WHY DO CAT EYES GLOW AT NIGHT?
Source: The South African (Extract)
Posted: July 07, 2023
Cat eyes may appear shiny and glowing in the dark.
This can sometimes give a creepy feeling, resembling a scene from a horror film.
However, the glowing eyes are simply caused by the cat peering at you in the darkness.
The glow is due to light reflecting off the tapetum lucidum, a structure in their eyes, and not reaching the retina.
This reflection is what causes a cat’s eyes to glow.
Cats are nocturnal animals, unlike humans.
They require superior night vision for hunting in the dark.
Cats have a specialized feature in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum.
In Latin, “tapetum lucidum” translates to “shining layer.”
The tapetum lucidum helps enhance a cat’s vision in low-light conditions.
BUT…MY CAT’S EYES DON’T GLOW IN THE DARK
Cats’ eyes should glow and appear reflective in low-light environments.
If you observe that your cat’s eyes don’t glow in the dark, it indicates a problem.
The absence of reflection suggests a potential issue with your cat’s vision.
If you notice this, it is advisable to seek veterinary attention for your cat’s vision concerns.
While you have likely seen glowing eyes in your feline, this ability is not unique to them.
Other animals also possess a tapetum lucidum, including dogs, owls, horses, deer, and ferrets.
These animals share the characteristic of having a reflective layer in their eyes.
The tapetum lucidum enhances their vision in low-light conditions, just like in cats.
The presence of the tapetum lucidum is not limited to felines alone.