How well can your cat see? The short answer is that cats see the world differently from us. While some aspects of their sight are better than ours (e.g. seeing in dim light), other elements could be considered worse (e.g. seeing fewer colours). 

We’re going to explore whether cats are long- or short-sighted, the signs your cat may be struggling with their vision and the health conditions that could potentially cause this.

Normal cat vision

Cats are carnivores and have adapted to hunt prey. As well as their sharp teeth and claws, a cat’s eyesight is highly specialized. Their eyes are situated at the front of their face giving them binocular vision, similar to ours. This is different to prey animals that have their eyes on either side of their heads giving them a wider peripheral vision (so they can see predators sneaking up on them). Cats have a narrower visual field which gives them greater depth perception and the ability to follow fine movements. 

Cats have a visual field of 200 degrees, which is greater than humans who can see 180 degrees. However, cats are not as good as we are at focusing on objects at close range. Anything closer than about 25cm can become blurry. Instead, cats will rely on their sensitive whiskers and sense of smell for more information about a close-up object. 

This means that cats could be considered long-sighted. Objects up close appear blurry to them, compared to objects a bit further away. However, ‘mid-sighted’ might be a better description for them as once an object is over 20 feet (6 metres) away, things get blurry again. By contrast, humans can see objects 100-200 feet (30-60 metres) away.

The trade-off for their poor ‘up close’ eyesight is their excellent night vision

Cats are far better than we are at seeing in dim light conditions. The main reason for this is an extra layer in the back of their eye called the tapetum lucidum. This reflective surface is underneath the retina, which is the layer that contains specialised cells called rods and cones. Rod cells help animals to see in dim light and cone cells detect colour. The tapetum lucidum helps to bounce light at these cells again so that they get another chance to absorb the light. The tapetum lucidum is what we see when light catches the back of our cat’s eyes. It often appears green/blue in colour. 

Cats can also dilate their pupils much wider than we can, which again increases the amount of light which can reach the back of the eye. 

Do cats see in black and white?

Cats have cone cells so they can see some colours, but not as many as we do. This is because they have fewer of those cones than humans, so the colour palette that they see is much more muted. They are thought to see blue relatively well, but greens and reds can appear similar and are greyer in colour than the vivid shades we see. 

My cat’s vision seems a little off…

Cats are actually very good at navigating their environment even with poor vision. It can be quite hard to tell if your cat has an eyesight problem, especially if it has crept on gradually over time. 

Many non-visual cats learn where the obstacles are in their home and can find their way around through touch and smell. Cats with sudden loss of vision are often easier to spot as they haven’t had time to adapt their behaviour and learn how to cope.  

Signs that your cat is struggling with their vision include –

  • Bumping into things, especially if they are newly introduced objects or an existing item of furniture has been moved
  • Walking more slowly and cautiously than normal
  • Walking low to the ground with a crouched posture
  • Reaching their neck forward as they walk to use their whiskers to feel things
  • Reluctance to jump up or down from a height
  • Wide, dilated pupils
  • Cloudy eyes
  • Inflammation or redness in the eyes
  • Changes to the way the eyes reflect light
  • Squinting or holding their eyes closed more than usual

If you notice any of these symptoms then it is important to take your cat to your vet for an examination. The earlier a condition is spotted; the more successful treatment is likely to be. Your vet may be able to recommend a course of action, or they could advise an appointment with a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist, especially if more advanced diagnostic equipment is needed. 

How will the vet test my cat’s vision?

If you are suspicious that your cat may not be seeing well your vet will try and assess their vision. This can be tricky in cats! 

They may perform a few of the following basic tests –

  • The menace response – Your vet will quickly and carefully move a raised hand towards your cat. A cat with normal vision will blink to avoid the hand making contact with their eye. Care must be taken not to cause air currents which the cat can feel with its sensitive whiskers.
  • Pupillary light response (PLR) – Shining a bright light in a healthy eye will cause the dark pupil in the centre to constrict (become smaller). A non-visual eye may not respond in the same way. 
  • The tracking response – Your vet may drop small pieces of cotton wool to see if your cat follows them as they fall. Cotton wool is used because it makes no sound when falling through the air or hitting the ground.

What diseases could cause changes in my cat’s vision?

There are a number of diseases that can cause changes to your cat’s eyesight. This could involve changes to the shape or refractive index of the lens, so in theory, a cat could become long-sighted. However, our main concern is loss of vision altogether. 

Diseases affecting vision can be divided into ocular conditions (affecting just the eye itself) or systemic conditions (an issue that is more widely affecting the cat’s body). 

Let’s explore a few common ones –

Ocular diseases –

  • Cataracts – When a cataract develops, the clear lens that focuses light on the back of the eye becomes cloudy, stopping light from passing through. They can be congenital, hereditary or secondary to infection or inflammation.
  • Glaucoma – Cats with glaucoma experience excessive fluid within the eye, leading to an increase in pressure within the globe (eyeball). The eye can become swollen and painful, as well as non-visual
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – Degeneration of the retina in the back of the eye occurs during PRA, progressing to loss of vision.
  • Tumours – Tumours affecting vision can either be malignant or benign, inside the eye or very close to it
  • Trauma – Damage to the eye could cause serious problems with your cat’s vision such as lens displacement 
  • Conjunctivitis – Severe bouts of conjunctivitis could cause enough inflammation to the eye that there is lasting damage. This could be caused by bacterial or viral infections. Severe bouts of ‘cat flu’ caused by agents like feline herpesvirus (FHP) are common and can end in blindness. 

Systemic disease –

  • Infectious disease – viruses like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and feline herpesvirus (FHP) all have the potential to cause issues with vision in cats. Toxoplasma (a parasite) and cryptococcus (a yeast-like fungus) are other potential candidates. Infectious diseases can cause uveitis, and painful inflammation of the middle part of the eye, which includes the iris, ciliary body (produces fluid for the inside of the eye) and the choroid (which supplies nutrients to the retina). Blindness may be gradual.
  • Hypertension – Hypertension (high blood pressure) can lead to organ damage. In the eyes, the retina becomes separated from the underlying tissue in a condition known as retinal detachment. Prompt intervention could partially restore vision but in many cases, permanent blindness could result. Hypertension can be idiopathic (no identifiable cause) or could be due to a disease like hyperthyroidism or chronic kidney disease.

Your vet will perform a thorough eye exam but may suggest some other tests, depending on their findings. This could include tests for infectious diseases, blood tests to check their thyroid levels and kidney function and blood pressure monitoring. 

They will then be able to formulate a treatment plan and give you a more accurate prognosis. In some cases, vision can be improved again with the right therapy implemented early enough. However, for some cats, their vision may be permanently affected.

Summary

Healthy cats are technically mid-sighted, meaning that they see better when objects are at a distance from them (but not too far away!). Very close items can seem blurry. Their eyes are highly specialised, however, and they have many adaptations to suit their carnivorous, hunting lifestyle. 

Multiple diseases can affect your cat’s vision. If you suspect that your cat is having issues with their eyesight then make sure you see your vet as soon as possible. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the more successful treatment is likely to be.