Speaking Feline: The Science of the "Kitty Kiss"

For years, cat owners have noticed that when their pets are relaxed, they often look at them and narrow their eyes into a slow, deliberate blink. In 2020, scientists at the University of Sussex decided to put this behavior to the test. They published a peer-reviewed study in Nature confirming that the "slow blink" is the feline equivalent of a human smile.

The research revealed that when humans mimic this exact sequence—relaxing the face, making soft eye contact, and narrowing the eyes for a few seconds—cats are significantly more likely to slow-blink back. Even more surprising, the researchers found that completely unfamiliar cats were much more likely to approach a stranger's extended hand if the human initiated a slow blink first. In the animal kingdom, an unblinking stare is perceived as a hostile threat. By dropping their guard and closing their eyes, cats signal absolute safety, trust, and affection.

The Mind-Blowing World of Feline Physics and Biology

Cats are true marvels of nature, boasting biological quirks that seem straight out of a superhero comic. For instance, a cat can jump up to six times its own height in a single bound, thanks to powerful hind leg muscles and a highly flexible spine. This incredible agility is aided by their unique skeletal structure; cats do not have a rigid collarbone, which allows them to squeeze their bodies through any opening that can accommodate their head. Furthermore, their famous ability to always land on their feet is due to the "righting reflex," an innate balancing mechanism that relies on their inner ear and flexible backbone to quickly orient their bodies during a fall.

Beyond their physical acrobatics, cats possess sensory superpowers that help them navigate the world with extreme precision. A cat's whiskers, or vibrissae, are not just hairs; they are deeply embedded radar sensors packed with nerve endings that detect slight changes in air currents and map out tight spaces in the dark. Their communication methods are equally fascinating and highly evolved. While kittens meow to get attention from their mothers, adult cats rarely meow at other felines. Instead, they developed this specific vocalization almost exclusively to communicate, manipulate, and bond with their human companions.

Small wild big cats around the world

 These are the wild cousins of our beloved kitties from around the world! Aren't they just as cute and adorable? Have you ever spotted one of those outdoors?

South America: Andean cat, Geoffroy’s cat, Güiña, Jaguarundi, Margay, Ocelot, Oncilla (two species), and Pampas Cat.

 

Africa: African golden cat, African wildcat, Black-footed cat, Serval, Caracal, and Sand cat.

 

Asia: Asiatic golden cat, Asiatic wildcat, Bornean bay cat, Chinese mountain cat, Fishing cat, Flat-headed cat, Jungle cat, Javan Leopard cat, Leopard cat, Manul, Marbled cat, Clouded Leopord (two species), and Rusty-spotted cat.

Europe: European wildcat, Eurasian lynx, and Iberian lynx

💓 LOVE THEM ALL! 💗

Tales of the cat tail

A cat's tail can tell about what's going on inside her head. It acts as an extension of her thoughts, an indicator of her mood and a warning of intention. Take a little time to observe your cat's behavior and you’ll start to get a feel of the tales the tail tells ...

• Tail curves gently down and then up again at the tip. Cat is relaxed and at peace with the world.
• Tail slightly raised with a soft curve. Cat is beginning to get interested in something.
• Tail is held erect but the tip is tilted over. Cat is in a friendly mood with slight reservations.
• Tail fully erect with the tip stiffly vertical. This is a wholehearted greeting with no reservations.
• Tail fully lowered and possibly tucked between hind legs. Cat is showing defeat or total submissiveness.
• Tail lowered and fluffed out. Cat is showing active fear.
• Tail swishing violently from side to side. Often means that the cat is about to attack.
• Tail held still, but the tip is twitching. Mild irritation. If the twitching increases a swipe from a paw may be imminent.
• Tail is held erect and the whole length is quivering. Gentle quivering may be seen after a cat has been greeted by its human companion. Same action may be observed when urine spraying is taking place! The gesture appears to have a meaning of personal identification...yes, this is me.
• Tail held to one side. Sexual invitation of a female cat in heat. Signal to the male that he can mount without being attacked.
• Tail held straight and fully bristled. Signal of an aggressive cat.
• Tail arched and bristled. A defensive stance which may indicate cat will attack if provoked further. Bristling fur makes the cat appear bigger and may deter the enemy.

The cat eye, facts about cat vision

• A cat's vision is superior at night in comparison to humans, and inferior in daylight.
• Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the cat's eyelid opens.
• Unlike humans, cats do not need to blink their eyes on a regular basis to keep their eyes lubricated. Cats will, however, "squint" their eyes, usually as a form of communication.
• Cats have an elliptical pupil, which opens & closes much faster than round types as in humans.
• Cats can see in color, but are partially color blind. They have the equivalency of human red/green color blindness. (Reds appear green and greens appear red; or shades thereof.)
• Cats don't see "detail" very well. To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.
• Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see. Their night vision is amazing!
• Cats can see up to 120 feet away. Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.
• Cats eyes come in three shapes: round, slanted and almond.
• The color of a kitten's eyes will change as it grows older.
• At birth, kittens can't see or hear. Cats open their eyes after five days and begin to develop their eyesight and hearing at approximately 2 weeks. They begin to walk at 20 days.
• Kittens begin dreaming at just over one week old.