In what color does the world appear to cats? - briefly
Cats have dichromatic color vision, meaning they can distinguish between blues and greens but perceive other colors differently than humans. Specifically, they likely see the world in shades of blue and yellow, with less vivid colors overall.
In what color does the world appear to cats? - in detail
Cats, like many other mammals, are dichromatic, meaning they have two types of cone cells in their eyes that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. Humans, on the other hand, are trichromatic and possess three types of cone cells. This difference in visual perception is due to the presence or absence of specific photopigments within these cone cells.
The two types of cone cells present in cats are sensitive to blue and green wavelengths of light. The blue-sensitive cones contain a photopigment called S-opsin, while the green-sensitive cones contain M-opsin. This dichromatic color vision allows cats to distinguish between shades of blue and green but not between red and green, as humans can.
In addition to their cone cells, cats also have a high concentration of rod cells, which are responsible for low-light vision. Rods contain a photopigment called rhodopsin, which is highly sensitive to light and allows cats to see effectively in dim conditions. This adaptability to low light is one of the reasons why cats are such effective hunters, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Moreover, cats have a reflective layer behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum, which further enhances their night vision by increasing the amount of light that reaches the photoreceptors. This unique adaptation reflects any light that passes through the retina back into the eye, providing an additional opportunity for the rods and cones to absorb more light.
In summary, while cats do not perceive colors in the same way humans do, their visual system is highly adapted for detecting movement and navigating in low-light conditions. The world appears to cats in a palette that includes various shades of blue and green, with some ability to discern brightness and intensity changes within these hues.