Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes? Are They Trying To Tell Something?

Staying alert to your pet’s emotional needs and appropriately reacting to these pleas for connection is an important element of pet care.

Petting your cat is a significant part of this! The urge for tactile touch varies across animals, but most of them will welcome a massage now and again.

If you’ve ever given your cat a decent head or backrub, you’ve probably noticed that it closes its eyes. Why do cats close their eyes when they are petted?

When cats trust their humans, they close their eyes. Because cats are always on the lookout for predators, closed eyelids suggest that your cat is secure.

Cats cover their eyes while they sleep, even though they are aware of what is going on around them.

They close their eyes when grooming and being touched because they like the sensation. Closed eyelids, on the other hand, can suggest damage to the eye, an infection, or a respiratory illness.

This tutorial will tell you all you need to know about the most prevalent reasons why cats close their eyes.

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When You Pet Them?

When a cat trusts a human, she is less likely to be on guard, therefore closing her eyes while being petted is the ultimate indication of trust.

When cats close their eyes and allow themselves to be touched, they are expressing the highest level of trust. They are satisfied and safe, and there is no need for them to stay on the lookout.

It’s also a hint that they’re taking advantage of the spotlight. Your cat may close her eyes because she is incredibly comfortable, in addition to being receptive, appreciating the gestures, and expressing trust.

The majority of felines prefer being handled, hugged, and fussed over. Some people may go to considerable measures to show how much they appreciate cuddling and caressing.

They may purr, head butt, lick your nose, or lay down on your lap with their eyes closed.

Cats may be aloof and picky, but they do like some nice hugs, petting, and playtime. You may have observed that when you pet your cat, she closes her eyes.

Do not be fooled into thinking your cat is about to nap because she is not. She’s closing her eyes to show how much she appreciates your kindness and how much she enjoys it.

As you pet her, your cat may close her eyes to show her faith in you. This suggests she doesn’t see you as a threat and understands you’re someone with whom she can relax her defenses.

The majority of cats like being caressed by their owners because it makes them feel good and relaxes them. Touching is also a way for cats and their humans to bond.

Cats aren’t trustworthy creatures by nature. Humans must work for it. As a consequence, cats who close their eyes while being touched are expressing their faith in you.

Cats like to maintain a high level of alertness, keeping their eyes open and their instincts keen. This is so they can get away from danger.

When they close their eyes, they comprehend that you are not a danger to them and do not intend to hurt them.

You might find it interesting to read about why is my cat closing one eye

Why Does My Cat Squint At Me?

A cat squints at you to show her unconditional love towards you.

When visitors arrive, many cats seek safe havens. Even the most outgoing cats can be wary of strangers.

When your cat is in the company of close friends and family, though, they are more likely to display a wider spectrum of body language. This includes the famed pleased cat’s leisurely blink and the calm, squinting cat’s half-closed eyes.

The act of squinting itself reduces your cat’s eyesight significantly, despite the lack of strong evidence on the matter. This, like the slow blink, may suggest that they are safe and secure enough to let their guard down.

This squint isn’t simply a coincidence; it may also serve as a means of communication in and of itself. If you squint at your cat and are near to them, they may return the motion.

Squinting is regarded by many cat owners as a sign of love and devotion as well as a sign of confidence. After all, cats with this body language are usually happy and surrounded by the people they care about the most.

Cats are affectionate creatures. Purring, rubbing on you, and knocking their heads on you are all ways they show their devotion. They may even meow as a greeting to express, “I’m glad to see you!”

Cats, on the other hand, aren’t fond of just anyone. It’s only given to those they know well. Rolling onto your cat’s back is a huge gesture of trust. It shows they trust you enough to be vulnerable in your presence.

Cats use their eyes to relay a lot of information, but they’re also distinctive in a number of other ways!

Cones are unique color-sensing cells found in both cats’ and humans’ eyes. Humans, on the other hand, have around ten times as many cones as other animals, allowing us to notice more color changes.

Have you ever wondered why a cat’s eye is so reflective? The cause is a tapetum of reflecting cells behind their retinas, which also aids their vision in dim light.

Because their eyes are situated widely apart on their skull, their peripheral vision is also better than ours.

Aside from our top and lower eyelids, cats have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane underneath their lower lid.

This membrane helps to keep the eye moist and free of particles. So don’t engage in a staring competition with a cat, since they’ll win.

It’s not all flowers for cats, though: they’re significantly more near-sighted than humans. A cat would need to be roughly 20 feet distant to see something clearly at 100 feet distant.

Also, check out do cats sleep with their eyes open

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When Sleeping?

Cats close their eyes while sleeping to get comfort.

Cats sleep for 12-16 hours every night and fall asleep quite quickly. They sleep throughout the day to preserve energy and prepare for a night of prowling and hunting since they are most active at night.

The primary reason cats close their eyes while they sleep is to offer the obscurity they require to sleep while it is light outside.

Some cats hide beneath beds in search of darkness, whereas cats who prefer being with their owners shield their eyes with their legs.

Cats, like humans, go through two phases of sleep. The first is eye movement that is quick (REM).

Rapid eye movements are associated with muscular tone decrease, muscular spasms, and wake-like brain activity, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

A cat’s brain mimics its activity when awake during this stage of sleep. It’s also the time of year when cats are most prone to have dreams. As a result, cats close their eyes since their muscles are too relaxed to keep them open at this period.

Non-REM sleep is the other sleep stage (NREM). After a night of wandering and hunting, a cat’s deepest stage of sleep allows it to heal and rebuild its body.

Cats in NREM are at risk. This is when predators are most likely to attack in the wild.

Cats will snuggle themselves into a protected hiding space away from the house in the home. They can stay secure and sleep well if they find cover.

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When They Eat?

When cats eat, they’re comfortable and close their eyes because they’re enjoying what they’re eating.

When kids eat their favorite goodies, this is also true. Cats are more inclined to close their eyes if the food is tasty and flavourful.

Cats also cover their eyes when eating to protect themselves. Wild cats shred meat from the bone with their razor-sharp teeth, whereas wet food or dry kibble is unlikely to produce a mess.

As a result, flesh and bone fragments may fly into their eyes, causing injury and impairing their ability to operate.

In hotter climates, insects are often a concern. They’re drawn to dead flesh and will take advantage of any opportunity to eat it.

Cats cover their eyes to prevent insects from getting inside them. Kittens, on the other hand, close their eyes to feed on their mother. This is due to the fact that they haven’t fully opened. Their eyes begin to open normally after 8-12 days, and they begin to see.

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When They Sit?

When cats sit down, they close their eyes because they are in a relaxed condition.

Felines who are at ease in their owners’ company are content to close their eyes and relax, knowing they are protected.

They’re also likely to be in the shallowest kind of sleep, slow-wave sleep (SWS). This stage of sleep generally comes before the rapid eye movement stage, which is deeper.

These sleep cycles, on the other hand, are critical for conserving the enormous quantities of energy that cats use to hunt, play, and wander.

Cats lay with their heads lifted and paws tucked in during slow-wave slumber. They may also sleep sitting up, their muscles hardening to keep them erect and rigid.

Cats may appear to be sleeping with their eyes closed, but they are completely aware of what is going on around them. As a result, their ears will move back and forth as they focus on the noises around them.

This awareness enables them to pounce or retreat in the event of a threat. Cats do this numerous times during the day, especially when it’s chilly and raining outdoors and they have nothing better to do.

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When You Talk To Them?

When their owners speak to them, many cats blink slowly. Squinting and blinking slowly are both ways of communicating.

Cats are unable to hear their owners’ speech, but they are aware that they are being spoken to, especially when they keep eye contact.

According to research published in Scientific Reports, the eyes are crucial in human-to-cat communication when it comes to communicating emotions. Positive emotional responses are connected with the narrowing of the eyes.

When people blink slowly while making high-pitched noises, cats mimic the behavior. A real human grin produces a comparable reaction to eye narrowing motions.

As a result, this aids in the development of a close link with cats that know and repeat this communication approach.

While cats do not close their eyes completely during this kind of communication, the effect is quite similar and might be mistaken for sleepiness.

Why Do Cats Close Their Eyes When They Groom?

Cats only groom themselves when it is safe to do so. As a consequence, they don’t need to be on high alert and may clean themselves while shutting their eyes.

Cats groom themselves not just to keep their hair clean, but also to calm and comfort themselves. This, according to animal specialists, is a reaction to dangerous or humiliating situations.

It’s a type of self-medication that relieves stress in the same way as a natural kind of medicine does.

This indicates that the grooming procedure is pleasurable, and cats shut their eyelids as a show of pleasure. Similarly, when brushing their faces, cats close their eyes.

This is for practical reasons, as it decreases the chance of scratching and injuring their eyes with their claws. It also keeps particles from falling into their eyes while cleaning.

If your cat closes its eyes while being groomed with a brush or comb, it is most likely unhappy.

If your cat is a long-haired breed with a lot of knots and mattes, eye-closing is an indication that they’re attempting to get through the uncomfortable procedure.

This is occasionally followed by a bite or scratch from the cat as a warning to the owner to quit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

A cat’s long, languid blinks communicate affection when it welcomes another cat or a person. Because shutting one’s eyes in the company of another is the ultimate show of confidence in the feline world.

By carefully blinking at your cat, you’re signaling that you’re aware of its existence and don’t represent a threat.

Kittens exhibit primary objectives after birth and are completely reliant on their mothers for survival. They usually don’t open their eyes until seven to 10 days have passed.

Kittens develop swiftly and begin to explore the world beyond the nest after around two weeks.

Drop your questions in the comments section below!