You know your cat focuses their eyes to catch prey, even if it’s that feather toy you’re swirling around. They see movement, like grass trembling as a mouse scurries to its hole. But did you know they see color in a different way than we do?
A cat’s color sensitivity is not as broad as ours. They see some of the same colors we see, but others appear to them as shades of grey. Detecting movement is more important to cat eyes than seeing colors.
What Colors A Cat Sees
![cat: full face cat portrait](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/greykittycaspar-rae-faGcexEvko-unsplash-1024x746.jpeg)
You might think that bright colors are what cats see, but that’s not necessarily the case. They see fewer colors than we do. Their color spectrum is limited.
Cats possess the ability to perceive colors, however, they have a more limited range of distinguishable hues compared to humans. The structure of a cat’s eyes is make them particularly adept at perceiving the colors blue and yellow.
Red and green appear to cats as shades of grey. Think of it as similar to people who are red-green colorblind. Due to their limited ability to see the entire range of colors, cats depend more on brightness levels and movement when observing their surroundings.
Why Cats See Colors Differently
![cat: orange cat hunting in the grass](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/huntingaleksei-zaitcev-AaE67TUORWM-unsplash-1024x720.jpeg)
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Your cat’s eyes are structured much like ours, but what’s in that structure makes a difference in how they perceive colors.
At the back of the eye is the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye. The difference comes because a cat’s eyes have a different mixture of cells called rods and cones.
Rods are sensitive to low light. Cats have more rods than we do. Because they are naturally diurnal, hunting at dawn and dusk, their eyes have evolved to see movement in low light.
We have more cones that are used to detect and differentiate colors. But cats have only two types of cone cells. That means we have 10 times more cones than they do. We see a wide range of colors, but not cats.
So cats do have many more rod cells than we do. Even though we see more colors, cats have far superior night vision.
If You Could See Like A Cat
![cat: barely discernable cat in dark light](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nightjack-blueberry-WfYuuOkqCZA-unsplash-1024x730.jpeg)
If suddenly you saw the world like a cat, it would appear grey and blurry. A cat focuses in a different way than we do. Our eyes are built to see into the distance.
A cat’s eyes are developed to see movement within 20 feet or closer. They don’t need long-distance vision to hunt. So, if we looked with cat eyes the way we normally do, things would be blurry and without much color.
Our vision is best when we look 100 to 200 feet away, but this is far away for cats. On the other hand, cats have a wider field of vision. It would be like looking through a fish-eye camera lens. They see things to the side better than we do.
Your cat’s pupils expand much wider than yours. That expansion lets in more light in low-light conditions. Our pupils just don’t open that wide. We may struggle to see in the twilight, but your cat can make out shapes in that almost dark environment.
Cat Vision: You And Your Cat
You might think of cats as being near-sighted since they see thing clearly at close range. You see sharply in the distance, while your kitty sees those distant objects as blurs.
Since you know cats see blue and yellow, if you want to add color to your cat’s home life, you know what colors your cat will prefer for toys. A blue catnip mouse? Go for it. It might look weird to you, but your cat will see that blue play toy.
About The Author
Zara Altair is a writer and author of historical mysteries set in 6th Century Italy. She is passionate about books, film, film history, and sharing her knowledge with others. Engage with Zara, her educational insights, and her tips for fellow writers by following her on X(Twitter) and Threads.
Zara is a seasoned journalist and accomplished writer with deep expertise spanning entertainment, literature, film writing, neuroscience, and health. Zara blends critical analysis with a profound passion for storytelling.