How do cats see?

If you’d like to see the world the way your cat does, say goodbye to hues of scarlet, crimson, and pink. Felines are believed to be a dichromate color-blind species, which means their retinas contain only two types of cones (color-detecting cells). Some of a cat’s cones are thought to be sensitive to blue and others to green. In contrast, most humans have three types of cones and can see a wider range of colors.

Nocturnal performance
Thanks to a large number of rods (light-detecting cells) in their retinas, a feline’s eyes are perfectly adapted to hunting at night. This is why it’s easy for cats to track their prey by the faint glow of the stars. However, their hyper-reactivity to light makes their eyes less efficient during the day. As a protection, their pupils narrow into thin slits when the light is too strong.

In addition, cats have a broader field of vision and greater peripheral vision than humans. However, they’re nearsighted and unable to distinguish nearby prey if it isn’t moving.