Squinting at your cat is something many cat owners find themselves doing from time to time. You may notice your cat staring at you intently and find yourself squinting back, wondering what they are thinking. Or you may squint and tilt your head quizzically when your cat does something silly or confusing. While squinting at cats can sometimes be an instinctive reaction, is it actually beneficial for communication and bonding with your pet? There are pros and cons to consider when squinting at your furry feline friend.
Why Do We Squint at Cats?
There are a few potential reasons why squinting at cats is so common:
Trying to Understand Their Facial Expressions
Cats can be quite stoic and inscrutable animals. Unlike dogs, who wear their emotions plainly on their faces, cats have more subtle facial expressions that can be difficult for humans to read. Squinting may be an attempt to discern their current mood or attitude when we cannot easily tell just by looking at them. Narrowing our eyes to slits may allow us to focus more closely on the small changes in their facial muscles.
Imitating Their Gaze
Cats tend to stare fixedly at objects of interest with half-closed eyes. Their vision is optimized for hunting by providing both depth perception from two forward-facing eyes as well as a wide field of view. When they stare at us, unblinking, it can feel instinctive to mimic their gaze by squinting back at them. This may stem from an unconscious attempt at communication through body language matching.
Protecting Our Vision
Direct eye contact can be confrontational in the animal kingdom. Cats’ unwavering stare may be perceived by humans on some deeper level as a threat. Squinting defensively protects our vision while still maintaining eye contact. This allows us to communicate non-verbally that we are not challenging them while still acknowledging their visual presence.
Potential Benefits of Squinting at Cats
While it may seem silly, there are some plausible benefits to squinting at your cat:
Strengthens Human-Feline Bond
Imitating your cat’s facial expressions and mannerisms may help strengthen your social connection and build rapport. This capacity for mutual gaze and mirroring is thought to be critical in parent-infant bonding. Squinting at your cat mimics their gaze and communicates that you are paying close attention to them.
Signals Affection and Friendliness
Slow blinking is a social cue in cats that signals acceptance and affection. Keeping your eyes only partially open while looking at your cat tells them you do not perceive them as a threat. This may promote feelings of safety, trust, and reciprocal affection from the cat.
Observe Their Reactions More Closely
Squinting can minimize visual distractions in your periphery and allow you to zone in on the cat’s facial features and eye movements. You may better notice subtle ear twitches, pupil dilation/constriction, whisker movements, and other slight changes that provide insight into how they are responding to you. These observations can help you become more in tune with your cat’s moods and desires.
Potential Drawbacks of Squinting at Cats
However, there are also some reasons why squinting at cats may not be ideal:
May Be Perceived as Aggressive Staring
While slow blinking shows affection, direct staring can be confrontational to cats. Squinting intensely without blinking could be misconstrued as an aggressive challenge rather than friendly eye contact. This may cause shy or anxious cats to avoid contact with you.
Minimizes Your Field of Vision
Squinting reduces your ability to see your whole surroundings. This narrow line of sight makes it easier to miss other visual cues your cat may display with their body language. You could misread their signals if only focused on their face.
Uses Unnecessary Muscle Tension
Squinting involves sustained contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscles encircling the eye. This can lead to eye strain or headache if squinting too frequently or intensely. Unnecessary muscle tension in the eyes is often a symptom of stress as well.
Tips for Squinting at Your Cat
If you do choose to squint at your cat, here are some tips for doing so effectively:
Relax Your Focus
Avoid an intense, staring squint. Soften your gaze and only partially close your eyelids for a more friendly expression. Maintain relaxed, slightly widened pupils rather than constricted pinpoints.
Slow Blink Frequently
Slow, extended blinking while squinting conveys affectionate intentions. Close your eyes fully but open them slowly as if waking from a nap. Time your blinks to match the cadence of your cat’s blinking.
Watch Their Whole Body
Do not just isolate your gaze on their face. Broaden your focus to take in their full body posture and movement. Look for “approach” cues like upright ears, relaxing whiskers, and tail up position.
Conclusion
Squinting at cats can be beneficial when done properly as a way to communicate affectionately and observe facial expressions more closely. However, take care not to appear threatening with sustained direct staring. Combining relaxed squinting with slow blinking and reading the cat’s whole body language is ideal for bonding. With some finesse and attention, you can narrow both your eyes and the gap between species to reach mutual understanding. Just be sure not to overdo it, or you both might end up with headaches! So go ahead, give your cat a loving squint today.