Although they are colorblind, cats probably see certain colors. Various types of color blindness can impact both people and animals. Here’s what the research has to say about cats and color blindness.
What does color blindness entail?
It is possible to be color blind without losing any sense of color perception. Color blindness is the inability to distinguish particular colors from one another. Red-green color blindness is the most prevalent type in humans, involving 0.4% of women and 8% of males. 1. A less prevalent kind of color blindness in humans is called yellow-4lue co8or blindness. Monochromatism is a third, uncommon kind of color blindness in which the affected person sees solely in black and white. 2.
Rods and cones are the two different types of specialized cells found in the eye. Cones help with color vision, whereas rods help with light vision. It is well known that certain people have trichromatic vision, which is characterized by the presence of three different kinds of cones: red, blue, and green-sensitive cones. With these three kinds of cones, we can see every color in the rainbow.
Cats that are colorblind
Since cats are unable to do the color blindness tests that people can, understanding color blindness in cats is more difficult. 3. It was previously believed that cats have dichromatic vision due to the presence of two different types of cones in their eyes. One is responsive to blue-violet tones, whereas the other responds best to yellow-green tones. 4 This means that cats might not be able to distinguish blues, greens, and reds as well as humans can. Cat dichromatism is most similar to red-green color blindness in humans, where red and blue-green hues look more gray.
Because cats have been seen to have three different types of cones, research has been done to establish whether cats are trichromatic. This third kind of cone might be responsive to blue-green or cyan tones. According to one study, cats may be able to see in three colors or photopic trichromatic vision. 5. This suggests that, though perhaps not quite as brilliantly, cats and humans may see a similar color range during the day. As a result, their surroundings could seem more pastel than luminous.
Even the question of whether cats can sense ultraviolet light is being studied. Animals with UV vision can detect six urine trails, which could account for why cats repeatedly deposit litter in the same area (though their keen sense of smell is probably the main culprit).
Different Types of Color Blindness in Cats
It’s possible that some cats have even worse color vision. Monochromatism, blue-yellow color blindness, and red-green color blindness are all inherited characteristics in humans. Although it hasn’t been shown yet, cats might have a similar inherited condition that further impairs their color vision.
Assessing feline color vision
Currently, there is no simple method for testing a cat’s color vision, unlike people who can do color blindness tests. That explains why there are so many unanswered questions regarding the colors they perceive.
Human Vision versus Cat Vision
Cats may see color better than humans, but that’s not all negative for them.
It is well known that cats’ eyes contain many more rods than those of humans.7. Cats see so much better in low light than humans do because rods help with night vision and light sensitivity. Since cats are crepuscular creatures, dawn and dusk are when they are most active. It is more crucial to be able to see properly in low light than it is to be able to distinguish color during these times.
Additionally, compared to humans, cats’ field of vision is 200 degrees broader than ours. Humans’ field of vision is only 180 degrees.7. Because feline vision is thought to be less acute than ours, cats may compensate by having a larger field of vision. The best way to characterize cats is as nearsighted. Cats can see clearly just around 20 feet away, although most people can see fine details up to 200 feet away.8
Because their eyes are pointing forward, just like humans, cats have more binocular vision than uniocular vision. Depth perception is made possible by binocular vision and is a crucial adaption for hunting.
The Effects of Color Blindness in Cats
It’s difficult to estimate how much color vision cats have and what potential limits there might be because we don’t fully understand their visual system. Cats typically aren’t able to distinguish particular hues, even though they probably don’t see the visible light spectrum the same way that humans do.
Cats can have favorite beds and toys, for example, and this may lead owners to believe that their preference is based on the colors that the cat can see or cannot. They might, nevertheless, adore that blanket or toy for a variety of reasons. Some claim that toys that are colored like red or yellow, which cats cannot see, will not cause them to react. However, being blind is not the same as not being able to distinguish any color at all. Even though your cat doesn’t view a red toy as red, they may still see it and play with it.
Color-Related Cat Considerations
Even while cats don’t have human vision, that doesn’t mean that their vision is impaired. Regardless of their capacity or lack thereof to see particular colors, the majority of cats lead happy, healthy lives.
Cats that are color blind are not at risk and don’t require any medical attention. Any owner of a cat will tell you that their feline friend is not hindered by its low color vision. With so many more unique aspects to their vision, cats are able to see things that humans cannot.
- What is color blindness? Color blindness is the inability to distinguish certain colors from one another. It doesn’t necessarily mean a complete loss of color perception. The most common type in humans is red-green color blindness.
- What does it mean when cats are colorblind? Cats are believed to have dichromatic vision, meaning they have two different types of cones in their eyes. One responds to blue-violet tones, and the other to yellow-green tones. This suggests that cats might not distinguish blues, greens, and reds as well as humans can.
- Can cats see in three colors? Some research suggests that cats may have a third type of cone that is responsive to blue-green or cyan tones, indicating that they may have trichromatic vision. This means cats and humans may see a similar color range, though cats’ perception might be more pastel than luminous.
- Can cats sense ultraviolet light? The question of whether cats can sense ultraviolet light is currently being studied. Animals with UV vision can detect urine trails, which could explain why cats repeatedly deposit litter in the same area.
- What are the different types of color blindness in cats? Some cats might have worse color vision due to inherited conditions like monochromatism, blue-yellow color blindness, and red-green color blindness, similar to humans. However, this has not been definitively proven yet.
- How does human vision compare to cat vision? Cats’ eyes contain many more rods than humans, enabling them to see better in low light. Cats’ field of vision is also broader than humans, and they have more binocular vision, which aids in depth perception. Cats are generally nearsighted, seeing clearly up to about 20 feet away.
- What are the effects of color blindness in cats? While we don’t fully understand cats’ visual system, they typically aren’t able to distinguish certain hues. However, this doesn’t hinder their quality of life. Cats that are color blind are not at risk and don’t require any medical attention.
