@Lynx, I have been very lucky to own two very loving cats. <3 I had one bad one who would bite and pee everywhere, but I don't like to talk about him because we had to re-home him because of all that.
i met a cat who was also kind of grumpy but really sweet and trusting. she passed away though sadly, mother of the stray kittens we take care of these days
I've tried doing a slow blink to my cat and he never does it back. XD That might be because I have glasses though. I have seen him slow blink at me multiple times though!
There areYouTube videos on how to understand cats, what they like and what they don't, all that. It personally helped me understand my cat friend a lot better.