Cats see the world differently than we do. Felines have a limited perception of colours, unlike us humans, who can perceive a wide range of the colour spectrum. Let us dig deeper into how the vision of a cat differs from ours.
Painting a Clearer Picture of Cat Vision
How do cats see? The retina of cats has cells called photoreceptors, which are responsible for transforming light rays into electrical signals. The nerve cells then process these signals and send them to the brain to become converted into images.
Now you might be wondering: “What do cats see?” Cats tend to see their surroundings in less vibrant colours. According to studies, they are believed to see the same colour spectrum as we do. However, the colours are closer to pastel in cat vision than Day-Glo.
Viewing the World in Different Colours
Scientists made studies to discover what vision cats have, yet it remains unclear if cats are dichromatic or trichromatic. Having dichromatic cat vision would mean felines only have 2 cones in their retinas, which limits their colour perception.
Trichromatic vision in cats, on the other hand, allows them to see all colour spectrums as they have all 3 cones in their retinas.
Some scientists think that cat eyesight is similar to colour-blind people’s. It might explain why they have a hard time perceiving certain colours.
This is not the only mystery that remains unanswered about cat vision. Experts are still debating what colours cats perceive clearly. Some speculate that felines see blue and yellow shades better.
Others argue that shades of blue and green are more visible to a cat’s eyes. Distinguishing red and pink might be confusing as these colours will appear green to a cat’s vision.
Making out purple shades can be tricky too, since they will appear blue. However, since cats depend more on brightness rather than colour when viewing the world, their lack of colour perception is not a huge setback.
Cat Vision vs. Human Vision
Do cats have supervision? Cats do not exactly have super vision, but their eyesight is superior in some areas compared to humans’. With that being said, human vision is better than cat vision in certain aspects. Let us compare the 2 to understand how they differ from one another.
Peripheral Vision
What is vision like for a cat? Cats have a wider field of view in comparison to humans. Their visual field can span roughly 200 degrees, whilst we can only do 180 degrees.
It provides felines with great peripheral vision, which increases their accuracy in spotting and capturing prey.
Visual Acuity
Vision acuity refers to the clearness of vision. Cats have a visual acuity of around 20/200–20/100. In comparison, the visual acuity of an average human is 20/20.
So, what does this tell us about the vision of a cat? It means that felines are nearsighted. Whilst we can view objects clearly between 100 and 200 feet (30 to 60 meters) away, cats have trouble seeing objects past about 20 feet. Their eyesight is sharpest when viewing objects that are between 6 and 18 feet away.
Colour Vision
The human retina possesses about 10 times more cones compared to cats. It improves the visibility of colours in bright light. Hence, human eyes see vibrant hues and shades, whilst colours appear murky to cat vision.
Night Vision
Do cats have night vision? Cats do not possess night vision but do see well in dimly lit places. It is due to the number of rod cells in their eyes, which is 6–8 times more than what humans have.
Rod cells are highly sensitive to low light. Thus, cats can perceive shapes and movements in the dark using about one-sixth the amount of light that human eyes need.
The tapetum, a layer of tissue found behind the retina, also helps improve cat vision in the dark. Its cells function like that of a mirror, reflecting light that passes between the rods and the cones back to the photoreceptors. As a result, felines can catch a small amount of light during nighttime.
Cat Vision vs. Dog Vision
A dog’s eyesight has some differences but also close similarities to a vision of a cat.
Peripheral Vision
Canines possess a wider visual field than their feline counterparts. They have a field of view of about 240 degrees, depending on the breed. Long-nosed hunting dogs tend to have better peripheral vision compared to flat-faced pooches.
Although there is a slight difference between the visual field of cats and dogs, it affects their behaviour in the same way. Their strong instinct to chase is triggered if something moves in their peripheral vision.
Visual Acuity
Dogs have 20/75 vision acuity; thus, they can see better than cats, especially from afar. Some breeds like the Labrador Retriever even have a clearer vision than others. It is said that their eyesight is close to 20/20.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, certain breeds like the German Shepherd and Rottweiler are prone to hereditary nearsightedness.
Colour Vision
Cats and dogs are colour-blind to some degree. Canines find it hard to distinguish red and green shades, whilst blues and yellows are easier for them to perceive.
You may also like: Are Dogs Color-Blind?
If cats value brightness over colour, dogs are the opposite. They are more sensitive to changes in colour than brightness.
Night Vision
Night vision in cats is far better than in dogs as they have a lower minimum light threshold. Canines’ threshold is somewhere between that of cats and humans. Whilst dogs have tapetum in their eyes, the layer of tissue reflects light to a lesser extent compared to cats.
Beware of Failing Cat Vision
Having clear eyesight is vital for cats to perform their everyday routine. However, their vision may slowly deteriorate due to different factors such as old age, poor health, or genetics. In some cases, gradual loss of eyesight can be stopped if caught early.
How to tell if your cat has poor vision before it is too late? One of the most common tell-tale signs is changes in behaviour. Your cat might frequently bump into objects and have difficulty navigating around your home. Check her eyes too for inflammation, redness, or a cloudy film.
The presence of any of these symptoms warrants a trip to the vet for examination. Never delay as time is of the essence. Early treatment increases the chances of better results and allows your cat to see more of the world around her.
