They can’t change the focus of their lenses and cannot see as much color due to a lower concentration of cones. As they have 20/100 vision, cats must be closer to objects to see them with the same clarity that humans can. Their visionĬats do not have ‘better’ vision than we do, but it is certainly different. For example, green is the most common color, but Siamese cats’ eyes glow yellow. Interestingly, different breeds of cats glow in different shades due to the volume of certain elements in the pigment of this part of the eye. This is due to the tapetum lucidum, a part of their eye that helps them to see in dark conditions. If you’ve ever taken a photo of your cat with the flash on or seen their eyes catch the light, you have probably noticed that your cat’s eyes glow. If you can see more than a sliver, it might signify illness or dehydration. You can look for it by searching for a white-ish pink membrane in the corner of your cat’s eye. Other interesting and unique characteristics of a cat’s eyes include: Their third eyelidĪlthough you usually can’t see it, cats have a third eyelid that can cover the entire eye.

So a slit allows for both a tiny width and a great length. Still, those who stealthily stalk and pounce on their prey need a sharper image, gained through smaller pupils and the ability to accurately calculate distance, which is gained through a wider pupil. Predators who chase their prey tend to have round pupils. Similarly, it is thought the slit shape is designed for ‘ambush predators. Other animals with this pupil shape include snakes and crocodiles, and they too often need to hunt during both the day and night. The shape allows cats to hunt in low light conditions and can expand by 135-fold for hunting during the day. You’ve probably noticed that your cats have narrow, vertical pupils, unlike our circles, but have you ever wondered why cats’ eyes are so narrow? While scientists don’t have a certain answer to why cats’ pupils are shaped this way, the currently prevalent view is that these pupils occur because cats are predators. If you’re going to understand your cat better, you can try looking at their eyes – after all, they are the windows to the soul! Here is a guide about your cat’s pupils to help you communicate with them.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to get to know your cat just as well as you know your dog. While you love your dog for wearing their emotions on their sleeves, you also appreciate that your cats save their affection and trust for special moments and particular individuals. Despite popular belief, it is possible to love dogs and cats simultaneously.

Cat pupil size meaning