Cats have very different vision compared to humans. Their world consists of more muted and desaturated colors. So can cats see colors like blue or pink? The short answer is yes, but not in the same vivid way that humans see them.
The feline eye
Cats, like dogs and many other mammals, are dichromats. This means they have two types of color receptors (cones) in their eyes, compared to three in human eyes. The two cone types are most sensitive to blue and green wavelengths of light.
Having only two cone types means cats see a more limited color palette. Their vision is similar to human color blindness. So they can see colors, but fewer shades and hues than people. For example, cats would struggle to distinguish between red and green hues.
But the peak sensitivities of cat cones are slightly different to ours. The ranges don’t align perfectly with blue and green as we see them. Instead, cats tend to see blues and yellows rather than blues and greens.
Can cats see blue?
Yes, cats can see shades of blue. One of their two cone types detects light at wavelengths around 450 nanometers, similar to blue in the human visible spectrum.
However, cats don’t see blues as vividly as humans do. Their blue cones are less sensitive than human blue cones. So blues appear more muted to cats. Their perception of blue is also shifted slightly towards the UV spectrum, compared with human vision.
Some experts estimate cats see blues and violets as more like how humans see greys and whites. But they definitely can distinguish blue from other colors.
Evidence cats detect blue
Several experiments over the years have demonstrated cats respond to blue colors:
- Cats can be trained to discriminate between blue and other colors in lab experiments.
- Tracking eye movements shows cats look longer at blue than non-blue objects, suggesting they detect blue.
- Cats have been observed choosing between blue and green toys, indicating they distinguish those colors.
So while cats don’t see vibrant hues of blue, they can definitely detect blue shades in their environment.
Can cats see pink?
Pink is more complicated because it’s not a single wavelength of light. Pure pink light doesn’t really exist. Pink is a blend of red and violet light.
And since cats don’t have red cones, they can’t see reddish hues the way humans do. So cats would see pink differently.
They may register the violet tones of pink. But the red wavelengths in pink would likely appear more grey or neutral to cats. So pinks would look desaturated, maybe closer to a pale grey color.
Experiments testing cat vision find they struggle to distinguish pinks from greys. But they can differentiate pink from blue or green shades. So cats seem able to detect pink, but as a muted greyish tone compared to human vision.
| Color | How humans see | How cats likely see |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Vivid, bright blue | Muted blue-grey tone |
| Pink | Vibrant reddish pink | Pale desaturated grey |
Why are cat colors limited?
There are a couple of reasons cats see a more limited range of hues than humans:
- They only have two cone types compared to humans’ three. The third cone allows us to see red hues.
- Their cones have different peak sensitivities tuned to different wavelengths of light.
- They may lack some of the neural processing power in their brains to distinguish more colors.
But cats have traded color vision for superior low light and motion detection. Their eyes have extra rods, which are more sensitive in dim light.
Limited color vision was likely more useful for feline survival and hunting than seeing a wide spectrum. Color is not as crucial for cats as detecting movements.
How do cats see color?
While not seeing the vivid rainbow humans do, cats have enough color vision for useful purposes. Their world consists of muted shades dominated by blues and yellows.
With only two cone types, cat color vision is similar to human red-green color blindness. Except shifted towards blue-yellow instead of red-green.
So imagine the world through the eyes of a person with red-green color blindness. Now desaturate and mute those colors. That approximates a cat’s perspective!
Specific colors cats can see include:
- Moderate shades of blues and violets
- Yellows and yellow-greens
- Greys and neutral tones
- Very desaturated pinks and purples
Bright purples may appear blue, while vivid red looks more brown or grey. Strong greens are perceived as yellows or yellow-greys.
Cat color vision compared to dogs
Cat and dog color vision is similar, but dogs are a little better at distinguishing hues. Dogs have more functional color vision genes.
While cats see blues and yellows, dogs have a third cone type sensitive to some red wavelengths. This gives them slightly trichromatic vision.
So dogs can see a few extra shades like bright yellow, yellow-green, and some orange tones. But both see a more muted palette compared to human sight.
Do cat colors matter to cats?
Since they have limited color vision, do colors even matter to cats? The answer seems to be not as much as other senses like smell and hearing.
But cats can learn color associations. So they may associate certain colors with favorite toys, food bowls, or other objects. Their desaturated viewpoint doesn’t prevent color preferences.
Cat toys often incorporate bright fish or bird colors to make them stand out. And some cats do seem to choose certain colorful toys. But motion and texture are likely more important than color.
Color preferences can also form from learned associations. For example, a cat may recognize their blue water bowl compared to a pink one. So they develop a preference, even if the true colors appear muted.
Do cats see laser pointers?
Cat owners often use laser pointers to play with their cats. The cats eagerly chase the moving red laser dot.
But given cats can’t see red well, how do they detect the laser? It comes down to the brightness and movement of the laser.
The laser beam stimulates their motion-detecting rods. The cats don’t really see the red color, but are attracted instinctively to the moving bright light.
So cats don’t chase laser pointers because of their color. They detect the strong brightness and follow the motion. Any colored laser that’s bright enough produces the same response.
How to choose cat toys
Since cats have limited color vision, choosing the right cat toys is not just about color. Other factors are more important:
- Movement – Toys that wiggle, jump, or dangle are most stimulating
- Textures – Plush, furry, or feathered toys excite different instincts
- Smells – Toys with catnip or other scents appeal to their nose
- Sound – Crinkly or squeaky toys get attention
But color and contrast can help toys stand out. Dark toys show up well against light backgrounds. And light or bright colored toys are visible on darker surfaces.
Avoid red toys since red looks grey or brown. Blues, bright purples, strong yellows, and whites work best for visibility.
Ultimately the color matters more to the human owner than the cat. But use colors to distinguish interactive toys from each other for both cat and human.
Do cats see TV?
Cat owners will often find their pet staring at the TV. But with lower resolution and limited color vision, what do cats actually see?
They mostly detect the flickering light and some moving shapes. Their eyes lack the acuity to resolve fine television picture details.
The brighter flashes and color contrasts draw their attention. But without seeing detail, TV holds limited interest unless there’s constant motion.
Some TV programs with birds and small animals may hold more interest. The moving shapes tap into their hunting instincts.
Specialized cat TV has been developed. This optimized video takes advantage of what cats perceive best. Slow and close moving objects with high contrast engage their senses.
Do cat colors change with age?
Cat color vision declines modestly with age, similar to dogs and humans. Changes include:
- Reduced acuity and ability to resolve fine details
- Increased cloudiness in eye lenses
- Loss of color detecting cells in the retina
- Changed perception of blues and yellows
Aging effects like cataracts lower the amount of light reaching their eyes. This washes out and desaturates colors.
Older cats may have trouble distinguishing food or litter boxes from floors. Increased light levels and higher color contrasts help compensate.
Regular vet exams can monitor age-related eye changes in cats. Catching issues early maximizes vision in senior cats.
Do cats see ultraviolet light?
Humans can only see a small slice of the electromagnetic spectrum called visible light. Beyond violet are ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.
Some animals including cats can see into the near UV spectrum. Their eyes detect wavelengths down to about 320-350 nanometers.
How does this help cats? UV light makes white fur, feathers, urine trails, and other biological markers glow brightly. These draw visual attention for cats.
Flowers also have UV color patterns like nectar guides only bees and cats can see. Their vision is adapted to make use of UV signals from other animals and plants.
Fun facts about cat vision
- The cat’s eye has a reflective layer that bounces back light for better night vision.
- Cats need 1/6 the amount of light humans need to see.
- At dawn and dusk, a cat’s eyes glow due to the tapetum lucidum reflecting light.
- Cat eyes come in three shapes: round, oval, and almond.
- Siamese cats appear cross-eyed due to nerves wired to the wrong side of the brain.
- Cats have three eyelids including the haw to protect their eyes.
- Staring into a cat’s eyes triggers a happy brain response in humans.
- Blinking slowly at a cat signals friendship – they’ll often slowly blink back.
- The leopard is the only cat that can’t retract its claws back into its paws.
Conclusion
While cats don’t see the full spectrum of colors that humans do, their vision is adapted for the functions most important to being a cat. They still see enough hues like blues, yellows and neutrals to navigate their environment.
Their superior night vision and motion detection are bigger advantages for a predatory feline. So next time you catch your cat staring at something strange, remember they see the world in a very different way!
