Groundbreaking study proves: communication between humans and cats is possible

Many say that man’s best friend is the dog. However, there are those who prefer cats, which, despite being domesticated, have many characteristics similar to their “relatives”, the wild felines.

Cats are strong, have great reflexes, hunting instinct, sharp and agile senses, as well as having the famous individualistic personality, one of their most striking characteristics.

One of the most affectionate gestures cats make is their famous purr, but other than that, there’s not much way to know what your pet is feeling. However, a new study published recently could change that.

A research published in the journal Scientific Reportsfrom 2020, proved that it is possible to communicate with your cat and even make it like you. The study says that all you need to do is smile, but make no mistake, it is not human laughter that the study refers to.

According to the study, it is necessary to smile at the cat’s laughter by narrowing your eyes and blinking slowly. Cat laughter? That’s a new one, isn’t it? Research says that this is a common signal from cats. However, it is still not known why they do this.

According to researchers, there is anecdotal evidence that proves that, through this gesture, communication can be established with the animal, whether strangers or family members.

Winking at cats

But of course, like any study, this one also needs to be proven and tested. That’s why the researchers carried out tests in different ways with the animals.

In the first experiment, cat owners were placed about a meter away from their animals. They then performed the signal while the cats were in a place where they felt comfortable.

Initial results showed that, compared to the situation where the signal was not given, cats were more likely to slowly blink back.

The second version of the test was carried out with the researchers. They sat in front of cats they had never met, performed the same signal and stretched out a hand towards the animal.

Research has shown that cats are not only more likely to wink back, but also to approach the hand after the wink. Scientists believe the signal is a way of showing good intentions, as wide-open eyes for a long time usually indicate a threat.

The gesture may also be because felines realized that humans liked them and during the domestication process they began to reproduce it. Tasmin Humphrey, a psychologist and author of the research, spoke about the subject:

“Understanding the positive ways in which cats and humans interact can improve public understanding of cats, enhance feline welfare and tell us more about the socio-cognitive abilities of this understudied species. Our findings can be used to assess cat welfare in a variety of settings, including veterinary clinics and shelters.”