Domestic cats are the subject of a new study which examines the communicatory significance of slow blinking between humans and the animals. The study showed that cats are more likely to slow blink at their owners when they also receive a slow blink, compared to no interaction or a neutral facial expression. The cats were also found to approach their owners more often after a slow-blink interaction. The research indicates that interspecies communication could be a crucial part of enhancing the cat-human bond. The study concludes that the slow blink may be a positive emotional signal in cats, as it is in other species.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73426-0