How cats see the world: peculiarities of animal vision that you didn't know about

You've probably wondered more than once what your cat sees when it looks at you so intently. Does she see your eye colour as well as you see hers? And how does it manage to navigate so well in the dark? Science has already answered some questions about how cats see.

OBOZREVATEL has collected some interesting facts about cat vision. So you can imagine the world through the eyes of your kitty.

Can cats distinguish colours?

The short answer is yes, they do. But, of course, not in the same way as we do. For example, they see much more shades of grey, white and black. But bright colours seem more muted to them than to us. They have the worst trouble distinguishing warm colours - red, yellow, orange, etc.

Of the two types of sensory cells in the eye - rods and cones - rods predominate in cats. They are responsible for peripheral and night vision. But cones, which help them see in daylight and distinguish colour, have evolutionarily turned out to be less of a priority for them.

How do cats see at night?

So, rods help cats navigate in the dark. But that's not the end of the secrets of their night vision. You've probably noticed how cat eyes can glow in the dark. A special layer of the cat's choroid is responsible for this effect. It is called the tapetum. This layer helps to use light sources more efficiently. So even a small candle seems like a powerful lantern to a cat. The sensitivity of these beautiful predators to light is about 7 times higher than that of humans.

How sharp is a cat's eyesight?

If cats' eyesight were evaluated by human standards, they would be considered farsighted. They do not see closely spaced objects very clearly. Extremely sensitive hairs - vibrissae - located on different parts of the body are responsible for perceiving objects up close. The most noticeable type of vibris is the cat's whiskers, but they are also found on the ears and on the front paws. Therefore, cats do not need to see at short distances.

Instead, they can distinguish objects in the distance very well. This helps them to hunt - to spot prey and quickly aim at it. Cats also have a visual field of 200 degrees. Humans have an average field of vision of 180 degrees.

What eye problems can cats have?

Just like humans, cats suffer from eye diseases. Here's a list of symptoms you should definitely look out for:

• redness of the eye sclerae;
• constant lacrimation;
• various discharges, such as pus;
• cloudy eyes;
• signs of disorientation due to reduced vision.

Such disorders can be caused by a variety of reasons, including inflammatory processes, allergies to dust or detergents, viral diseases, etc. In this case, it is better not to hesitate, but to consult a veterinarian who will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about the talent of cats to heal people, which turned out to be not a myth but the truth.

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