| I'll bet you never thought much about your pet's | | | | not turn it into a staring contest. |
| vision. We take our eyesight for granted so much of | | | | When dogs ran in packs only the Alpha dog had the |
| the time that we don't even think of "how our pets | | | | authority to stare or have direct eye contact. |
| see." | | | | In dealing with cats, it is rather on a one to one |
| Our world operates more on sight than any of our | | | | basis, each cat has its own idea of what it will or will |
| other senses. | | | | not accept and it is up to you to figure it out. |
| Our pets on the other hand, use hearing and smell | | | | However, a good idea, if you are trying to correct a |
| along with sight. | | | | cat's bad habit, like being on the counter or table, |
| An average dog has the eyesight of an 80 to 90 | | | | instead of yelling (which will do no good) stay out of |
| year old human about 20/75. | | | | sight and spray the cat with a bit of water. Do this a |
| The average cat would not be able to tell you the | | | | few times without the cat seeing you do it and by |
| difference between a Bluejay or a Crow or if Tony | | | | association Miss Kitty (water and table) will stop doing |
| the Tiger was on TV. | | | | it. |
| It is not that their eyesight is really bad, they just | | | | Trying to teach your dog hand obedience signals is a |
| see the world differently than we do. | | | | great idea and dogs love the drama of waving arms. |
| Going back to the years gone by dogs were hunters. | | | | Cats on the other hand will think you are "losing it" |
| They traveled in packs to hunt their prey and their | | | | and will ignore you. |
| prey was usually available during dusk and dawn. | | | | Animals are very good at picking up visual and |
| As a result dogs were created with vision that | | | | emotional clues that we give out, without our even |
| allowed them to see in dim light. Dogs have a flatter | | | | knowing we are doing it. |
| cornea that we do, which lets in more light, but | | | | When it is "flea day" at our house I try very hard |
| decreases the sharpness of their vision. | | | | not to think of the cats, the flea stuff or when I am |
| Our eyes come outfitted with many color sensitive | | | | going to put it on them, but somehow I give away |
| features which dogs do not have. Their world is | | | | my intentions and they vanish into the woodwork. |
| mainly black and white with a little blue and violet | | | | I now gather the 3 vials up in the evening before, |
| thrown in, but their depth perception and width of | | | | puncture the tops, put the caps back on and wait till |
| vision is better than ours. | | | | morning, then the first cat I see gets it without any |
| Interestingly, a dog's vision has not been left entirely | | | | warning and I continue on until I have all three |
| up to Mother Nature, breeders throughout the years | | | | "de-fleaed." |
| have played a role in helping change different aspects | | | | This may seem like I got side tracked for a moment, |
| of a breed's sight. | | | | but I did not. I just wanted you to be aware of the |
| Some breeds have been bred for long distance sight, | | | | fact our cats and dogs are very much aware of our |
| some for close range sight and others just for | | | | actions and they visually keep tabs on us without our |
| cosmetic looks. | | | | knowing it. |
| Cats on the other hand have very large eyes, They | | | | As our pets get older they too, have vision problems. |
| can focus on prey at close range, and their depth | | | | There is a fibrous tissue that causes a condition |
| perception is fantastic thanks to their binocular vision. | | | | known as "nuclear sclerosis" that grows on the lens |
| Since cats hunt things that roam at night their eyes | | | | of the eye. This condition makes the eyesight quite |
| are created to allow as much light in as possible, their | | | | cloudy. |
| retinas are coated with a reflective film that helps let | | | | Then there are cataracts. |
| in more light. | | | | However, our pets do not react as we humans do |
| Cats like dogs have poor color vision and color plays | | | | when we are losing our sight. By using their other |
| a very unimportant part in a cat's life. | | | | sense organs they manage to get around very well |
| A cat's depth of vision and its peripheral vision is | | | | and many times can be near blind before we are |
| better than ours. | | | | aware of their condition. |
| The Siamese cat is the only breed that does not | | | | The adjustment of dealing with a near blind dog is |
| have the binocular vision necessary for being a good | | | | more your problem than the dogs. |
| hunter. Their hunting is done with a lot of guess work | | | | It means you have to learn other ways of |
| thrown in, that probably why most Siamese cats are | | | | communicating with a little more noise and touch. |
| pampered house cats (it was too hard to make a | | | | Dogs can remain active long after their eyesight has |
| living as a "mouser.") | | | | diminished, they can still go for walks, they can play |
| Cats and dogs use their hearing and sense of smell | | | | with toys that have rattles or noises in them and the |
| along with their eyesight to communicate. | | | | thing they love best is your touching them with pets |
| It is hard of us humans to imagine how important the | | | | and love. |
| right distance is for our pets to actually be able to | | | | Cats, too adjust quite well with poor eyesight, just |
| see us clearly. | | | | don't move the location of the litter box. |
| It's almost like the story of the Three Bears, poppa's | | | | Cats will play with noisy toys, but most enjoy the |
| porridge was too hot, mama's porridge was too cold | | | | sound of your voice and your loving pats. |
| and baby bear's porridge was just right. | | | | When re-arranging furniture make certain you take |
| The proper distance for your pet to see you | | | | plenty of time to help your pet adjust to the new |
| properly has to be "just right," too close or too far | | | | locations by gently walking him/her through the new |
| just won't work. | | | | placement as many times as it takes to get the pet |
| Another interesting thing is eye contact; direct eye | | | | acclimated. |
| contact can be very intimidating to some dogs and | | | | All in all, a sightless cat or dog can enjoy a long and |
| can cause an aggressive reaction. | | | | happy life, as long as they have your love. |
| When trying to teach your dog a command, it is | | | | As we all know, love makes the world go round and |
| important that you both look at each other, but do | | | | it does not matter if you are a cat, dog or human. |