Can Cats See in the Dark?

Cats’ vision is a fascinating topic that is still not fully understood. While many myths exist about cats’ vision, it is important to separate fact from fiction. Contrary to popular belief, cats can’t see in finish darkness. However, they do have better vision than humans in low-light environments. This advantage is due to their unique eye anatomy. Their anatomy includes large eyes. They have vertically-dilated pupils that allow more light into the eyes. They also have a higher percentage of light-sensitive cells called rods in their retinas. Additionally, cats have a reflective layer in the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. This layer enhances their ability to see in dim light. It gives their eyes a distinctive glow when exposed to light.

Although cats have superior vision in low light, their visual acuity and color perception are not as advanced as humans. Humans have better clarity, sharpness, and color vision. This is due to the higher number of cones in our retinas. This means that cats may not see colors the same way humans do. Their perception of the visual world may be more muted compared to ours.