Many cat owners wonder what the world really looks like through the eyes of these four-legged animals. They certainly navigate well in the dark, but that’s something everyone knows. What is the reason for this, and what other mysteries does a cat’s vision hold? Find out!

1. Cats don’t see colors? Myth!

2. What colors do cats see?

3. Vision in the dark – how does a cat see?

Owners of these pets, as well as people who have never owned a cat, surely wonder what it’s really like with a cat’s vision. Is it black and white, as once thought? Do cats actually see in the dark, and if so, why? We invite you to read on!

Cats don’t see colors? Myth

For years, it was believed that cats see the world in black and white. However, scientists decided to investigate this issue to dispel any doubts. It turned out that cats actually see colors regardless of the breed of the animal. The assumption that cats only see black and white was therefore incorrect. So what colors do cats see?

What colors do cats see?

Scientists concluded that the image reaching a cat’s brain is somewhat modified by a filter. The colors that cats see include yellow, green, and blue. Of course, with slightly different shades of these colors. As it turns out, the image is not devoid of colors. Interestingly, cats do not see the color red. So it’s not black and white, but somewhat different shades of the three colors mentioned above. As it turns out, a cat’s eye can perceive a limited palette of colors. This is mainly due to the distribution and the small number of photoreceptors and cones in the eyeball. This, in turn, contributes to better vision in low light, but more on that in a moment. You can find more information about how cats see at the provided link.

Vision in the dark – how does a cat see?

We must debunk another myth here. In complete darkness, cats see as much as humans do – nothing! However, these four-legged friends need only a very small amount of light to activate a kind of “night mode,” which already makes a difference compared to humans. This is all thanks to the rods, which are quite numerous, especially considering our species’ vision. These parts of the eye, with a rather amusing name, guarantee cats good vision in low light. They are also responsible for something else — detecting movement in the environment — which is why these four-legged creatures enjoy hunting at night, under the moonlight. They can make excellent use of every beam of light!