Cats' eyes shine in the dark thanks to a reflective layer behind their retina, called the tapetum lucidum, which amplifies the available light, thereby improving their night vision.
Cats have a reflective layer at the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. This membrane acts like a true mirror by reflecting the light that enters the eye back to the retina. This phenomenon allows the visual cells to capture available light twice as efficiently. As a result, even in low light conditions, cats see surprisingly well. When you see a cat's eyes shine in the night, it's precisely because this internal mirror reflects the dim light it receives back at you. This luminous reflection significantly increases their ability to detect movement or spot prey in almost total darkness.
In the cat's eye, the light that enters through the pupil first passes through the lens, which acts somewhat like a lens by precisely directing the image towards the retina. Part of the light is captured directly by the retinal cells, but in our feline friends, the excess bounces off a special layer called the tapetum lucidum. This tapetum acts almost like a mirror, reflecting light back to the retina, giving it a second chance to capture the light rays. This reflection phenomenon significantly enhances the cat's vision in low-light conditions, giving it a serious advantage in spotting prey or moving around easily at night. It is precisely this reflection mechanism that makes their eyes shine like two little lamps in the darkness if you suddenly shine a light on them, for example with a flashlight or the headlights of a car.
The presence of the tapetum lucidum helps cats take advantage of the slightest available light source at night. This increase in brightness allows them not only to better identify prey or avoid obstacles but also to enjoy a vision particularly adapted to movement and contrasts: perfect when you want to hunt in the dark. Basically, this reflective system means that cats benefit from a sort of "built-in flashlight" in their eyes, granting them almost six times better night vision than ours. As a result, even in ultra-low light, a cat quickly detects anything that moves and can easily navigate around furniture without causing a noisy disaster in the house. This is what makes them such effective predators at night!
The color of the reflection in cats' eyes mainly depends on the composition and cellular arrangement of the tapetum lucidum. This reflective layer can return a range of colors from yellow-green to blue-silver, and sometimes even orange, depending on the type of pigment and its density in this layer located at the back of the eye. Age and breed influence these variations: for example, a Siamese often has a slightly reddish reflection, while an older cat may have a paler or more diffuse reflection. Another factor to consider is the angle of observation: depending on the angle at which light reaches the eye, the observed color may vary slightly.
Kittens are born with their eyes closed, and their eyelids remain shut for about 7 to 14 days. During this period, the tapetum lucidum is still developing, so they do not yet have the characteristic reflection seen in the eyes of adult cats.
Cats have a field of vision of about 200°, while humans have a field of about 180°, giving them better perception of peripheral movements, which is particularly useful for hunting at night.
Not all cats have exactly the same coloration in the reflection of light in their eyes. In fact, it can vary depending on their age, breed, or individual pigmentation, ranging from green-yellow to red-orange.
Cats' eyes do not only shine in complete darkness. Even a faint light source like that of the moon is enough to activate the reflection phenomenon through the tapetum lucidum.
The color of the reflection mainly depends on the pigmentation, age, and breed of the cat. It can vary from green to yellow, blue, or red, particularly based on the quantity and type of pigments present in the eye.
No, a cat needs a minimum amount of light to see. Light reflection increases the effectiveness of its eyes in low-light conditions but does not allow it to see in complete darkness.
No, this is a normal natural phenomenon. However, a sudden or abnormal change in the usual appearance of the light reflection (unusual color, asymmetry, or sudden absence of the reflection) should prompt a consultation with a veterinarian.
In humans, the "red-eye" effect in photos results from the flash lighting passing through the blood vessels of the retina. Humans do not have a tapetum lucidum like cats do, so the light refraction is red and not reflective as it is in felines.
No, only certain nocturnal animals equipped with a tapetum lucidum, such as cats, dogs, or foxes, have reflective eyes. Humans, for example, do not have this type of structure in their eyes.
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