Domestic animals are sensitive to human cues that facilitate inter-specific communication,
including cues to emotional state. The eyes are important in signalling emotions, with the act
of narrowing the eyes appearing to be associated with positive emotional communication in
a range of species. This study examines the communicatory significance of a widely
reported cat behaviour that involves eye narrowing, referred to as the slow blink sequence.
Slow blink sequences typically involve a series of half-blinks followed by either a prolonged …