Can cats see in the dark?

Updated 28/11/2023

Cats are natural-born predators, and while the idea that they’re nocturnal is a myth (more on that later), while we humans gently slumber, our kitties are up to who-knows-what - 4 am zoomies fests, midnight hunting, trying to wake said humans (or their trusty cat sitters…) - you name it. 

Cats are true night owls, regularly burning the midnight oil - which has led to many a pet parent believing that their kitty has next-level night vision. But is that really the case - can cats see in the dark any better than we humans can? Let’s explore.

Can cats see well in the dark?

Well, yes and no. While cats can see in very low light situations, they do require at least some light to see in the dark. That said, their night vision is much better compared to humans, and they only need around one-sixth the amount of light that we do to see when the sun goes down. 

So, how good can cats see in the dark? Well, it’s a common misconception that cats can see better at nighttime than in the daytime. While cats have evolved in a way that helps them thrive during their nighttime pursuits, they still see better in the day. Whether or not they’re awake long enough during the daytime hours to make good use of that, however, is still up for debate… 

While we’re here busting myths, it’s also not true that cats are nocturnal. Cats are in fact crepuscular, who are most active at dusk and dawn.

How can cats see in the dark? 

So, why can cats see in the dark - or rather, in low-light? Actually, there are a few reasons. Buckle in as we take you on a feline ophthalmic fact-finding adventure...

1. Cats have vertically slit pupils

So, can cats see better in the dark? Better than we can! But why? As you've probably already noticed while gazing longingly at your kitty, cats have slit-like pupils - almost like a snake's - which is even more obvious to behold when they are in direct sunlight. 

These clever, split-like pupils allow cats to vary the amount of light that enters the eye. When dilated (for example, when they are in the dark - or feeling particularly playful!), their pupils become much larger which allows more light to enter the eye, giving cats much better visibility than we do in low-lit conditions.

2. Cats have larger corneas

In fact, a cat’s cornea and pupil are around 50% larger than a human’s, which enables their pupils to dilate fully for maximum light. Cats also have more receptors in their eyes, known as rods - these are responsible for night vision, peripheral vision, and motion sensing, and help cats to see around six to eight times better than we can in low light. 

Finally (as if that wasn't impressive enough), cats have something called a tapetum - a reflective layer of tissue that reflects light into the retina and helps cats to see better in dark places. It’s also the reason why your moggy’s eyes appear to glow at nighttime - or in flash photos! 

3. Cats are mid-sighted - with a wider field of vision

Ever waved a toy or pointed to a treat *literally* right under your cat's nose - just for them to look straight through it? While we know our cats are no strangers to doing as they please, the real reason why is that cats are mid-sighted. In other words, they struggle to focus on objects that are too close up.

What cats lack in short- or long-sighted vision, they more than make up for when it comes to peripheral vision. Because they have a much wider field of vision than we humans (about 200 degrees of vision, compared to our 180 degrees), cats can see around 30 degrees on each side. Compare that to the average human eyes, which are around 20 degrees on either side.

Cat spidey senses: what else helps cats navigate in the nighttime?

It’s not just a cat’s eyes that are supercharged. Ever noticed how your mog's ears perk up at the slightest crinkle of a treat packet? It's no coincidence - cats have super sensitive hearing, and can easily pick up on quiet and high-pitched noises from far away. Their sense of smell is nothing to be sniffed at, either - a cat’s sense of smell is roughly 9-16 times more powerful than that of a human (it's no wonder there are so many common smells that cats hate!).

This, combined with their ability to see in low light, makes your kitty the ultimate lean, mean, hunting machine (even if the only thing they hunt down these days is the smell of an open kibble packet…)

Cats vs humans: how does our vision differ?

In general, how your cat sees the world is very different from how you or I (or any other human, for that matter) sees it. We humans have three different color receptors - known as cones - which allow us to see the world in a whole, wide range of colors. Things aren't so bright for our feline friends, however - while the exact color spectrum that cats can see isn’t entirely clear, cats have fewer cones in their eyes which means they can't see some colors (such as red or green) and rely much more on brightness and movement to see the world around them. 

While cats may be able to see better than we can at night, we still have one over on our feline friends: visual acuity. In other words, we have a much clearer, sharper vision than cats do.

How cats see the world 

So, science aside - have you ever wondered how your feline friend actually sees the world around them? We’re willing to bet you have (otherwise why would you be reading this article all about whether cats can see in the dark?!)

Our clever interactive tool uses technology that allows humans to discover how their furry (or feathered) friend sees everyday life. You can upload a personal photo and compare how your vision differs from the vision of common pets, including cats, dogs, birds, and rabbits. 

Click the links below to try it out on Instagram or TikTok. Get creative and take a video of yourself, your living space, pet toys, food, animals - or anything else - for a glimpse into the eyes of your pet!

Try it out on Instagram

Try the cat filter on TikTok

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Try the rabbit filter on TikTok

Try the bird filter on TikTok

Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.

So - can a cat see in the dark? That we've pretty much covered. But why do cats purr? Or knead? And while we're at it, why are cats so obsessed with cardboard boxes? Our feline friends (and their many quirks) truly boggle the mind. But lucky for you, we've answered (almost) all your common cat questions right here, and settled your question (because we know you have it) - where did cats originate from.