Veterinarians and scientists don’t fully comprehend everything there is to know about cats; how well they see is still something of an enigma. Domesticated felines have been part of our lives for nearly 12,000 years now, yet we continue to learn new information about these ancient pets.
There are numerous misconceptions surrounding how well cats see, such as believing that they have improved night vision or can see in total darkness. Such widespread beliefs often make cats appear like supernatural beings.
Cats cannot see in complete darkness; however, due to their eye anatomy they possess improved vision when in darker environments.
Can Cats See in the Dark? Though some may believe they do have night vision, cats don’t possess true “night vision”. Much like humans, cats do not possess true night vision and cannot detect light when there is none to see it with.
However, cats possess superior vision in low light environments than humans do and this ability is especially advantageous when it comes to hunting prey in the early morning and late evening hours – when many small prey animals are active and searching for sustenance. Outdoor cats take full advantage of this benefit when hunting food during these hours of the day.
Many cat owners assume their cat can see in the dark; this assumption arises from cats’ natural ability to see well in low or little lighting environments. Unfortunately, modern homes rarely remain completely dark; street lamps, clocks and other appliances often provide just enough illumination for cats to see in darkness.
How Does Cat Low-Light Vision Work? Cats’ low-light vision depends on their unique anatomy. Their eyes are large in relation to their body size, while their vertical pupils dilate more freely than human pupils allowing more light in. These features enable cats to see as well as possible under low light conditions.
At a cellular level, cats’ eyes contain much higher percentages of rods compared to human eyes. Rods are one of two types of light-sensitive cells in the retina at the back of the eye that convert incoming light into electrical signals that are sent directly to the brain, where they detect light and shadows primarily for dim light conditions; cones provide color vision and spacial acuity vision respectively.