The "slow blink" thing backfired on me BIG TIME

I read online that slow blinking at your cat shows trust and makes them feel safe. So last week I tried it with my rescue cat Mabel while she was watching me from across the room. She stopped, stared at me for a solid 10 seconds, then walked over and bit my hand HARD. Not a playful bite either, it drew blood. I think I misread her mood completely because she had her ears pinned back the whole time. Now she won't come near me when I'm sitting in that chair. Has anyone else tried the slow blink trick and gotten attacked instead of loved?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.dylan21d ago

That's the thing about these little life hacks people share online, they act like animals are robots you can just program with one move. I've seen it with dogs too, my buddy tried that whole "speak in a high pitched voice to show you're friendly" thing with a nervous rescue and the dog just tucked tail and hid under the couch for two days straight. People forget that animals have moods and histories and you gotta read the whole picture, not just one trick. Mabel was probably telling you to back off with those pinned ears and you missed the obvious sign because you were too focused on the slow blink thing.

sandra_black21d ago

Oh you're not alone in that one. My friend Jessica tried the slow blink thing with her orange tabby named Gouda and the cat just stared back with his tail twitching like a metronome. She thought she was doing it right, like really slow and deliberate, and then he just lunged forward and latched onto her forearm. She had to go get a tetanus shot that afternoon at urgent care. Now every time she sits in her reading chair he gives her this side eye from behind the curtains. She said the bite marks looked like a tiny vampire tried to eat her.