Are cats farsighted or nearsighted? Can they see things in the dark? All these questions will be answered in this article.
You have probably come across conflicting information as to how cats see the world that is around them. The fact that you cannot see through the cat’s eyes, the best way to find the truth is through research. First, you need to understand basic eye-anatomy. Each eye has a lens that allows light into the eye through the pupil. At the back of the eye, there is a retina where light and images get transmitted to the brain. You should note that cats can see motion even in the dark. However, this does not mean they have an edge in all areas.
They Cannot See in Total Darkness
The cats require only one-sixth of light humans require to see. That is because they have a lot of rods than people do. Therefore, they can detect a lot of light than humans. Also, cats have an extra layer of tissue known as tapetum lucidum that reflects light within the eye. This is actually what makes the eyes shine during the dark.
They Are Not Fully Color-blind
Although cats have more rods than humans, they have fewer cones. Moreover, the cones they have are not concentrated in the human eyes. Recent studies show that cats perceive yellows and blues fairly well, but they cannot distinguish between greens and reds. Ideally, cats perceive colors in a less intense manner than humans do.
They See Less Detail
This does not mean that your feline friends are nearsighted. You should note that nearsightedness is a vision issue that is caused by defects in the lens of the eye. For cats, the balance of cones and rods does not allow for a detailed vision. Since they have fewer cones and more rods than humans, they cannot perceive things like writings in books or leaves on trees the same way humans do.
They Have Vertical Pupils
Cats and animals that are active during the day and night have their pupils shaped as vertical slits as the shape allows pupils to change their size faster as compared to round pupils humans have. Ideally, a small pupil will allow less light to get in. Therefore, lights can be blinded by changes in light quickly than humans do.…
