Can cats see in the dark? Cat vision explained

Our feline friends have plenty of impressive features that make them slinky, stealthy hunters – one of their best assets being their exceptional eyesight. Cats have remarkable eyes, that have evolved to help them hunt at dawn and dusk. But there are a few myths worth clearing up, including the idea that cats can see in complete darkness.

Can cats see in the dark?

No, cats cannot see in total darkness. However, their eyesight is very good and they can see remarkably well even in very low light. Cats can see around six to eight times better than we can in low light, so even in rooms only lit by moonlight or an outside streetlamp, your cat can see perfectly well.

Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are naturally most active at dawn and dusk. As such, their eyes have specially developed to see even in very low light.

How cat night vision works

Cats’ eyes have several features that allow them to see well even when it’s very dark:

• More rod cells. Cats have significantly more rod cells in their retinas than humans do. Rods detect light and movement, which is why cats are so quick to spot even the tiniest twitch in a dimly lit room.
• Larger pupils. A cat’s pupils can open to a near-full circle in the dark, letting in the maximum amount of light possible. In bright light they shrink to a narrow slit, protecting their sensitive eyes.
• The tapetum lucidum. Behind the retina sits a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum, which acts like a mirror. The tapetum lucidum bounces light back through the retina a second time, giving the rod cells another chance to pick the light up. This is also what causes the glowing effect when light catches your cat’s eyes at night.

What colours can cats see?

Cats can see colour, but not the full range that we can. Humans have three types of colour receptor (called cones) in our eyes, whilst cats only have two. This means reds and greens appear as dull greys to them, while blues and yellows are the colours they see best.

The upside of having fewer cone cells is having more rod cells, which give cats their excellent low-light vision – it’s a trade-off that suits a hunter perfectly.

How does cat vision compare to ours?

Cats’ vision is impressive, but in some ways humans’ eyesight is better. Here is a quick comparison:

• Night vision: Cats have far better vision than humans when seeing in low light. They need around a sixth of the light we do to see clearly.
• Colour range: Humans see more colours. Cats are effectively red-green colour blind.
• Detail and sharpness: Humans see more clearly, particularly at distance. Objects further than about six metres (20 feet) begin to look blurry to a cat.
• Field of view: Cats have a slightly wider field of vision than humans – around 200 degrees compared to our 180 degrees.
• Motion detection: Cats are excellent at spotting fast movement, which is a key part of their hunting instinct.

Understanding your cats’ vision can be helpful to understanding their behaviour. A toy in bold blue or yellow will catch their eye far better than a red one, which may look grey to them. And if you catch them staring intently into the dark, they might have spotted something that isn’t visible to human eyes in such low light. To learn more about how cats use their senses to communicate, read our cat communication guide.

Keeping an eye on your cat’s optical health

Despite their impressive vision, cats can develop eye problems. It’s worth checking their eyes as part of a regular health check at home. Signs to look out for include cloudiness, discharge, squinting, or any change in the appearance of the eye. If you notice anything unusual, promptly contact your vet. Find out what else to look for in our how to health check your cat guide.