How Do Cats See the World?

The Science Behind How Cats See

Can Cats See in the Dark?

No, contrary to popular belief, cats cannot see in complete darkness. But their eyes are exceptionally well adapted to low-light conditions, giving them much better nighttime vision than humans. Due to their larger corneas their nighttime vision is eight times better than a human’s, allowing cats to detect things in low-light levels.

A cat’s night-time vision is eight times better than that of a human.

What Colours Can Cats See?

Cats don’t see the full range of colours that humans do. They have difficulty distinguishing reds and greens, while blue and yellow shades are easier for them to see. That’s why blue or yellow toys may stand out more clearly to your cat.

Though greens and reds are harder for cats to make out, fast-moving objects or vehicles appear more intense. Cats have a blind spot right under their chin.

Blue or yellow toys may stand out more clearly to your cat.

How Does Cat Vision Help Them Hunt?

Compared to a dog’s 20/75 vision, cats have slightly better long-distance vision at 20/30. They also have a wide 200-degree field of vision (20 degrees more than humans), allowing them to detect movement from the sides, making them excellent hunters.

“Knowing how your cat sees the world—including their need to be close to objects to see them clearly—helps us better understand their behaviours, from those intense stares to their sudden pounces,” says Trevorrow.

How to Create a Cat-Friendly Space

• While cats struggle to see reds and greens, their eyes are alive to movements and shapes, and the way that light is reflected.
• Selecting toys in shades of blue or yellow can help your cat to spot it better.
• Colour isn’t everything; cats are excited by motion.
• Despite the popular belief, cats cannot see in complete darkness.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. 
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