Cat eyes...?

Question

Why do cat's pupils change from narrow to circle? Is there a different reason than the lighting?

Answer 1

Excitement, fear, playfulness. The eyes of a cat are amazing and fascinating to watch!

Answer 2

Indeed, the light levels affect the size and shape of a cat's pupils. So does emotional or instinctual response, as has been stated, to allow more information into the brain about the situation. What many people don't know, however, is the effect of the vertically oriented pupil when contracted. Have you ever noticed that a cat has a very difficult time catching a treat tossed to it? Yet if you skid it across the floor, it's captured instantaneously. The vertical slit hampers the cat's up/down visual acuity.

Answer 3

No - it is the same reason that humans' pupils also change size. When there is bright light, or pupils constrict to allow less light in, when there is low light, or if what we are doing requires visual acuity, our pupils will dilate, allowing more light and visual information in.

When my cat wants to jump on the bathroom sink for a drink of water, I can see her pupils open up SOOO wide she looks like Puss-in-Boots from Shrek 2. The light hasn't changed, but she needs to see better to assess the height and distance of the area where she is jumping. The same happens when they are stalking prey (whether real or toys). But those aren't "emotions" they are normal biological and instinctive functions.

Answer 4

Cats pupils work just like yours do. Vision is a function of light. Unless there is a medical reason for it, the available light is the answer.

Answer 5

Mostly it is lighting, but if you notice when your cat is about to attack or pounce...their pupils will get huge. Brain damage also can cause pupils to dilate, so if a cat has one pupil that is large and one that is small and it is NOT due to light and lasts for a long time period, it could be an indication of brain damage.

Answer 6

They adjust their eyes to the light just the same as humans. My cat's pupils will change dramatically when we are playing. She is so intense on me and her toys that when there is movement her pupils will become wide. I love to watch them and will play with certain toys and games to get her to do this!

Answer 7

In cats that see something that interests them, you will frequently see a widening of the pupil, assumedly to let in more light and allow them to focus on the object. However, this is a relatively small adjustment, compared to the changes based on light brightness.

Answer 8

It's for the same reason as all eye's work, they adjust according to the light and emotional response to a situation. You will notice that when they are stalking prey they have huge dark circles allowing as much information into their eyes as possible for example. They just have the ability to create narrow slants whereas we don't, our circles just get smaller but for exactly the same reasons.

Answer 9

A cats pupils will dialate when the room is too dark or it is scared. They will get smaller as the room gets brighter. When the room is very bright their pupils will become little slits.

Answer 10

Nope. It's all in the amount of light that enters the cat's eye. Their eyes work exactly the same as yours except they have the ability to see in situations where there is less light. Being night creatures by nature they have adapted to take advantage of low-light environments.

Answer 11

The light I think. Just like our pupils. Only theirs is way better looking.