Why Do Cats Squint at Their Human Parents?

Why Do Cats Squint at Their Human Parents?

Cats are social and affectionate furry creatures. They can communicate their liking through soft purrs, head butts, gentle rubs against their owners, etc. Cat parents can quote several instances where their adorable fur balls have greeted them with gentle mews – a fur baby’s way of saying, “Glad to see you!”.

New cat owners must remember that feline pets only show fondness toward people they know well, can trust and feel close to. For instance, a kitty cat rolls onto its back when it feels safe enough to stay unguarded around specific people in the household.

While many things a cat does can be easily understood, some feline antics still appear mysterious to cat owners. One example is a cat squinting at its hooman. Cat owners familiar with a munchkin’s squinting habit may or may not take their furry pet’s actions seriously.

If squinting is a way of conveying care, then there is little to worry about. However, if a fluffy fur ball is squinting because of potential eye issues, it needs immediate medical assistance. Cat insurance NZ can help cat owners provide their fur baby with quality medical care during unexpected vet visits at economical costs.

Kitten insurance policies are available in different levels of cover, so cat parents must carefully assess their fluffy fur ball’s health needs, the benefits of various policies, and the amount they can comfortably spend to make purchasing a cat policy a manageable affair.

While reflecting on buying a pet plan, read this article to learn why cats squint at their owners.

Why do cats squint at their owners?

Standalone pets can have the whole place and everyone in the household to themselves. However, the same is not the case when multiple pets are at home. Kitty cats can be reserved in the presence of strangers; however, they will exhibit a wide range of facial expressions and gestures when intimate family members or friends are around.

The most common signs of a relaxed, contented cat are half-closed eyes and slow blinks. Suppose a cat owner squints at their cat; it might acknowledge the gesture by squinting back at them.

Many cat parents consider a kitty’s squinting act as a sign of trust, friendship, and much regard, but knowing important aspects of a cat’s eyes can help them tell apart a sign of love from a potential medical condition.

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Unique features of a cat’s eyes

  • A feline furry pet’s eyes are made up of color receptors called “Cones”. However, a kitty cat can sense only fewer color variations because they have a smaller number of cones in their eyes than humans.
  • Reflective eye cells below the retina, known as “Tapetum”, support a fur ball’s vision in low light.
  • A healthy kitty cat has strong peripheral vision due to its eyes being further apart on the face.
  • Apart from the regular upper/lower eyelids, a cat has a third layer, the “Nictating membrane”, behind the lower eyelid. This membrane retains moisture and wipes off the dust in the eyes.
  • A feline pet is near-sighted compared to humans, which is why it can squint to observe objects far away.

At the same time, many other eye conditions can cause squinting in feline fur babies. Incessant squinting, one eye squinting, etc., and other symptoms like eye discharge, redness, inflammation, and watery eyes, can be a concern for cat owners. Meet your vet to rule out potential health conditions in times like those.

Kitten insurance can cover a furry pet’s tests, treatments, medications, and more during unscheduled vet visits. So, cat owners must consider purchasing cat insurance NZ to provide their cat with timely medical help while handling unforeseen pet health expenses effectively at the same time.

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