Reasons Why Cats Close Their Eyes When You Pet Them

An essential part of pet care is staying attuned to your animal’s emotional needs and responding accurately to these bids for connection. A big part of this is petting your cat! Animals vary in their desire for tactile interaction, but most of them will appreciate a massage here and there. In the course of giving your cat a good head or backrub, you might have noticed that it tends to close its eyes. So, why do cats close their eyes when you pet them? 

When cats close their eyes while being petted, they are communicating the ultimate level of trust. They feel content and safe, with no need to be on the alert. It’s also a sign that they’re enjoying the attention. 

If you’re a cat lover and lucky enough to share your living space with a feline of your own, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep your furry roommate safe and happy. You probably know that in addition to a healthy diet, exercise, mental stimulation, and regular visits to the vet, most pets crave love and attention just like we do. They communicate with us loudly and clearly through body language and vocalization.

What Do Cats Eyes Tell You

Cats’ eyes are incredibly expressive. If you know your cat well, you can probably recognize contentment, sadness, annoyance, or ecstasy. Here are some physical descriptions you might observe in your feline and what they convey.

Pupil Size

Cats’ pupils will dilate when they’re in a heightened state of arousal. This can translate to excitement, fear, or defensiveness. 

If you see your cat’s pupils growing, it means they have decided that the situation at hand deserves more attention,

When the pupil is enlarged, it helps the optical receptors receive as much information about their surroundings. You must take cues from other parts of the cat’s body to see if this attention is negative or positive. 

An arched back and bushy tail is a sign of defensiveness. A waving tail and lots of meowing could mean excitement over that can of food you’re opening.

Narrowed Pupils

Pupils that have narrowed into slits convey strong emotions as well, often anger, annoyance, or aggression. Coupled with arched eyelids and a tense body, your cat, may be poised for attack. 

Vertical pupils aid predatory animals in their hunting and night vision capacity. The unique eye shape affords them a sharper depth-perception than those with round pupils or horizontal slits. 

A cat’s eyes at rest will also be on the narrow side, though not as narrow as can be described as ‘slits.’ Paired with a relaxed body, smiling eyes, and a gently moving tail, you’re in the presence of a happy cat. 

Like human eyes, a cat’s pupils will change size to adjust to the light input they receive. That’s why it helps to look for other clues in your cat’s body language to decode his or her messages.

Slow Blinking

Is your cat making eyes at you? A cat may slowly open and close its eyes dreamily – these eye movements are like little kisses from your pet and exude contentment, love, and trust. 

Feel free to slow-blink in return to let your cat know it’s mutual!

Should You Make Eye Contact With Cats 

As a general rule, it’s perfectly ok to make eye contact with your cat. You might notice that your friendly feline will opt to make eye contact with you when he or she wants food, attention, or when you “talk” to each other. 

Problems may arise when attempting to maintain prolonged eye contact. Animals use eye contact to establish dominance amongst themselves and view prolonged eye contact as aggressive or threatening. 

A weaker adversary will avert their eyes submissively in deference to the stronger one, which is why cats have been known to seek out the one person in the crowd who doesn’t like them!

Why Is My Cat Staring

A cat’s senses operate on a delicately acute level. While you might be sharing the same space, you do not necessarily see the same things. 

Many cat owners have observed their very intelligent pets spending hours staring at the wall. What are they staring at? 

A cat’s keen sense of vision might lead him or her to follow the path of a minuscule insect or carefully stalk a floating speck of dust.

It’s also possible that in those moments, cats are applying their sensitive ears more than their sharp eyes. Cats can detect the sounds of air moving through your vents or small animals moving about in your walls (sorry).

Maybe your cat is staring at you! A cat is wired to visually monitor its surroundings, and that includes you. You are the source of their food, attention, and care. It is natural for them to maintain a certain interest in your actions as they survey the scene. 

Cats’ eyes are engineered differently than humans’. While we rely on the closing of our eyelids to keep our eyes hydrated, cats have the added benefit of a third type of eyelid, a thin layer called the nictitating membrane, to moisten and remove debris from the eyes. This saves them the need for frequent blinking. 

Don’t get into a staring contest with your cat – they’ll probably win!

Do Cats Like To Be Petted

Generally, yes. Contrary to the widespread view that cats are aloof and uncaring animals, most house cats build strong relationships with their owners and enjoy their touch. 

However, you may have gotten mixed messages while attempting to show your kitty some love and left with battle scars. Your cat may be trying to tell you that that spot is not one of its preferred petting areas.

Many people make the mistake of equating cats with dogs. Though they share some affinity for the same rub zones, not all places will receive a thumbs – er – paws up from your finicky feline.

If your cat rolls on its back, exposing its tummy, that’s a good sign! Your cat feels safe enough to reveal its most vulnerable side. At the same time, you’ll want to be careful – it’s tempting to reach out and feel that fluffy underside, but most cats don’t appreciate being petted in that spot. 

Of course, there are cats out there who break the mold and do enjoy a belly rub. See how your cat reacts when it’s in a relaxed state and refrain from continuing if you observe any agitation.

Other places that seem to bother cats when touched are their paws and tail. 

Where Do Cats Like To Be Stroked The Most

The most popular spots on a cat’s body are the head, under the chin and across the shoulders and back. 

When initiating a stroke session with your cat, it’s polite to offer your hand for sniffing to see if your cat is in the mood. Your feline will often rub his or her face against your hand as a way of granting permission to start. 

Rubbing against you is also how your cat transfers its scents onto you from the glands in its cheeks. This is called “bunting” and expresses your cat’s desire to be associated with you and your scent. 

A cat will continue to rub against your legs, hand, or whatever part of you is near them to encourage your pettings. You will also hear a gentle rumbling coming from their throats – a cat’s purr is another way to know they’re feeling content. 

Petting your cat is one of the fundamental ways the two of you can bond for life. Once you know your furry friend’s unique preferences and become more familiar with his or her body language, you’ll be well on your way to helping your cat feel safe and loved, and you’ll feel great as well.

Final Thoughts

Cats, even indoor cats, retain the nuanced, live-saving instincts they inherited from their wild counterparts. They possess highly-attuned senses and lightning reflexes, as you might find out if you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself on the receiving end of those sharp claws.

With all their tendencies of self-preservation, a cat that befriends humans will learn the precious phenomenon that is trust in another being. If your cat closes its eyes when you pet him or her, you’ve received just about your feline buddy’s highest compliment.