What colors can cats see? Here's how your pet perceives the world.
From velvety purples to fiery reds, many people can see a spectrum of vivid colors via the human eye. Others, however, may have limited hue perceptiondue to certain conditions.
Animals, on the other hand, perceive the world through a different lens. Dogs only have two color-sensing cones in their eyes, giving them "dichromatic vision."
But what about cats?
Our feline companions are capable of navigating low-light environments with ease, but their color vision is not as vibrant as ours. So, how limited is it?
What colors can cats see?
The retina uses "cones," a specific type of photoreceptor, to differentiate color, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Human eyes have three types of cones: red-sensing, green-sensing and blue-sensing.
Feline eyes also contain the same color-sensing cones as humans, but this doesn't mean our visions are the same, VCA Animal Hospitals reports.
Cats are limited in their perception of color. Human eyes have 10 times more cone cells than feline eyes, meaning we can see a larger range of colors than cats, according to Purina.
While there isn't an exact answer for which colors cats can see, researchers believe felines can see blues, greens, grays and yellows, Purina reports.
Can dogs see color?The truth behind your pet's eyesight.
What does cat vision look like?
Feline vision can be equated to that of a colorblind person, according to Purina. Cats see "muted tones of blues, yellows, greens and grays." When perceiving reds and pinks, cats might mistake them for green, while purple could be seen as blue.
Cats may not see as many colors as humans but have better light perception.
Cats will adjust their eyes during the day, allowing less light to filter in, while their pupils will expand at night to allow for more light, Purina reports. Feline eyes also have more "rods" than human eyes. Rodsimpact the eyes' light sensitivity and are responsible for peripheral vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Cats can see up to six times better than the average human in the dark, National Geographic reports.
Can cats see in the dark?They can, but don't call it 'night vision.'
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