“A cat’s eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world.” – Irish Legend
Have you ever looked into your cat’s eyes and wondered what those beautiful eyes are seeing?
Your cat’s eyes are a reflection of his many moods. If he is angry, he will narrow his pupils, and if he is excited or frightened he will have them wide open. A cat can have several eye colors. The most common are green, orange and golden. Siamese cats are well known for their beautiful blue eyes.
Cat vision is designed for survival, as it is used for hunting and detecting motion. Most likely, your cat can see in 3-D, which helps judge distances. Since they are a bit nearsighted, it is easier to see their prey. They depend on their hearing to locate the prey and then target and capture using their eyesight.
You probably know that cats have superior night vision. They don’t see in total darkness, but they can see very well with only one-sixth of the light that humans need. The muscle of the iris surrounding the pupil lets the eye narrow to a slit in bright light and to open completely in low light. Also, the reflective layer behind the retina reflects entering light and bounces it off. This makes more use of the present light. This may be the reason your cat’s eyes look like green orbs when light hits them at night. Cat’s pupils are shaped differently than ours, they are elliptical, and this allows for a larger sized pupil.
Cats have a third eyelid. It is called a ‘nictating membrane’ and is an inner eyelid. It protects the eye from damage and dryness. When your kitty is sick, this eyelid with close a bit, he will also close this eyelid when he is very happy. So if you see the third eyelid and are concerned, don’t be unless he is exhibiting other symptoms.
Cats can also have similar eye conditions as humans do, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and pinkeye. If caught in time these conditions can be treated, so please visit a veterinarian if you see any eye problems.
Here are a couple of interesting facts you may not know: Cats cannot see directly beneath their noses. Cats are not colorblind. Cats can see objects very far way, further than humans, but closer items may appear blurred. Cats kiss with their eyes. When the cat is slowly blinking his eyes while staring at you, he is actually showing affection and is the equivalent of a kiss.
Sources:
http://chetday.com/catseyes.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/eyesvision/a/cats_eyes_2.htm
