), recognize their names (even if they act like they don’t), and even pick up on your mood. If you’ve ever had your cat curl up next to you when you’re down, now you know – it’s not just coincidence.

As for why cats slow-blink at us in the first place? Some experts think it’s their way of signaling, “Hey, I come in peace,” since an unbroken stare can be a bit intimidating in cat world. But it’s also possible that cats have learned humans dig this expression, and that’s why they do it. When it comes to domesticated animals, it’s often hard to know who’s training who.

But hey, if it helps strengthen your bond, why not give it a try? Besides, it’s a great way to boost your cat’s emotional wellbeing – whether they’re at home, at the vet, or in any other potentially stressful situation.

“Understanding how cats and humans positively interact can enhance the public’s perception of cats, improve feline welfare, and shed light on the social and cognitive abilities of this underappreciated species,” says University of Sussex psychologist Tasmin Humphrey.

So, next time you’re hanging out with your cat (or spot one lounging in the sun), don’t forget to throw them a slow blink. Who knows? You might just make a new furry friend.

The research was published in the Nature Scientific Reports.