2007-01-30 17:42:22 · 11 answers · asked by Mary Kangaroohead 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Yes,but not in perfect darkness.Cats would be blind in a cave.
2007-01-30 18:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by Yukon Cornelius 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cats have a special layer of cells at the back of their retinas, called the tapetum lucidum (Latin for "bright carpet"). This shiny layer of cells, acting like a mirror, reflects light back to the retina's cells.
So in near darkness, a cat's eyes collect what light there is and give the retina a second chance to absorb every photon. And domestic cats aren't the only ones with this light-enhancing device. Big cats like tigers and lions, woodland deer, ocean-dwelling whales and even your family dog all come equipped with the "bright carpet" feature.
Cats can't see in absolute darkness, however. Shut up in a windowless, pitch-black room, a cat finds its cautious way by sniffing everything around it and listening carefully. Most importantly, a cat makes use of its two dozen or so long whiskers to get a feel for the room, as they brush against unseen objects in the dark.
2007-01-31 01:49:09 · answer #2 · answered by ButterMilkQueso 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Cats have a special layer of cells at the back of their retinas, called the tapetum lucidum (Latin for "bright carpet"). This shiny layer of cells, acting like a mirror, reflects light back to the retina's cells. So in near darkness, a cat's eyes collect what light there is and give the retina a second chance to absorb every photon
2007-01-31 01:50:27 · answer #3 · answered by Heather L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can see better than humans in low light, but, contrary to popular opinion, they cannot see in complete darkness.
2007-01-31 10:40:29 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You may think they can because their eyes shine in the dark, but any light that catches their eyes is reflected, not glowing. They can see in the dark as well as we can.
2007-01-31 10:35:35 · answer #5 · answered by Mrs. T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats have better night vision than humans
2007-01-31 01:51:45 · answer #6 · answered by Candice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can see in the dark, and they are nocturnal, so there eyes can see in the dark.
2007-01-31 01:51:56 · answer #7 · answered by LikeItorNot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in total darkness but if there is any light then their vision is substantially better than ours thanks to a special reflective layer at the back of their eyes.
2007-01-31 04:14:33 · answer #8 · answered by elflaeda 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. They are nocturnal and have developed excellent night vision.
2007-01-31 01:49:47 · answer #9 · answered by Beachman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, better than humans can but not like superhumans.
2007-01-31 01:47:14 · answer #10 · answered by susan r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋