Pet Cat: Their Emotions Through their Pupils

Mesmerizing eyes

Whether they are blue, green, or gold, round, oval, or almond-shaped, your cat’s eyes communicate emotions through physiological changes in pupil size and eyelid position. A pet cat’s pupils can shrink down to the narrowest slits or widen into black pools. The eyelids can be fully open, partially closed, or straight.

The causes of these changes can be emotional arousal. Such as fear, aggression, pleasure or emotion, or environmental, such as a change in ambient light levels. Their pupils will tell you much more than you imagine as we have commented so far. In addition to the pupils, the eyes are also important to take them into account.

Eyes wide open

Alert, wide-open eyes indicate confidence. In friendly greetings, the cats are in normal dilation. The eyelids may be squinted, the eyebrows are soft, and the pet cat may offer rubs on the cheeks. Accept this as a sign of love and trust.

The Stare of your Pet Cat

When a pet cat begins to show interest, the eyes look more directly with an unblinking gaze at the object, person, or animal of interest, and the pupils dilate slightly. The general message is “I know you are there and I don’t want to fight.” 

But the unblinking gaze is also a communication megaphone for aggressive cats who want to be adversaries. This is an important control message in multi-cat households with limited resources such as food, water, litter box, toys, and territory. People often lose the signal due to subtlety.

Direct gaze

A direct look at feline language is threatening and confrontational. The pupils of an offensively aggressive pet cat may be cracked or dilated. Pointed lids protect eyes from possible injury. In defensive aggression, the pupils dilate, and the eyebrows furrow. Avoid interacting with this pet cat. If you are unfamiliar with a particular cat, avoid the risk of injury by not making direct eye contact.

Pain within your Pet Cat

Cats wear a poker face when it comes to pain, but the eyes can be the indicator of pain in the body or in the eyes themselves. When a cat experiences pain in the body, the pupils dilate. A pet cat experiencing eye pain may have dilated or constricted pupils, depending on the underlying injury or disease. Squinting also indicates pain in the body or eyes. Bloodshot eyes can also indicate pain.

Slow blinking of the eyes

Slow blinks express love and trust. The eyes, with the lids, partially closed, have a dreamy appearance, as if the cats were in a state of drowsiness. If you’re the lucky recipient of a slow blink, return the show of affection with a reciprocal slow blink to share the love.

Feline body language is often subtle, confusing, and sometimes contradictory. Since our cats cannot verbally express their feelings to us, we must know their body language. Consider the surrounding context and recognize the peculiarities of each individual.