Through a Cat’s Eye: How Cats See the World

Last Updated on May 7, 2021 by Holly Anne Dustin

Cats are crepuscular, that is, they are most active at dawn and dusk.  Cat eyes are specially designed so they can see in low light and hunt successfully. Our kitties also use their beautiful eyes to communicate with us. But how do our cats see the world?

Do Cats See Better than Humans?

Cats see the world differently than humans but not necessarily better. Human eyesight is “perfect” at 20/20. Cats have 20/150 vision. I guess I see like my cats see.

They have excellent depth perception at close range. Your Kitty’s field of peripheral vision is wider than yours. He can track a moving object better than you can too.

Their sharpest vision is 2-3 feet from their face. They are able to see things moving across their field of vision better than directly toward or away for them.

You can test this with your kitty. Have you ever held out a treat and wondered why Kitty can’t pick it off your hand. She can’t find it in front of her nose.

Hold your hand further away, in that 2 foot range, and see if she finds it quicker. Try tossing her treat or moving your hand across her field of vision. Does that seem easier for her?

Can Cats See in the Dark?

Can cats see in the dark? No, your furbaby can’t see any better than you can in complete darkness.

However, they can see in very low light. They only need one-sixth of the amount of light that humans do to be able to see. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

Your kitty can see better in low light because they have 6 to 8 times more rod cells in their eyes than we do. Rods detect brightness and shades of gray.

Cat eyes also have a layer of reflective tissue behind their retina, called the tapetum that bounces light back to the sensory cells, allowing the retina to receive more than 50% of the light available.

A cat’s pupils can dilate to full circles so they let in the maximum of light possible when out hunting at night. And the reverse is true as well.

Have you ever walked out into a bright day after a snowstorm where you can barely see? A cat’s eye is designed so well for night vision that they have that experience in the bright light of an average day. To prevent being blinded by the bright light of day they can narrow their pupils to a slit.

Are Cats Color Blind?

What about colors? Can your feline friend distinguish the same range of color that you do or does he see his world in black and white?

Just as rods help Kitty see in dim light, cone cells are responsible for seeing in color. Cats have a much higher concentration of rods but a lower number of cone receptors than their humans.

You have three types of cones that let you see red, blue, green, and combinations of them. Kitty only has cones for green and blue. Colors like red and pink look gray or black to your kitty. Where you see bright colors, Kitty sees a muted world.

This site shows a comparison between how we see and how our furry friends see.

How can Kitty see the red dot then? She probably sees the light as yellow or white. But really it’s most likely the movement. You could try to find a green or yellow laser and see if she responds better to that one.

If your furbaby has a favorite toy that is pink or red, she’s reacting to the shape, texture, or the catnip inside it. To her the toy is just dark colored. A green or blue toy might be more appealing all other things being equal but I’ve never really noticed a preference for one color over another in any of my cats. Have you?

Can Cats See Ultraviolet Light? Infrared Light?

Cats see ultraviolet light invisible to humans. A paper written by R.H. Douglas and G. Jeffery, published by the Royal Society, says that cats, and some other mammals, can see ultraviolet light. So if your cat is staring at something you can not see, it could be because something is reflecting a light outside of our visual ability to process. (He’s not seeing ghosts.)

It sounds gross to us, but cats communicate with their pee. Urine is visible in ultraviolet light. This is why a black light is a great tool for finding and solving litter box issues. The ability to see in ultraviolet also lets cats get messages sent by other cats.

Your furbaby can’t see infrared though. It might seem that way but it’s really just his extra sensitive skin that makes it easy to find the good sun puddles.

Why Does My Cat Have Three Eyelids?

Our cats have a third eyelid that retracts into the corner of their eye. This is called a nictitating membrane. This membrane provides extra protection for their eye and keeps the eye moist. You can think of it as a windshield wiper in a sense.

You shouldn’t see your cat’s third eyelid except for when he first wakes or half asleep. A swollen or irritated third eyelid could be a sign of conjunctivitis or irritation from a foreign body.

[bctt tweet=”Cats see well at night, but they sacrifice fine details and colors to be able to see well in dim light conditions.” via=”no”]

Your Cat’s Eye Health and Vision

Certain breeds of cats, such as Persians, British Shorthairs, Himalayans, and Scottish Folds, are more prone to eye problems.

Most cases of cats with watery eyes, mild yellow/green discharge from the eyes, occasional squinting, and mild redness are not emergencies and may respond to simple cleaning and home care.

Things that cause problems for your cat’s eyes include cataracts, glaucoma, and tumors. Infections, FIV, feline leukemia, and feline herpes could also cause blindness.

What Your Cat’s Eyes Tell You About His Emotions

Cat’s eyes not only help them hunt and find their way around in low light settings but help them communicate with us. Your furbaby is talking to you with his pupils and the position of his eyelids.  A cat’s pupils can shrink to narrow slits or widen into saucers. Eyelids may be fully open, partially closed, or drawn into a squint..

Alert, wide-open eyes communicate trust. In friendly greetings, pupils are at normal dilation.

If your kitty’s pupils are big and round in normal daylight, she’s excited or intrigued by something like a toy or the squirrels out the window. She could also be feeling fearful or aggressive. Pay attention to their ears to tell the difference. An aggressive cat will have ears plastered to the side of her head.

It behooves us to learn the way cat’s communicate with their eyes and pay attention to what they tell us. I got smacked in the face by a big Maine Coon I was grooming. I thought we were friends because he was good as gold for his groom.

I made the mistake of looking him in the eye when I gave him treats afterwards and he let me know that was not okay in no uncertain terms!  Aggressive cats may narrow their pupils to slits, squint their eyes, and furrow their brows. They may also be completely dilated.

When a cat is experiencing pain, her pupils will dilate. Squinting can also indicate pain.

Slow eye blinks, with lids partially closed, are your cat’s statement of love. Offer her one back. It’s a mutual admiration society.

How Cats See the World

Cats see the world the way a human who is color blind sees the world. Cats have a wider peripheral field of view than we do. Cats see well at night, but they sacrifice fine details and colors to be able to see well in dim light conditions. Our felines are perfectly designed for hunting at dawn and dusk when their prey is most active. And turning their eyes on us with slow blinking affection.