Cats are highly independent animals which differentiate them from the dogs. Even though they are small, cats are capable of defending themselves from much bigger attackers. They are predators, hunt both for food and for fun and are great at hiding and running.
But what about communication between humans and cats? Everybody knows that purring means that a cat is at ease, even though it can mean other things. Did you ever think about the facial expressions of your feline?
What does it mean if your kitty blinks one eye at you? Both eyes? Today we will talk about the kitten winking and the true meaning behind it.
What Does My Cat Winking Mean? Do Felines Wink Intentionally?
Communication
Cats communicate with their meowing, purring and body language. People often say that cats are “reserved” because they aren’t affectionate as much as dogs, but that’s not the truth.
Every animal is different, and you won’t find two felines that are completely alike. Even though every kitty is different, when they wink at you, they all mean the same thing – they love you.
Direct eye contact in the animal kingdom is a little more complex form of communication. When two cats meet, they will often avoid eye contact.
For them, an eye contact is a way of challenging or threatening another. When a cat wants to show that she is calm and friendly toward another feline, there won’t be direct eye contact between them. That is because it doesn’t want the other feline to flee or to provoke her into the aggressive state.
So what does it mean when felines look at each other or at you, blink, and then break eye contact?
Slow Wink
If a kitty is not feeling threatened by you or another feline, it will make direct eye contact, a slow blink and then it may look away. When this occurs, that means that your feline is not feeling fearful of or threatened by you.
When your cat slowly winks at you, this usually means that it is receptive and ready for even more interaction between the two of you. You will notice this by doing these next steps:
– Slowly extend your finger towards the feline
– Wait for a moment, if she’s interested she will come and sniff it
– If it starts rubbing her head and face on your finger, she is ready for more petting
If there’s no wink, refrain from approaching it since she may feel threatened and could most likely flee. Even if it blinks it may not necessarily mean that it is ready for any physical contact with you, it’s still a good indicator though that everything is alright.
What About Kittens Doing A Slow Blink?
Well your kitten is just a baby so if it winks at you, it still means the same thing as when an older cat does it. In the wild, big cats such as lions who live in larger groups use blinking as a “tool”.
They blink to show other cats that everything is under control and that they are relaxed and happy. Even though your kitten is much smaller than a full-grown lion, they are more alike than you think.
When your kitten winks at you or if she looks at you with its eyes half closed, it means that your kitten loves you! Many owners mistake it as a sign that their kitten is sleepy. In reality, they are trying to show you that they are completely at peace while you are near them.
Kittens are more playful, adventurous, brave and affectionate than older cats. This means that they will want to spend their time with you and other kitties.
If you have a kitten, go ahead and observe its behavior when around you and other family members. You will notice that your kitten is slowly blinking while looking at you and that is the best sign a feline can show you they are happy and relaxed with their environment.
IMPORTANT: if your kitty has any problem with keeping her eyes open or if you notice any discharge around the eyes, there is a chance that your pet might have an eye infection and you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
You might wonder if cats wink intentionally and the answer is that they are almost always doing it with the full intention. They are trying to show you that they are calm, relaxed and that you can pet them.
Everyone who has a cat knows that receiving attention from it is not something that happens that often as compared with dogs. Felines are selective, but once they fall in love with you, they won’t be able to live without you.
As an established writer in the Pet industry for the last 7 years and building a career at a couple of reputable Californian vets, Leigh has written countless pet articles to contribute to the industry's wealth of knowledge. She is dedicated to helping readers and enjoys nothing more than exploring the outdoors with her children and pets. Find out more.
Thank you for the cat knowledge makes a lot of sense, I’ve two an they’re are so beautiful and affectionate, everything in this post of yours is spot on, many thanks!
Thank you for the cat knowledge makes a lot of sense, I’ve two an they’re are so beautiful and affectionate, everything in this post of yours is spot on, many thanks!