Do you blink?

coaster · May 30, 2005

Do you and your cat blink at each other? (I call it "blinkies"

)

Blinking is a very powerful communication as a reassurance signal and is commonly used between cats when they are sitting or lying in a hunched-up, sphinx-like position. I have used the blink to relax house cats, feral cats, and even tigers in the wild...it is important to put them at their ease by allowing them to read the signals that tell them you are not a threat." (It is also a great way to say "I love you" to your favorite feline companion.)

Roger Tabor, Cat Behavior, a Complete Guide to Understanding How Your Cat Works

Mellie and I do blinkies. It's so funny to see her reaction when I blink back at her. I don't know if it's "hey, he likes me!!" or if it's "hey, he talks Cat!!", but you should see her face!!

The one-eye wink is very special....if you can get your cat to do that back to you, you've really got some communication going on!!

leesali · May 30, 2005

Yes, we all do a lot of blinking around here

I always blink to our colony of 7 outside...it is a great way to let them know I am of no threat. From what I understand about the "blink" it is sort-of like a cat kiss. I love when they give me that "slow blink" back.

My inside guys do it all the time. It's their way of blowing back a kiss I suppose.

All good stuff...

joanne511 · May 30, 2005

Wow, I had no idea about this, but yes - we blink at each other all the time! Several months ago I noticed that Chloe was blinking/winking at me a lot and I started doing it back. Usually it's when she's sitting exactly as described in your excerpt and seems to be quite happy.

Now we both initiate equally...so cool to know the background to it!

nano · May 30, 2005

Yeah, this is something I figured out by myself in my early days with Nano and only later did I learn that this is a known technique. But it was the #1 way (IMO) that I built trust with her and established that I was going to be her benevolent caretaker.

krazy kat2 · May 30, 2005

Oh, yes, we love blinky eyes! My sweetie comes home from work almost every night and blinky eyes with Pearl. It has gone a long way to bringing her out of her shell.

simmyandnunny · May 30, 2005

I "just" read about blinking, today! The recommendation to sooth your cat is to give a long blink. Also recommended was to yawn at your cat, lol!

To get my cat to give me those bedroom type eyes, I say his name in just the right tone of voice. "Nunnyyy," lol. He is so able to be manipulated into a calm mood, I love it, lol.

My brother got the one eyed wink from Nunny.

He was so happy when he did that.

Originally Posted by coaster

Do you and your cat blink at each other? (I call it "blinkies"

)

Roger Tabor, Cat Behavior, a Complete Guide to Understanding How Your Cat Works

Mellie and I do blinkies. It's so funny to see her reaction when I blink back at her. I don't know if it's "hey, he likes me!!" or if it's "hey, he talks Cat!!", but you should see her face!!

The one-eye wink is very special....if you can get your cat to do that back to you, you've really got some communication going on!!

bigorangemenace · May 31, 2005

My kitties dont like to stare at me for a long time.. expecially my little one Aerowyn.. usually I do the "tongue" thing with elliot. He will be looking at me and will lick his lips, ill do it the same way, he'll do something else, I'll do it. He'll yawn, I'll pretend to yawn, he'll stretch out his front leg, I'll stretch out my front arm. Ect

Its a game of kitty simon says. Elliot will look in my eyes for a bit but then he looks away, Aerowyn wont make contact.. does this mean they just see me as the dominant one and dont want to test my "dominance" I dont really know but I enjoy the Simon says games. Its also fun to poke the cat when they arent looking at you, so they either meow or glare, and you pretend you havent done anything, and when they have turned around again, poke them again. Hilarious

has anyone tried the fart game? this involves poking your cat, and when you touch him/her, making a farting sound with your mouth. Haha I try to make him believe that when I touch him he farts. It annoys him but he likes the game! Aerowyn loves the game too, but usually she will just try to get you to rub her neck *sigh*

coaster · May 31, 2005

Originally Posted by BigOrangeMenace

My kitties dont like to stare at me for a long time..

In cat language, a prolonged direct stare is a challenge.

An aggressive cat often stares fixedly at his target before mounting an attack

From Outwitting Cats by Wendy Christensen.

Not something you want to do to your favorite cat.

bigorangemenace · May 31, 2005

what I meant by that is I cant get them to do the blinkies with me, because they look away

Today I did it kind of.. I looked over at elliot and he gave me a wink.. so I gave him a wink back.. and tried to do the slow blinking. He meowed at me, an dcontinued to look at me. We did the yawning thing, but I couldnt get him to blink with me after that first time

xocats · Jun 5, 2005

I have always blinked at Dexter or Sadie when they blinked at me. I did not know that it was a valid communation tool that could be used between cats & humans. I was just playing with them. Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

jcat · Jun 5, 2005

This works with just about all cats. I have a few neighbors who can't understand why their cats will come up to me to be petted while they're outside, because they don't do it with other people. When I see the cats outside, I'll crouch down, get their attention by going "psst-psst", and then start blinking. After doing that a few times, the cats come running for some TLC when they see me walking down the street.

coaster · Jun 5, 2005

jcat -- I think one of the photos in your sig is of your kitty blinking, no?

rosiemac · Jun 5, 2005

I blink at mine all the time, especially when i'm talking to them, and with Rosie when she blinks back she looks like she's smiling as well!

xocats · Jun 5, 2005

Rosie almost always looks likes she is smiling. I love her sweet face.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I blink at mine all the time, especially when i'm talking to them, and with Rosie when she blinks back she looks like she's smiling as well!

dawnofsierra · Jun 5, 2005

Yes, absolutely! I've read it's like throwing kisses with your eyes with our kitties!

AbbysMom · Aug 19, 2005

I occasionally exchange slow blinks with Abby, but I have also noticed something else strange. If she is mad at me for some reason, she gives me that wounded look, like only a cat can, and then continues to FAST blink at me. Has anyone else ever seen this?

mferr84 · Aug 19, 2005

no, i have never done 'blinkies'(cute name by the way)

but... me and sara have a loud irritated sigh that we do to each other, she will do something to irritate me and i will say 'Sara, No' and then sigh loudly afterward(i never noticed i was doing it, till she did it after i did one day)...

then she does it after i do it and then looks at me and blinks really hard, then screams at me

thats kinda funny

laureen227 · Aug 19, 2005

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I blink at mine all the time, especially when i'm talking to them, and with Rosie when she blinks back she looks like she's smiling as well!

yep, we all do blinkies - i've always considered them to be smiling, because when i smile, grin, laugh, my eyes pretty much close, like here

BTW - love the new siggy, Rosiemac!

purr · Aug 19, 2005

Cupid gets in front of me and stares at me when he wants attention, so I'll look at him and blink and he'll give me a 'sleepy-blink' and then he'll get up and start rubbing his face on mine and I'll smother him with kissies.

I started blinking because he has liked to stare since he was a baby, and when he stares at me and I stare at him, I wanted to break it up so it didn't scare him or anything. Now it's sort of like a conversation we have with each other.

danalee2682 · Aug 19, 2005

i am so excited

clinton and i are very affectionate, he gives me lots of licky kisses and cuddles, but i never knew about blinkies until today. i just tried giving him blinkies and he gave me a one-eye wink back! how cool! i love it!

Do you blink?

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Mo(w)gli's can opener

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At Abby's beck and call

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Darksome Duo!

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