Given that nocturnal feline wanderers seem almost miraculously to find their way home, however, cats certainly traverse the landscape at night quickly and confidently. They leap up on furniture, chase toys, and roam the house even when the lights are low. This is why a lot of people assume that cats can see in pitch darkness. And what the facts are, they’re a little more complicated. Cats are not able to see in complete darkness, but their eyes work much better than ours with very little light. Their eyes are adapted for low light, so this provides them with a unique edge. In this comprehensive guide, we take a look at how cats see, what they see at night, and why they’re such adept nighttime wanderers.
Why Cats See Better in the Dark
Cats have scurr-shaped eyes, enabling them to see in the dark. They have more rod cells in their eyes than human eyes. Rod cells are important for seeing in low light and detecting movement. These cells are more sensitive in low light than cone cells, which register color and detail. Cats have many more rod cells, the photoreceptors in the eyes that enable our sight in dim light.
Cats also have a unique reflective layer behind the retina known as tapetum lucidum. When light passes through the eye but is not absorbed, this layer reflects the light toward the retina. This gives the eye a second opportunity to see it. That is why you see your cat’s eyes glowing when the lights are turned off at night.
Their pupil shape is another key characteristic. Cat eyes have vertical slits that dilate type of wide if there’s not much light. This large opening allows in more light, much like a window needs to be opened larger to let in more air. In the presence of a bright light, these slits form a “thread” to shield the eye.
Can Cats See in the Dark?
That is one of the FAQs. The response is easy: No, cats cannot see in absolute darkness. As with people, cats need at least minimal light to be able to see. They can’t manufacture their own light. But they require far less light than humans do. A little bit of moonlight, the light of a streetlamp through a window, even just enough glow leaking from a distant room: they can comfortably wander in mere shadow.
So when your cat struts around a dim room like she’s walking the runway, it’s not because it’s pitch black. There is usually a small amount of light in the room, and your cat’s eyes maximize it.
What Cats Really See in the Dark
Cats don’t have the same vision as humans, especially at night. They have eyes that spot movement and shape more than itty-bitty detail. In low light, cats are better at seeing outlines and shapes than we are. But they do not have as good of sight. A cat will see small details in fuzzy.
Colors also look different. Cats don’t see colors the way humans do. Their eyes shift to focus on greys and muted tones at night. They depend more on light and contrast, less on color. That’s why they’re great hunters; they can see the movement of something as small as a penny.
Whereas humans have better vision in bright light, cats can see better in low light. Bt their night vision certainly gives them an advantage in the early morning or evening, a lot of which is when many cats have historicallyButrept out to play or hunt.
Why Cats Developed Night Vision
Knowing cat night vision means looking at their past. Cats are not strictly nocturnal, but they are crepuscular. These are low-light times, and better night vision helped wild cats survive, hunt, and avoid danger.
Their forebears pursued smaller prey that was active at these times. With the gift of night vision, cats could follow movement and capture prey even in low light or no light. Although today a household cat doesn’t need to forage to survive, it’s inherent nonetheless.
(Cats who zoom around the house early in the morning or late at night may be underexercising, for this reason.) Their bodies, their senses are still adapted to low-light moves.
How Cats Navigate When It’s Really Dark
Cats may be able to see better than humans can in dim light, but still not so well that they don’t have other tools at their disposal than their eyes. Cats use a combination of senses to navigate in darkness.
Whiskers
Cats use whiskers to feel nearby objects. They sense changes in air pressure and assist a cat to calculate distance and dimension. This can be very helpful when light levels are low.
Hearing
Cats have excellent hearing. They can hear very quiet sounds and tell where a sound is coming from. Their ears swivel to detect sound from various directions.
Smell
Cats also rely heavily on their sense of smell. It allows them to identify the individuals and contexts even when their vision is not as sharp.
With this variety of senses coming together, cats can navigate their bodies, explore, and hunt efficiently the absence of light efficiently.
Falsehoods Relating To The Night Vision Of Cats
There are a few myths about the way that cats can see in the dark: Here are some of the most prevalent ones:
Myth 1: Cats can see perfectly in the dark.
This is false. It is still true that cats need some light to see.
Myth 2: Cats see like humans at night.
Also false. They have good, but not sharp or colorful, night vision.
Myth Number 3: A cat’s vision is always superior to a human’s.
Not true. Humans have good vision in bright light and color vision.
Conclusion
Cats don’t actually see in the dark with magic; they’re just equipped with some pretty impressive tools to allow them to see much better than we do at night. Their eyes are optimized to collect trace amounts of light. They also use their whiskers, listening and sense of smell to find their way around safely in the dark. They are not able to see in complete darkness, but they have very advanced vision in low lighting. Learning about cats’ vision will allow you to understand more about your pet’s natural inclinations and habits, particularly during the evening when their sight is at its best.
FAQs
Is it even possible for a cat to see in total darkness?
No, not unless they have a little light to guide them. They have no night vision.
Why do my cat’s eyes reflect at night?
One reason is that their eyes reflect; they have a reflective layer inside the eye that bounces light back out.
Do cats see color at night?
Cats only have a limited color vision, and at night most colors will look muted or gray to them.
What can cats see in the dark?
They are good at detecting shapes and movement, but detail rapidly becomes a never-ending blur beyond short distances.
Can indoor cats see in the dark’?
Yes. Night vision even allows them to navigate in dim rooms without hunting.