How CATS SEE – Colors, Visual Field and Curiosities

Cat eyes can take on different shapes and colors, many of which are striking and mysterious. However, its structure and functions are similar to those of humans, with the exception of some peculiarities such as the great reflective capacity of its retina. Here we tell you more about how are the eyes of cats:

• Vision in the darkAlthough cats can see in the dark, the reality is that they need at least a little light to see in the dark. However, their night vision is better than that of many animals and much better than that of humans.
• Eyes adapted for hunting: The eyes of cats are huge compared to the size of their skull. This structure is repeated in all nocturnal animals and its reason is attributed to hunting. Cats have evolved and have adapted their bodies to hunt for more hours a day, so their eyes have grown in size over the years to make room for the structures they need to do so.
• Great sensitivity to light: the cornea and lens are large compared to the back of the cat’s eyes. In turn, the lens is separated from the front of the eye. Thanks to this constitution, the cat has an enormous capacity to capture light and, when it decreases, the size of the pupil increases to capture more of it.
• The reason why your eyes shine: Another structure that is part of the cat’s eye is the Tapetum lucidum, a bluish-colored coating found in many vertebrate animals. Located behind the retina, this layer is a membrane made up of reflective cells that allow a greater amount of light to penetrate the eye. It also increases the sensitivity of rods, light-sensitive cells. If you’ve ever wondered why your cat’s eyes shine in photos, this is why!
• They don’t need to blink so often: Cats have a third eyelid, a nictitating membrane whose function is to protect the eyeball. Thanks to this web, these felines do not have the need to blink to keep their eyes lubricated, something that is very advantageous when hunting, as they do not miss one!

Do you want to know all the secrets of night vision? In our article How Nocturnal Animals Can See in the Dark, we tell you all about it.

Many people believe that cats are not capable of distinguishing colors, while others claim that they have the same ability to see them as we do. The truth is that yes they can distinguish colorsespecially green and blue, but not as sharp as humans do.

On the other hand, cats have a field of vision superior to that of humans. According to a study carried out by Nickolay Lamm, from the University of Pennsylvania, cats have a field of vision of 200º, while that of people is 180º. This means that they will be able to see more things at the same time. As for their peripheral vision, of 30º, it is also better than that of humans, of 20º. Unfortunately, with such large eyes, they have difficulty seeing far away and focusing.

What colors do cats see

To develop all the visual skills they need as predators, cats’ eyes had to abandon other faculties during evolution. For that reason, they cannot distinguish colors well, nor can they see very well from a distance.

Cats have color-sensitive cones green and blue, but they cannot see shades of red, brown, and orange. Have you asked yourself how cats see people? Well, they see them with lackluster colors, with a predominance of yellowish and pale blue tones. In the dark, cats lose the ability to see colors, so their vision turns a dark sepia tone, almost black and white.

If it is daytime, they will perceive you a little blurry. However, at night, they will see you with very good sharpness and with well-defined contours, as you can see in this photograph taken by Lamm. You will not lose sight of him!

Image: Nickolay Lamm

As you have already seen, the eyes of cats hide great secrets, because there are more curiosities of these that will surely surprise you.

Are white cats deaf?

There are those who think that all white cats are deaf, but it is a wrong belief. There is a gene called W, which determines albinism in cats. When this gene is dominant, a complete depigmentation of the animal’s fur occurs, masking its original color.

If a cat, by genetics, has acquired this gene, it will be white. At the same time, it could also be deaf, since deafness is linked to this gene. It is considered that if both eyes of the albino cat are blue, there will be a higher possibility that it is deaf. If, on the other hand, he presents heterochromia (one eye of each color), the risk of being born deaf will decrease.

All cats are born with blue eyes

A curious and interesting fact about the eyes of cats is that absolutely all are born with blue eyes. Baby cats’ eyes will remain closed until their seventh day of life, at which point they will open them, even though they will not be able to see yet. Your vision will only develop after a few weeks and the color of your eyes will be defined in a period of 12 weeks. If you want to know more about it, do not hesitate to visit our article When newborn cats open their eyes.

Eyes reveal the mood of cats

Keep in mind that the eyes are part of the cat body language And to understand them, you need to look at them. For example, when the cat has its eyes half closed and blinks, this usually communicates calm. If, on the other hand, your eyes are wide and you keep your gaze fixed on something without blinking, this may be a warning sign or that there is something that you consider a threat.

They are sensitive to rapid movements

Finally, cats perceive fast-moving objects perfectly, but slow movements are perceived as if the object is not moving. This is due to their hunting instincts! This is why they are passionate about playing with lasers and other fast-moving toys, which helps stimulate their vision and exercise their instincts at home.

Cats eyes can also get sick. If you notice something strange in your pet’s eyes, don’t hesitate to take it to the vet immediately.

If you want to read more articles similar to How cats see, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.