| It has been said that eyes are the window to the | | | | cataracts and glaucoma. If not treated, high |
| soul. When gazing into the eyes of a cat, you get | | | | veterinarian expenses and even blindness can occur. |
| the feeling that the statement is very real. But there | | | | A cat has an inner, third eyelid called a nictating |
| is more to a cat's eyes. A cat's eyes have some | | | | membrane to protect the cat from dryness and/or |
| unique features that are different than humans. The | | | | damage. A cat does not have to blink it's eyes like |
| best known is a cat's ability to see at night. | | | | humans to lubricate them. If the third eyelid is partially |
| The eyes face forward on a cat improving their | | | | closed and a cat is not sleeping, this may indicate a |
| depth perception but limit their field of view. The cat | | | | cat is sick. |
| has a vision of 20/100 enabling it to see far away but | | | | A cat has much better night vision than a human. |
| not up close. A cat's central vision is not as sharp as | | | | Although the cat cannot see in total darkness, the |
| a humans because of the eye's construction. A cat | | | | cat only needs one-sixth of the illumination required |
| cannot see directly below its' nose. A cat can see | | | | by a human. The muscles of the iris narrow the eye |
| colors and distinguish between the colors especially | | | | to a slit in bright light and fully open in dim light. A |
| the blues and violets. A cat's ability to see colors is | | | | reflective layer behind the cat's retina called the |
| limited as compared to humans. | | | | tapeturn reflects the incoming light and bounces it |
| The color of a cat's eyes varies but orange, green | | | | back amplifying the light. In daylight, this amplification |
| and golden are the most common. Blue eyes are | | | | is too strong. A cat's eyes will narrow to a slit-like |
| associated with Siamese cats. There is a | | | | condition to minimize the light to improve it's ability to |
| misconception that all white cats with blue eyes are | | | | see in the daytime. |
| deaf. A white cat with one blue eye and one of | | | | A cat will express it's mood with it's eyes. An angry |
| another color has a higher risk of deafness on the | | | | cat will have narrowed pupils. An excited or |
| blue eye side. | | | | frightened cat's eyes will be wide open. A happy cat's |
| The pupils of the eyes should be the same size. The | | | | eyes may appear a shade darker. A cat will kiss with |
| pupils of a cat's eyes are vertical and much larger | | | | it's eyes by gazing at you and then blinking it's eyes. |
| than a human. If the size of the pupils differ, this can | | | | The uniqueness of a cat's eye has long been |
| be an indication of possible harmful conditions: | | | | recognized by many people. Many rare gems have |
| inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), Horner's | | | | been referred to as a cat's eye. Even in the game of |
| syndrome, FeLV, tumors and central nervous system | | | | marbles, it was something special to have a marble |
| injury. A cat can have other conditions including | | | | that resembled a cat's eye. |