What colors can't cats see? - briefly
Cats lack the ability to perceive red and green colors due to their unique color vision system. Their eyes are equipped with only two types of cone cells, which detect blues and yellows, making them effectively colorblind for these specific hues.
What colors can't cats see? - in detail
Cats, unlike humans, are not able to perceive and distinguish certain colors due to differences in their visual system. While they possess excellent low-light vision, their color perception is limited compared to our own.
Cats have only two types of cone cells in their eyes, which are responsible for color vision. Humans, on the other hand, have three types of cone cells that allow us to see a broader spectrum of colors. The two types of cone cells in cats are sensitive to blue and yellow wavelengths of light. This means that cats can see shades of blue and yellow quite well.
However, cats struggle with distinguishing colors in the red and green spectrums. These colors appear as shades of gray or brown to them. For instance, a ripe tomato would not look bright red to a cat; instead, it might appear as a dull, muted color. Additionally, cats have difficulty perceiving subtle differences between similar shades of the same color.
Moreover, cats are more sensitive to changes in brightness and contrast than they are to variations in hue. This is why they excel at detecting movement even in low-light conditions but might not be able to tell apart two objects that are the same brightness but different colors.
In summary, while cats can see shades of blue and yellow effectively, their ability to perceive reds, greens, and subtle color differences is significantly impaired compared to human vision.