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Can Cats See In The Dark? (Do Cats Have Night Vision?)
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Can cats see in the dark? Do they process a feline superpower? Most cat owners assume the answer is yes.
During the evening when you’re stumbling through your hallway searching for the bathroom, your cat seems to continue moving around with ease and grace. It’s no wonder many of us believe our furry friends have some kind of incredible sixth sense.
However, while cats and humans have been living side-by-side for centuries, the truth is we still don’t know a great deal about them.
Scientists and veterinarians alike are still learning how the minds and bodies of our feline friends actually work.
As a result, there are many myths still circulating about how well cats can see in a low level of light or the dark, and otherwise.
Today we’re going to explore some of the cat facts you might need to know if you’re interested in the night vision capabilities of your furry friend.
Can Cats See in the Dark?
The simple answer to the question “do cats see in the dark?” is “not completely”. Cats don’t have true night vision, which means they can’t see when it’s completely pitch-black inside or outside of your home.
However, they can see a lot better than us in “low light”.
This is a skill cats have grown with throughout the centuries, to help them hunt in the world. In order to seek out prey, cats have always needed a strong ability to move through the darkness and navigate their surroundings.
However, these creatures are “crepuscular”, which means they hunt at dusk and dawn. They’re not “nocturnal” like owls or similar animals.
They don’t need to see in the complete absence of light. Rather, they just need to see well at night.
Cats can pick up on more detail in darker spaces than humans can, but they still have limitations on what they can perceive.
So, how exactly do your cat's eyes work?
Do Cats Have Night Vision?
The reason cats have better night vision is due to their unique anatomy. You may have noticed your super-cute kitty has extra-large eyes in the context of their body size.
This is to ensure their pupils can let in as much light as possible.
The vertical pupil shape is also important for night vision, as it allows the cat’s eye to dilate to a greater extent than our human eyes.
Here are some of the factors which influence how a cat’s vision works at night:
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How Does Cat Vision Compare to Human Vision?
So, we know cats can’t see in the dark completely – but they can see a lot better than us humans. This all comes down to the fact that our eyes are constructed very differently from those of our feline friends.
If you spend some time watching your kitty as they bask in the sun and move throughout your home, you’ll notice how their eyes dilate spectacularly in different atmospheres.
Cats have a fantastic ability to alter and adapt the intensity of the light reaching the retina, which means they can navigate low-light situations with much more grace than us.
However, it’s worth noting that cat vision isn’t better than human vision in every regard.
For instance, humans still have better visual acuity, or “clarity” to their vision in some situations. The things you see will be more defined and pronounced than whatever your cat might see.
We’re more capable of picking up details and color, while cats are better at managing light.
Other Ways Cats Enhance Their Vision
The main reason cats are much better at seeing in the dark than we are is that their eyes are designed this way. However, there are things beyond the incredible eye structure of your feline friend which also make them better hunters in the dark.
For instance, researchers have found a cat’s ability to smell is up to 15 times better than a human’s.
In fact, cats may even be more adept at smelling than dogs. The reason for this is the specialized organ in the roof of your cat’s mouth, which supports its smell sense.
The “vomeronasal” organ, as it's called, allows kitties to smell and taste more deeply at the same time.
If you’ve ever noticed your cat leaving its mouth open after smelling something new, this may be because they’re using its special organ to learn more about the scent.
Our feline friends also have particularly sensitive hearing. They’re capable of locating where a sound from far away is coming from in a matter of nanoseconds.
Cats have wonderful extra-large ears, capable of picking up on all kinds of quiet and high-pitched noises we would otherwise miss.
Sounds like the buzzing of a fly can easily be picked up by your kitty wherever they are.
It’s worth mentioning your cat’s whiskers when looking at their senses too. Whiskers aren’t just another cute accessory for your cat – they’re also an important tool.
A kitty’s whiskers act as bonus touch receptors, giving them a greater sense of their environment. This means even if your cat can’t see through the dark completely, it can still use its sense of touch to get its bearings.
Read this next: Why Do Cats Sleep At Your Feet?
Quick Facts about Your Cats Eyes
Most experts believe cats' eyes have evolved over the years to turn them into better hunters. Vertical pupils are more common among nocturnal animals who need to ambush their prey, for instance.
However, it’s difficult to know for certain why our domesticated cats have such unique eyesight. Notably, the eyes of a house cat and a big cat such as a lion aren’t exactly the same.
To fully understand how cats work, we definitely need to dedicate more time and effort to researching these amazing creatures.
However, in the meantime, here are some facts about your kitty’s vision:
Read this next: Why Do Cats Cover Their Face When They Sleep?
Cat Night Vision FAQs
Are Cats Afraid of the Dark?
You might have noticed your cat beginning to yowl or cry as soon as you turn the lights off in your home to go to bed.
This could mean you assume your cat is scared of the dark. While some felines are a little more nervous than others, the chances are they’re probably not frightened of a dark room specifically.
Rather, they may be crying because they’re not getting attention from you anymore, or because they’ve heard something outside.
Do cats have the best vision of any animal?
It all depends on the situation. When it comes to night vision, cats have extremely good eyesight.
However, it’s not the best night vision around.
Owls have extremely acute night vision which allows them to navigate the night sky with particular ease. If your cat and an owl were hunting the same prey, the chances are that the owl would get it first.
Is it OK to leave a cat in the dark?
When you first bring a cat home, you might be nervous about leaving them sitting alone in the dark when you go to bed.
While this is normal, there’s nothing particularly wrong with leaving your cat in the dark. If you’re nervous, you might leave a small light on somewhere in the house to ensure your cat can get around easily, and doesn’t feel too anxious about your absence.
Can cats sleep when it’s light?
While you might struggle to get a good night’s sleep when the sun is blaring in from your windows, your cat doesn’t have the same problem.
Cats can easily relax in both light and near-complete darkness, and they can see pretty well in both scenarios.
Do cats prefer the dark?
Since we don’t have the option to ask cats about their preferences or fears, it’s difficult to answer this question with complete certainty.
Some pet experts believe cats are uncomfortable in complete darkness, but it’s unlikely your home will ever be completely absent of light.
If you have a nervous kitten, however, you may find they’re more comfortable when they have access to plenty of light, particularly if they’re left alone when you’re sleeping.
Can Cats See In The Dark? Summary
So, can cats see in the dark? The answer is yes and no. Your kitty can see through a small amount of light a lot more effectively than you can.
However, like human beings, cats also can’t see in the complete absence of light.
Their eyes are simply very different from ours, which means they can manage daylight and darkness more effectively, but may not be as good at picking up color and detail.
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