Warrior Cats | Guide And Extras

Eye Communication

A cats' eyes are seen as a way to tell their emotions other than their body language. Below showcases how they communicate with their eyes.

(Source: http://petcarefacts.com/blog/training-and-behavior/cat-eyes-the-various-shapes-and-expressions)

| Dilated Pupils |

Cat pupils dilate generally to absorb more light, but dilation is also is an indication of what mood a cat is in. Usually when the pupils dilate at night, it is because it is dark outside and the cat is trying to absorb as much light as possible to be able to see clearly.

If the pupils are fully dilated in bright daytime, it may either be in panic mode, in physical pain, or preparing to fight or flee. If the cat’s eyes are dilated as such in the day, use caution in your movements, and be careful not to do anything sudden that might seem like a threat to it.

| Slit-like Pupils |

Similar to pupil dilating, the slit-shaped pupil is a cat’s natural defense against burning its eyes, or taking too much light in. Therefore it is quite common to see a cat with smaller pupils out on a sunny day.

| Semi-closed/Fluttering Eyes |

The fluttering of eyelids usually reflects fatigue in a cat, and shows that it is relaxed or ambivalent to its surroundings.

Squinting eyes is a sign of distinct contentment and carefree rest, since the cat is in what it feels to be a safe environment, and is evidently not on the alert.

It can be considered a cats' "smiling face" when its eyes are little upward-pointing lines of happiness. The semi-closed, squinted, fluttering eyes indicate that the kitty is off its guard and is inclined to doze off, or launch into a full-fledged cat nap.

| Winking |

Some believe that winking is a subconscious reaction in cats that has no reflection on the animal’s emotion or state of being. However, it is believed that winking is a sign of trust, security and confidence that cats only seem to communicate with their owners on occasion.

When a cat is worried or feels threatened, its eyes are wide and engaged, as opposed to relaxed and winking which it does when in a secure and peaceful zone.

| Staring Contest |

Unswerving eye contact occurs often between cats and Twolegs. Cats lock eyes to engage in battle of “who will look away first” or to challenge an opponent.

Staring is a way cats “read” if someone is a threat or enemy, or assess how willing the person may be to back down.

Intense eye contact between animals might build to hissing/howling and even scratching/biting and other physical attacks. Or it could serve as a territorial warning system between creatures. Whoever seems the more determined of the two establishes dominance and is deemed the winner.

With Twolegs, the cat can see that they are a much larger creature than itself, but the age-old instinct that eye contact suggests a challenge runs deep in the feline’s blood. This is why cats will relentlessly hold eye contact with their owners until one of them looks away.