Have you ever wondered what a cat's eyesight is like? Some say that cats see everything in black and white, while others say they don't. Also, another very common question is whether cats can see in the dark (and in this case, many wonder how their night vision works). What no one can deny is that the cat's eye plays a fundamental role in the lives of pets, and forit is our duty to try to understand more about it.

To help you in this mission, the Paws of the House has put together everything you need to know about feline vision: how cats see, what some behaviours mean (such as dilated cat pupils), the main cat eye diseases and care of the area. Take a look!

How do cats see?

When it comes to the cat's eye, one of the main doubts is what colors these animals see. Despite the theory that cats see everything in black and white, this is far from true. In fact, feline vision is not very different from ours, so they can perceive almost all colors, except for one, which many believe to be green.

But even if this is the belief, there is no consensus or definitive research that clarifies what colors cats see exactly. What is known is that while humans have three photoreceptor cells that capture the colors red, blue and green, cats have only two of these cells. Therefore, one of these colors - in theory, green - is not captured by the cat's eye, so objects with this color are not seen by the cat.coloration end up taking on a shade of gray.

Another important point about how cats see is their peripheral vision. Have you noticed that almost nothing surprises felines? Well, this is due to the fact that they have a much wider vision than we do: while humans can see everything at an angle of up to 180º, feline peripheral vision reaches 200º. The only blind spot of these animals is below the chin. Despite this, thehe cat's eye has a small "defect": because it has a smaller number of cones in the retina, the distance vision of pets is not very good. That is, cats see everything blurry and unfocused if they are far away - but this is not a big problem for the species, as this is balanced with the help of other senses.

Can cats see in the dark?

It only takes dusk to realize that, yes, cats can see in the dark (and much better than we think, even). The explanation is simple: felines are nocturnal animals, so it makes perfect sense that they have enhanced night vision to guide them in the dark.

Scientifically, it is necessary to know a little bit of feline anatomy to better understand this aptitude. The retina is a thin layer of the cat's eye made up of structures that capture and decode images, called cones and rods. Cones are responsible for color perception and daytime vision, as already seen. Rods, on the other hand, play an important role in night vision, as theyhelp capture ambient light, even if there is not much brightness.

Another structure that aids in this is the tapetum lucidum, a membrane present at the back of the cat's eye that reflects any ray of light. Generally speaking, the pupils dilate in search of any luminosity, the rods "capture" the light - if any - and the tapetum lucidum transforms this into a reflector, sharpening the night vision of these animals.

Dilated or retracted cat pupil: what does it mean and why does it happen?

Cat pupils can dilate or retract because of the amount of light in a given environment, but they can also take this shape according to the animal's emotions. In the first case, it is easy to understand why this happens: when the cat is in a dimly lit place, the pupil dilates in search of any luminosity to make the animal see better. This phenomenon is calledThe opposite, when the cat's pupil retracts, is what we call miosis, and is common in bright places.

In some cases, it is important to assess whether the dilated or retracted cat pupil was motivated by the feelings of your four-legged friend. Even if it seems unusual, the cat's behavior can also be read by the pet's gaze. See what each situation means below:

Cat pupil fully dilated: is usually a sign that the animal is relaxed and excited, wanting to play.

Pupil of cat partially dilated: is often a sign of a cat that is afraid, apprehensive and anxious.

Retracted cat pupil: is common in stressful situations and means that the feline is on alert and/or ready to attack.

Even if you know the meaning of the different cat looks, don't forget that it is important to know the minimum of feline language at these times. This is the best way to interpret and understand what your kitty wants to say with each attitude. Also, if one cat pupil is at a different size from the other, it may be an indication of an eye injury and it is necessary to visit a veterinarianspecialized in ophthalmology.

Do cats blink to communicate with humans? Understand!

You may have noticed that one of the ways cats communicate is by looking, but this goes beyond pupil dilation. Cat blinking can also have different interpretations and reflect your pet's emotional state. And this is not just mere speculation: research developed by the University of Sussex in the UK was able to unveil that blinking is a type of emotional state.interaction in the feline universe and can be read as a way of showing affection.

The research was done with 45 cats, and was divided into two processes. First, the proposal was to observe whether cat slow blinking could be a response to human-initiated slow blink stimuli. The second part of the experiment consisted of investigating whether the animals were more likely to approach an unfamiliar person after a slow blink interaction. As a result,It was concluded that blinking is an important gesture for cats, and they may even be more receptive to strangers after this exchange. But not just any blink has this effect: the movement has to be slow. If it is too fast, it can be seen as threatening.

So, if you've ever noticed your cat blinking slowly while looking at you, you can consider yourself lucky! This is a clear demonstration of cat love, and it's basically as if the pet is telling you how much it trusts you and feels happy by your side.

Here are some common questions about the cat's eye

Is a cat's eye sore always indicative of illness?

No. Although it is commonly associated with some cat eye diseases, cat eye remella is not always a sign of a problem. Sometimes it is the result of a natural body process, especially after a nap. But it is important to be aware: cat eye remella is considered normal only if it is white, hard and outside the eye.

Is a white cat with blue eyes prone to deafness?

Many owners wonder whether white cats are more likely to be deaf, and the answer is yes. This is because of the W gene, which is dominant over hearing and coat. Thus, the lighter the cat's coat color, the stronger the W gene. Consequently, the greater the chances of the white cat being a carrier of congenital deafness, even more so if he has blue eyes.

Some breeds that exhibit this characteristic are:

• Angora
• Burmilla
• Khao Manee
• Ragdoll
• Van Turco

It's worth noting that not every white cat with blue eyes is deaf, so it's important to assess your kitty's condition.

Why does the cat's eye glow in the dark?

You already know that cats can see in the dark and you understand the process of how this works, right? So, the cat's eye glows in the dark because it is the reflection of the light captured by the tapetum lucidum! That is, if there is any trace of light in an environment - minimal that is - this membrane will capture and reflect, making the feline eye brighter. If there is no light, the cat's eyewill not shine.

6 cat eye diseases that need attention

1) Cataract

Cataracts in cats is a disease that affects a specific part of the eye: the lens. It is this structure that allows clear vision and helps form images, so any problem affecting the region will make it difficult for the animal to see and may even lead to blindness. One of the main symptoms is the opacity of the lens, leaving the cat's eye whitish or bluish.

2) Feline chlamydiosis

It is an eye infection caused by a bacterium that is easily transmitted and considered very dangerous. Usually, one of the signs that indicate the problem is the cat with a red eye, but other symptoms can also be noticed, such as discharge and ulcers on the eyeball. In addition, feline chlamydiosis also manifests itself as a respiratory infection, causing cats to cough and sneeze.

3) Conjunctivitis

Feline conjunctivitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the cat's eye. It can have different causes, can be infectious or non-infectious, and usually manifests itself when immunity is low. The cat with red, itchy and patchy eyes are the main indications of the disease. Excessive tearing, constant blinking and swelling of the regioncan also be observed.

4) Glaucoma

Glaucoma in cats is defined by increased intraocular pressure in the eye, which can lead to degeneration of the optic nerve and cause progressive vision loss. In addition to the reddened eye, the disease can cause the cat's pupil to dilate and cause corneal opacity. Medical evaluation is necessary as soon as possible to slow the progression of glaucoma and offer the pet a better quality of life.

5) Ocular toxoplasmosis

Ocular toxoplasmosis is a very dangerous cat eye disease that causes a lot of concern. Caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis can lodge in different parts of the body, including the eyes. In these cases, the cat with red eye, sensitive to brightness and difficulty seeing are the main symptoms. Although not very common, it requires attention and should be monitored.treated as soon as possible, or it could lead to the animal going blind.

6) Uveitis

Feline uveitis consists of inflammation of the uvea, an area of the cat's eye that has many blood vessels and has the function of protecting the intraocular fluid. It can be caused by injuries and minor wounds, but can also be derived from a pre-existing disease such as cataracts. The cat's eye watering and tearing is one of the signs of the disease, as well as photophobia (sensitivity to light),pain and excessive blinking.

Learn how to care for cat's eye on a daily basis

Many people think that there is no need to take care of or clean their cat's eyes all the time, but this is a mistake. Even if it is not an area that needs intense cleaning, it is good to have a basic hygiene routine with your pet's eyesight. You can do this with the help of saline solution, removing annoying dirt and avoiding the accumulation of remela in the cat's eye (which, in the long runterm, it may end up damaging the pet's eyesight).

Regular visits to a veterinary ophthalmologist are also welcome! The specialist can even include eye drops for cats to help lubricate the area, helping to keep some problems at bay. But remember: everything must be done with the guidance of a professional in the field.