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Why cats eyes glow at night

Cat eyes may appear shiny and glowing in the dark. This can sometimes give a creepy feeling, resembling a scene from a horror film. However, the glowing eyes are simply caused by the cat peering at you in the darkness. The glow is due to light reflecting off the tapetum lucidum, a structure in their eyes, and not […]

07-07-23 12:07
cat worms
Can indoor cats get worms? Image: Jakayla Toney/Unsplash,Canva

Cat eyes may appear shiny and glowing in the dark.

This can sometimes give a creepy feeling, resembling a scene from a horror film.

However, the glowing eyes are simply caused by the cat peering at you in the darkness.

The glow is due to light reflecting off the tapetum lucidum, a structure in their eyes, and not reaching the retina.

This reflection is what causes a cat’s eyes to glow.

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Cats are nocturnal animals, unlike humans.

They require superior night vision for hunting in the dark.

Cats have a specialized feature in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum.

In Latin, “tapetum lucidum” translates to “shining layer.”

The tapetum lucidum helps enhance a cat’s vision in low-light conditions.

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BUT…MY CAT’S EYES DON’T GLOW IN THE DARK

Cats’ eyes should glow and appear reflective in low-light environments.

If you observe that your cat’s eyes don’t glow in the dark, it indicates a problem.

The absence of reflection suggests a potential issue with your cat’s vision.

If you notice this, it is advisable to seek veterinary attention for your cat’s vision concerns.

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While you have likely seen glowing eyes in your feline, this ability is not unique to them.

Other animals also possess a tapetum lucidum, including dogs, owls, horses, deer, and ferrets.

These animals share the characteristic of having a reflective layer in their eyes.

The tapetum lucidum enhances their vision in low-light conditions, just like in cats.

The presence of the tapetum lucidum is not limited to felines alone.

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This article was compiled with the help of Artificial Intelligence