Why do cats, who are considered mammals have reptillian eyes (slits for pupils like reptiles)?

Answer 1

I answered a related question some months ago, so I'm quoting myself :-)

Mammals such as cats and us evolved within a lineage of early amniotes called Therapsids. Therapsids were sometimes called "Mammal-like reptiles", because all the amniotes that were not birds or mammals fell into the "reptile" category.
But in fact, all the living "reptiles" (lizards, snakes, crocs, turtles, and including birds) evolved from another branch of early amniotes.
You see a similarity in the shape of the pupils. Now, the things that all amniotes have in common either 1) were inherited from a common ancestor or 2) evolved independently and achieved similar aspect. Most of the times you can tell which is this is the case, because in the second type, such features look superficially similar, but not so much under closer examination.

In this case, vertical slit-like pupils are characteristic of many nocturnal animals that are very dissimilar, such as cats, alligators, geckoes, or some frogs; these were acquired independently (case (2)) and these animals regulate their eyes somewhat differently. However, all vertebrates have one pair of eyes; this is an inherited shared trait (case (1)).

Many similar features (organs, responses, adaptations) have arisen repeatedly in different vertebrate lineages. According to some hypotheses, these cases of parallel evolution and convergence reflect underlying synapomorphies (that is, the _potential_ ability to evolve such and such feature, shared by all the vertebrates).
I hope this helps.

Answer 2

The size, shape, or color of an animals eyes simply has nothing to do with whether or noit it's a mammal, reptile, arachnid, etc.

mammals(most) are warm-blooded animals that give birth to live young- which feed off of the mothers nutrition(milk) for a short time afterward.

Answer 3

Cats do not have reptillian eyes, their pupils dilate and contract, depending on the amount of light. Haven't you ever looked at a cat's eyes in low light?

Answer 4

Eyes are not the determining factor for "reptilian" or "mammalian". A cat's eyes are designed to provide optimum vision in low light.

Not all snakes have elliptical pupils - many have round pupils, just as humans do. Generally poisonous snakes have elliptical pupils, non-poisonous ones have round pupils.

Answer 5

Because they are actually cheerful little furry crocodiles that live on land.
Evidence: They can move quickly, but usually prefer to lie around like lazy hounds. They like to eat chicken. They have tails. They try to hide then ambush you. They make funny sounds when they are in heat.
Is that enough evidence for you?

Answer 6

Its the same as goats, plus an animals eyes isnt how they detemine what it is.It dosnt lay eggs there fore its a mamal.They arnt considered they are mamals.

Answer 7

Why do people have such weird and different eyes?