Cats with hyperesthesia syndrome commonly go from a frenzied state of frantic grooming and tail swatting to a trance-like state of blank stares at a wall. If you encounter any of these indications, try to record them on your phone. A film of your cat's activity can aid your veterinarian in diagnosing any medical issues that may be generating unusual behavior at home.
For a variety of reasons, cats look at walls. The majority of the time, they've just spotted or heard something we haven't, and they're keeping an eye on it or trying to figure out what it is.
If you're attempting to make friends with a strange cat outside, it's a bad idea to stare at him since you'll either scare him away or bring out his aggressive side. Your attempts to make acquaintances will almost certainly be thwarted in either instance.
Cats utilize their eyes to express or conceal their feelings. A slit-eyed expression denotes intense emotion, such as fear or aggression. Squinting also protects eyes from a potential opponent's claws.
Kitty Kisses with an Eye Blink
Wide-open eyes, on the other hand, are often associated with friendliness, curiosity, or even playfulness. These visual indications are frequently demonstrated by kittens that have not yet been fully exposed to the hierarchies of kitty culture. It's a joy to watch their naivety when they first meet.
The non-aggressive cat's eye blink is another means of indicating that their intents are not hostile. Cats use a slow eye blink "cat kiss" to communicate with one other and the humans they trust. Kittens who use this non-threat signal can have more pleasant relationships with other cats. Cat behaviorist Anitra Frazier, the author of The Natural Cat, identified the "slow blink."
In his book Cat Daddy, Jackson Galaxy discusses how he uses the slow blink in his new work as Front Desk Supervisor at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley:
"Faced with 45 cats in cages wailing in fright during a thunder and lightning storm at 2 a.m., Jackson put the 'Cat I Love You' slow blink to the test." After several hours, cat by cat, slow blink by slow blink, all the cats had ceased screaming and returned to their "confidence and serenity," which Jackson refers to as "cat mojo."
Try it out for yourself. When you're sitting calmly and notice your kitty across the room staring at you, stare back—and then slowly close and then open your eyes with great exaggeration. Your cat will most likely return the cat-kiss eye blink, and you'll know you've arrived.
Read next: What Is My Cat's Purpose in Hiding?
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