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Feline friendly? How to build rap-paw with your cat

Press/Media: Research

Dr Leanne Proops

Description

Research co-supervised by Leanne Proops finds evidence that narrowing your eyes at a cat builds a rapport with them

Period	7 Oct 2020 → 13 Feb 2021

References

Title	Tell me you love me
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Fauquier Times-Democrat
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	13/02/21
Description	They speak without words, and that says a lot. Your dog tilts his head a certain way or places a paw just so, and you swear you know what he’s saying. Or maybe your cat “speaks” to you with her body language, rubbing against your leg, purring and gazing adoringly into your eyes. You just know she’s telling you she loves you.
Producer/Author	Amanda Gray
URL	https://www.fauquier.com/lifestyles/telll-me-you-love-me/article_e1619fa2-6e24-11eb-bfc9-83463f302be2.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	What blinking slowly means to cats, according to science
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	ProtoThemaNews.com
Media type	Web
Country	Greece
Date	5/01/21
Description	Scientists confirm that slow blinks are an effective way to connect with a cat
URL	en.protothema.gr/what-blinking-slowly-means-to-cats-according-to-science/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Purr-fect petting: How to bond with cats
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The Star Malaysia Online
Media type	Web
Country	Malaysia
Date	2/12/20
Description	Researchers in Britain have shed some light on how to build a “rap-paw” with your cat, or even your friend or neighbour’s cat, for that matter. Instead of simply smiling, it seems that the key to feline bonding is to slow blink at a cat.
URL	https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2020/12/02/purr-fect-petting-how-to-bond-with-cats
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Study finds that slow blinking can help owners bond with their cats
Media name/outlet	MRCVS.co.uk
Country	United Kingdom
Date	11/11/20
Description	A study conducted by psychologists at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth has revealed for the first time that a slow blinking technique can be used as a form of positive communication between cats and humans.
URL	https://www.mrcvs.co.uk/en/news-story.php?id=19856
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	How To Get A Cat To Like You, According To Scientific Study
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	YourTango
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	6/11/20
Description	According to a study from Nature journal Scientific Reports, cats are sensitive to human cues that facilitate competition between different species of the same ecological area, including cues to the emotional state.
Producer/Author	Megan Hatch
URL	https://www.yourtango.com/2020337838/how-get-cat-you-according-scientific-study
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Want the cat owner to like you? Try blinking slowly
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Sina
Media type	Web
Country	China
Date	29/10/20
Description	Scientists have discovered that squinting the eyes is the best way to establish a rapport with cats
Producer/Author	Wang Jiayuan
URL	https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2020-10-29/doc-iiznezxr8693529.shtml
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	This is the secret to winning the affection of your cat in 3 steps, according to psychologists
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Country Living
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	29/10/20
Description	Want to strengthen the bond with your cat? A team of psychologists from the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth have discovered a clever trick to help you win the affection of your cat — and all it takes is your eyes.
Producer/Author	Lisa Walden
URL	https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a34490630/cat-affection-human-trick/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	The secret to winning the affection of your cat in 3 steps has been revealed
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Yahoo!
Media type	Web
Country	India
Date	29/10/20
Description	Research, which was published in the Nature Journal Scientific Reports, found that narrowing your eyes is the best way to build a strong bond with your cat. In fact, when humans slowly blink and mimic what is known as the 'cat smile', it forms a positive communication between cats and humans.
URL	https://in.style.yahoo.com/secret-winning-affection-cat-3-080000482.html?src=rss
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Blink slowly if you want to bond with your cat, say researchers
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	TimesLIVE
Media type	Web
Country	South Africa
Date	28/10/20
Description	A research team from the universities of Sussex and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom have discovered it is possible to build rapport with your cat by using an eye narrowing technique.
Producer/Author	Sanet Oberholzer
URL	https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2020-10-28-blink-slowly-if-you-want-to-bond-with-your-cat-say-researchers/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	How to Become a Cat Whisperer! (It’s the Slow Blink Technique)
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Jewel92.com
Media type	Web
Country	Canada
Date	17/10/20
Description	If you want to bond with your cat, slow-blink at it. The subtle movement of a ‘slow blink’ is the cat equivalent of a human smile and allows a rapport to build up between human and animal, scientists say.
Producer/Author	Bob Murray
URL	https://jewel92.com/2020/10/17/how-to-become-a-cat-whisperer-its-the-slow-blink-technique/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Purr-fect petting: Study sheds light on how to bond with cats
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Philippine Daily Inquirer
Media type	Web
Country	Philippines
Date	17/10/20
Description	Researchers at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom have studied cat-human interaction, offering some insight into how cat owners can bond with their pets.
URL	https://technology.inquirer.net/104845/purr-fect-petting-study-sheds-light-on-how-to-bond-with-cats
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Purr-fect petting: Study sheds light on how to bond with cats
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Yahoo!
Media type	Web
Country	Singapore
Date	16/10/20
Description	Researchers in the UK have shed some light on how to build a "rap-paw" with your cat, or even your friend or neighbor's cat, for that matter. Instead of simply smiling, it seems that the key to feline bonding is to slow blink at a cat.
URL	https://sg.style.yahoo.com/purr-fect-petting-study-sheds-101859428.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Research: Squinting your eyes slowly can increase emotional communication with cats
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	EpochTimes.com
Media type	Web
Country	China
Date	13/10/20
Description	An experiment by scientists verified that by squinting the eyes like a cat, the owner can better make the cat understand how friendly people are to it.
URL	https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/20/10/12/n12470437.htm
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	‘Slow-Blinking’ May Help Humans Bond With Cats, Study Says
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Hamzala.com
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	13/10/20
Description	A new study about cat-human communication has provided scientific evidence of what many cat lovers already suspected: “Slow-blinking” may help people bond with their feline companions.
URL	https://www.hamzala.com/178696/slow-blinking-may-help-humans-bond-with-cats-study-says/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Doing the 'Cat Smile' Actually Gets Cats To Like You, Confirms Study
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Interesting Engineering
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	12/10/20
Description	Psychologists from the University of Sussex and the University of Portsmouth have recently released a study regarding the relationship between humans and cats. According to the study, humans can positively communicate with cats as long as they "slow blink".
Producer/Author	Irmak Bayrakdar
URL	https://interestingengineering.com/doing-the-cat-smile-actually-gets-cats-to-like-you-confirms-study?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=article&utm_content=12102020
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	New study finds humans can communicate with cats by blinking slowly
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	KZTV-TV Online
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	12/10/20
Description	A recent study found that it’s possible to build rapport with your cat by using an eye narrowing technique with them, which generates a cat smile, also known as a “slow blink.”
Producer/Author	Sarah Dewberry
URL	https://www.kztv10.com/news/national/new-study-finds-humans-can-communicate-with-cats-by-blinking-slowly
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	New study finds humans can communicate with cats by blinking slowly
Media name/outlet	Todays TMJ4
Country	United States
Date	12/10/20
Description	A recent study published in the online journal Scientific Reports found that cats will appear friendlier and more approachable to humans who use slow-blinking, eye-narrowing facial expressions, which psychologists at the Universities of Portsmouth and Sussex referred to as a "cat smile."
Producer/Author	Sarah Dewberry
URL	https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/new-study-finds-humans-can-communicate-with-cats-by-blinking-slowly
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Researchers prove that the trick that cats like is "blink slowly"
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Gigazine
Media type	Web
Country	Japan
Date	9/10/20
Description	A team at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Sussex have demonstrated that the act of "blinking slowly" has the effect of making friends with the cats they meet for the first time.
URL	https://gigazine.net/news/20201009-slow-blinks-communicate-cat/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	You Can Communicate With Your Cat By Blinking At Them
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Pretty 52
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Research by scientists at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth claims cats respond to what is known as the 'Duchenne Smile'
Producer/Author	Lucy Devine
URL	https://www.tyla.com/news/news-how-to-communicate-with-your-cat-blinking-eyes-narrow-study-20201008
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Study Finds Slow Blinking Is Key To Befriending Cats
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Lad Bible
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	A new study has found you can win over your feline friends by narrowing your eyes or slow blinking at them
Producer/Author	Claire Reid
URL	https://www.ladbible.com/news/animals-study-finds-slow-blinking-is-key-to-befriending-cats-20201008
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	How to make friends with cats, according to science
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	New York Post
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	8/10/20
Description	Research suggests that humans can signal goodwill by learning how cats themselves smile - that is, when a cat narrows its eyes and shuts them, holding them closed for a few brief moments. The move is a show of accord, both between cats and with their human companions.
Producer/Author	Hannah Sparks
URL	https://nypost.com/2020/10/08/how-to-make-friends-with-a-cat-according-to-science/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Narrow your eyes and blink in slow-motion to befriend your cat, scientists find
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The Independent
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	According to research cats are one of several animals that respond to the so-called Duchenne smile, which is defined as a natural smile that sees people raise the corners of their mouth and create crow’s feet around the eyes.
Producer/Author	Olivia Petter
URL	https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/cats-befriend-narrow-eyes-slow-motion-b881945.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Narrow your eyes and 'cat smile' if you want more feline affection
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The Telegraph
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Narrowing your eyes is the best way to win the affection of cats, scientists have discovered
URL	https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/08/narrow-eyes-cat-smile-want-feline-affection/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	How to get your cat to like you: Smile like them, study says. Here’s how to do it
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The Charlotte Observer
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	8/10/20
Description	Researchers might have found a way to strengthen you and your cat’s bond. All you have to do is squint your eyes, proceed with a “slow blink.”
Producer/Author	Katie Camero
URL	https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article246318635.html#storylink=rss
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Feline friendly? How to build rap-paw with your cat – new psychology study
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Mirage News
Media type	Web
Country	Australia
Date	8/10/20
Description	‘The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication’, published online in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, has shown for the first time that it is possible to build rapport with a cat by using an eye narrowing technique with them.
URL	https://www.miragenews.com/feline-friendly-how-to-build-rap-paw-with-your-cat-new-psychology-study/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	BBC Somerset Coverage
Degree of recognition	Regional
Media name/outlet	BBC Somerset
Media type	Radio
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Radio coverage of research co-supervised by Dr Leanne Proops which finds evidence that narrowing your eyes at a cat builds a rapport with them
Producer/Author	BBC
URL	tiny.cc/4sbzsz
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	How to get your cat to like you: Smile like them, study says. Here's how to do it
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Daily Magazine
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	8/10/20
Description	The "eye narrowing" technique isn't particularly new, but it's the first time it's been tested in a controlled experiment, according to the researchers, who say the eye play may be a form of "positive emotional communication between cats and humans."
URL	www.dailymagazine.news/how-to-get-your-cat-to-like-you-smile-like-them-study-says-here-s-how-to-do-it-nid-1326167.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Here's how to build a better bond with your cat - according to scientists
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The Ellon Times
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Scientists have discovered that narrowing your eyes is the best way to build a rapport with cats.
Producer/Author	Steve Deeks
URL	https://www.ellontimes.co.uk/read-this/heres-how-build-better-bond-your-cat-according-scientists-2997070
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Experts reveal how to have a ‘conversation’ with your cat
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	News Cabal
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Scientists have discovered narrowing your eyes is the best way to build a rapport with cats.
URL	https://www.newscabal.co.uk/experts-reveal-how-to-have-a-conversation-with-your-cat/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Cats can communicate with you via eye movement, research suggests
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	UsaTodayPost.com
Media type	Web
Country	Turkey
Date	8/10/20
Description	A team of psychologists has found a way to communicate positive emotions with cats using eye movement. The researchers from the Portsmouth and Sussex universities in the U.K. found that narrowing eyes at a cat in a movement they described as a “slow blink,” followed by a prolonged eye narrowing or closure is like smiling for cats.
URL	https://usatodaypost.com/cats-can-communicate-with-you-via-eye-movement-research-suggests/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Want to make friends with a cat? Blink slowly, say scientists
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Science Focus
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Cats are more likely to approach an outstretched hand after a slow blink, a study has found
Producer/Author	Sara Rigby
URL	https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/want-to-make-friends-with-a-cat-blink-slowly-say-scientists/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	BBC Sussex Coverage
Degree of recognition	Regional
Media name/outlet	BBC Sussex
Media type	Radio
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Radio coverage of research co-supervised by Leanne Proops, which finds evidence that narrowing your eyes at a cat builds a rapport with them
URL	tiny.cc/7lczsz
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Your Cat Will Like You, If You Slowly Blink At It: Study Says It's Like Smiling
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	India Times
Media type	Web
Country	India
Date	8/10/20
Description	A new study reveals that cats show affection too, it’s just their way of showing that is a little different, and one of the ways to make them like you depends on how you blink your eyes in front of them.
Producer/Author	Monit Khanna
URL	https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/science-and-future/cat-human-behaviour-study-524705.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Narrowing your eyes can help build a bond with your cat, 'exciting' University of Portsmouth study suggests
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The News
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	8/10/20
Description	Researchers have found that a technique mimics what is known as a cat smile – referred to as a ‘slow blink’ – appears to make the human more attractive to the cat.
Producer/Author	Steve Deeks
URL	https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/education/narrowing-your-eyes-can-help-build-bond-your-cat-exciting-university-portsmouth-study-suggests-2996469
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	If you want your cat to love you, slow-blink at it
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Mail Online
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	7/10/20
Description	Scientists have discovered a sure-fire way to win a feline over, and it centres around partially closing your eyes. The subtle movement of a 'slow blink' is the cat equivalent of a human smile and allows a rapport to build up between human and animal
Producer/Author	Joe Pinkstone
URL	https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8815681/Feline-friendly-Slow-blinking-cat-moggy-version-SMILING.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Narrowing your eyes can help build a bond with your cat, study suggests
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	News Chain
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	7/10/20
Description	Scientists have discovered narrowing your eyes is the best way to build a rapport with cats. In a study, researchers found that the technique mimics what is known as a cat smile, referred to as a ‘slow blink,’ and it appears to make the human more attractive to the cat.
URL	https://www.newschain.uk/news/narrowing-your-eyes-can-help-build-bond-your-cat-study-suggests-38338
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Feline friendly: Slow-blinking at a cat is their version of smiling
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Big World Tale
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	7/10/20
Description	The subtle movement of a ‘slow blink’ is the cat equivalent of a human smile and allows a rapport to build up between human and animal, scientists say
URL	https://bigworldtale.com/science/feline-friendly-slow-blinking-at-a-cat-is-their-version-of-smiling/
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Make friends with your cat by narrowing your eyes and slow blinks, scientists suggest
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	The i
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	7/10/20
Description	Researchers have shown for the first time that eye narrowing helps people build a rapport with cats – seeming to have a similar effect on them as smiling does on humans.
Producer/Author	Tom Bawden
URL	https://inews.co.uk/news/science/make-friends-cats-explained-narrowing-eyes-sussex-university-680454
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Feline friendly? How to build rap-paw with your cat
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Phys.org
Media type	Web
Country	United Kingdom
Date	7/10/20
Description	A study "The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication," published online in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, has shown for the first time that it is possible to build rapport with a cat by using an eye narrowing technique with them
URL	https://phys.org/news/2020-10-feline-friendly-rap-paw-cat.html
Persons	Leanne Proops

Title	Feline friendly? How to build rap-paw with your cat - new psychology study
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Newswise
Media type	Web
Country	United States
Date	7/10/20
Description	A team of psychologists at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth have purr-fected the art of building a bond with cats.
URL	https://www.newswise.com/articles/feline-friendly-how-to-build-rap-paw-with-your-cat-new-psychology-study
Persons	Leanne Proops

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