Cats see very well in the dark, which is important to their natural nocturnal hunting behavior. Though they are unable to see in complete blackness, they are able to perceive more than we can in very low light. The cat’s eye has several anatomic features that are designed to enhance their night vision.

Cats have elliptical pupils that are oriented vertically. This elliptical pupil allows it to open much larger than a human’s round pupil. The larger pupil lets in more light and enhances a cat’s vision in low light.

Another important feature of a cat’s eyes is a membrane called the tapetum lucidum. The tapetum is designed to reflect light within the eye itself and allow more light to reach the retina. The flash of a cat’s eyes in the dark, or “eyeshine” that we see, is light reflecting off of the cat’s tapetum.

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