What colors do cats not see? - briefly
Cats are unable to distinguish between certain colors that humans can perceive. Specifically, they lack the ability to see shades of red and green, which appear as different tones of gray or yellow to them.
What colors do cats not see? - in detail
Cats, like many other mammals, are not capable of perceiving certain colors due to the structure and function of their eyes. Specifically, cats lack the ability to distinguish between reds and greens effectively. This limitation is primarily due to the composition of cone cells in their retinas.
Cone cells are responsible for color vision, and humans typically have three types of cones that are sensitive to short (blue), medium (green), and long (red) wavelengths of light. In contrast, cats possess only two types of cone cells: those that are sensitive to short wavelengths (blue) and those that are sensitive to medium wavelengths (yellow-green). The absence of the long-wavelength cones means that cats cannot perceive red hues accurately or distinguish between shades of green.
Moreover, the feline visual system is more adapted for detecting motion and low light levels rather than color discrimination. Cats have a high concentration of rod cells, which are specialized for night vision and detecting movement. This adaptation is crucial for their hunting behavior, as cats are primarily crepuscular animals that rely heavily on their sight to locate prey in dimly lit environments.
In summary, while cats can perceive colors within the blue and yellow-green spectrums, they lack the ability to distinguish between reds and greens effectively due to the absence of long-wavelength cones in their retinas. Their visual system is more finely tuned for detecting motion and functioning well in low light conditions, which is essential for their natural hunting habits.