Do cats’ eye glow?

Cats’ night vision is 6 to 8 times better than that of humans in dim light.

The superior night vision of a cat is mainly attributed to its unique eye structure and evolutionary adaptation. Below are a few key reasons:

Tapetum Lucidum

At the back of a cat’s eyes, there is a reflective layer called the “Tapetum Lucidum,” which functions like a mirror. This layer reflects light back onto the retina, allowing the eyes to receive light multiple times and enhancing visual sensitivity. This is the reason why cats’ eyes can see clearly even in very dim light.

More light-sensitive Cells

There are two types of cells in the eyes responsible for sensing light – rods and cones.

① The cone cells

responsible for daytime vision and can distinguish both light intensities and colors.

② The rods cells

function in nightvision and can detect shades of gray in low light.

Cats have a larger number of rod cells in their retinas, which are specifically adapted for perceiving images in low-light environments. This adaptation enables them to effectively capture faint light.

Pupil Shape

Cats’ pupils are not round, but rather elliptical, which allows cats to dilate and constrict their pupils rapidly. Besides, the larger size of cats’ pupils helps them see using only roughly one-sixth the amount of light that people need.