Information on the Workings of a Cat's Eyes

I may be as allergic as you can get to cats, but I love them. I love the diverse personalities of these creatures, and I think they are some of the most beautiful animals that we get to see every day. Of course, they generally love to sit on me, since cats have the ability to sense these things and perversely enjoy sitting on those who have allergies or simply do not like cats. I do not currently have one, but that is simply because I have not found the right one. After all, I will have to get back on Singulair and Nasacourt to breathe, if I do. However, my sister and her other half have five beautiful and unique feline children, and I love them all tremendously. Hence my interest and article concerning their eyes.

Cats' eyes are quite lovely, whether they are yellow, green or blue or any combination that can come from that. They are also fascinating to research. I found myself clicking every option on the Google search page that was available. Not only do the felines have better vision, both day and night, than humans, they are able to get some of the same and similar diseases and problems that we can with our own eyes. This justifies the beliefs of cat-lovers that "cats are people, too."

Cats are well known for their excellent night vision. According to Wikipedia, their eyes are able to function at "only one-sixth of the light level required by human vision." This would explain why most cats with whom I am familiar are most active at night or twilight. Feline eyes have a tapetum lucidum, which reflects the light that passes through the retina back into the eye (Wikipedia). Also, cats are able to reduce and expand their pupils in order to control the amount of light that enters their eyes, and they can expand them three times more than a human can (www.angelfire.com). Cats also have more rods, or receptors that are sensitive to light, in their eyes (www.angelfire.com). Unlike their bigger cousins, domestic cats have the pupils that are slit and much larger in proportion to the size of their eyes (Wikipedia).

Now, cat vision does have some downfalls. Cats are not able to see colors as well as humans, but they can see them (www.ccmr.cornell.edu). Also, their vision is good for seeing over a distance, but it is more fuzzy up close to the object at which they are looking (http://cats.about.com/cs/eyesvision/a/cats_eyes_2.htm). Another fascinating feature about the eyes of domestic cats is the nictating membrane that can come out to protect the eye from dryness and damage (Wikipedia). If the cat is showing its nictating lens, there is a good chance that something is wrong and the pet owner will want to at least call the veterinarian to be sure. Another fascinating fact is that the whiskers which operate for so many reasons are yet another defense for the eyes, as they trigger the blink reflex.

While I was researching the information on the feline eye, I was surprised to see that some of the diseases to which they are susceptible are the same as or similar to the ones to which humans are susceptible. Cats can get pink eye and conjunctivitis (www.vin.com). Having had pink eye, I can send floods of sympathy. It is no fun!

Cats are fascinating people. I enjoy just watching one run and play, lounge and glare, or be a ninja. I have known many cats, had some of my own or just spoiled the ones that belong with my sister. It has been fascinating to learn about how their eyes work. Now, I can send this to my sister with sincere warnings to watch over the eyes of my "niece and nephews." I'll even have some idea about what I am speaking. That is even more fun!

Sources:

Personal Experience
http://www.vin.com/vindbpub/searchpb/proceedings/pr05000/pr00523.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat
http://yourcatcareguide.com/wordpress/?p=141
http://cats.about.com/cs/eyesvision/a/cats_eyes.htmhttp://www.allanimaleyeclinic.com/flexistar/aaec.nsf/pages/0e0e1bdc2dd6043885256a38004ec56f?opendocument
http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/KittenCats/sight.html
http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=165
http://www.flickr.com/groups/fiveflickrfavs/discuss/72157602430050354/