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Laser pointers, bright fluffy toys, and shiny crinkle balls. All of these typically have stark and intense colors, but they might not be taking advantage of what a cat actually<\/em> sees.\n<\/p>\n If you live with a furry kitty, you know that cats adore chasing and pouncing on all sorts of things. Their ability to catch that annoying fly or grab your ankles as you’re getting out of bed is instinctual. However, playing with a particular toy because it’s a bold shade of red is not something a cat was born to do.\n<\/p>\n Cats don’t see as many colors as humans do. But, they have an amazing ability to notice small, fast movements with a much wider view. They’re also uniquely equipped to see in the dark, making them excellent nighttime hunters.\n<\/p>\n So, while kitties don’t see as we do, that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate a cat’s unique sense of sight\u2014which is just purr<\/em>fect for them.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Color blindness has nothing to do with the ability to see, but instead refers to the ability (or lack thereof) to distinguish colors. It’s not uncommon for a person to be unable to distinguish red from green. Other people find it difficult\u2014after an injury or illness in the eye\u2014to notice shades of colors or to compare colors. This is due to color blindness<\/a>. Cats do not see all colors on the spectrum, but this is not due to a deficiency of the eye itself.\n<\/p>\n Humans and cats both have two types of color receptors in their eyes: cones and rods. The cones handle day vision and color perception. Rods tackle what can be seen at night and the ability to see from side to side and all around (peripheral vision). Each cone detects light wavelengths<\/a>. Humans have three cones<\/a> and, therefore, generally detect the whole spectrum of light. Cats have just two cones, which limits the spectrum of light they see.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our feline friends can see some colors, but are there particular ones that can cats see best? Cats’ two color-detecting cones let them see blue-violet and yellow-green light wavelengths<\/a>, but not red-orange. So, similar to dogs, cats mainly see things in shades of yellow, gray, and blue, but some researchers think that cats may also notice various shades of green.\n<\/p>\n So, that laser pointer you relentlessly tease your cat with (pick another toy, please!) is not a great option for playtime. Your cat likely doesn’t pick up on how bright that red is, and instead sees just the fast, bouncing movement of the light. Not to mention, it’s frustrating for cats to endlessly chase an uncatchable target.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We can’t just ask a cat what colors inspire them, but we do know cats are unique creatures with amazing eyes! Recent research shows interesting discoveries of all the incredible things a cat’s eyes can do and see. Some studies have included simulations of cat vision<\/a>, giving us a glimpse of what a cat’s sight is actually like. There have also been tests involving food and color panels<\/a> that seek to see if animals like cats can detect colors; in these tests, the animal can pick one color over another to get a food reward.\n<\/p>\n If you want to see like a cat does, check out some cat perspective images<\/a> that are quite fascinating.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond the fact that toys like laser pointers create an unfair, unwinnable game for your cat (seriously, stop it!), toys that are rich in bright colors won’t stimulate your cat in the same way that toys that move will. The best toy for a cat is one that engages their natural predator instincts, but if you want to select a great enrichment item that looks pretty, too, your best bet is something in a shade of yellow, blue, or maybe green.\n<\/p>\n RELATED<\/strong>: 7 Interactive Toys to Enrich Your Cat’s Life\n<\/p>\n Even though your cat doesn’t notice all the shades of beautiful rainbows, she’s a talented nighttime huntress. Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are extremely active at dawn and dusk. Be advised that if you let your cat outside (it’s safest to keep Meowmers inside), he’ll pick up on anything that moves.\n<\/p>\n Cats have a “tapetum lucidum<\/em>\u2014or a thin reflective layer along the back of their eye that ‘bounces’ and magnifies light in dark places,” says Alicen Tracey, DVM at Den Herder Veterinary Hospital <\/a>in Waterloo, Iowa. Tracey says this reflective layer is the reason why dogs’ and cats’ eyes tend to “shine” in the dark.\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n What Is Color Blindness? <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Can Cats See Color? <\/span> <\/h2>\n
How Do We Know Cats Aren\u2019t Color Blind? <\/span> <\/h2>\n
What Does This Mean for Your Cat? <\/span> <\/h2>\n