Can Cats See in the Dark?

Joy L. (age 11) asked,

“Can cats see in the dark?”

Thanks for your question, Joy!

God created the cat kind to be nocturnal, which means cats are more active at night and sleepier during the day. Because they’re awake when it’s dark out, God gave felines special eyes that help them see in low light. Though cats can see in the dark about six times better than humans, they can’t see in total darkness.

The main reason cats have excellent night vision is the large number of rods they have in their retinas (REH-tuh-nuhz), a part of the eye that converts light into electrical signals. Humans have rods in their retinas too, but cats have more. The extra rods are more sensitive to dim light, which helps cats see in the dark.

Cats also have a structure called a tapetum in the backs of their eyes behind their retinas that works like a mirror. The structure captures small amounts of light and reflects it back through the retina. The tapetum is why your cat’s eyes seem to glow in the dark.

God designed the cat kind with special eyes to see, even when the lights are out!

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