Did you know that your cat cannot see directly under its nose? That is why treats dropped on the floor are not readily found and gobble up. The reason for this is something none of us like to think about, namely, that Fluffy and Sweetie Pie are hunters/ killers! In relation tot heir body size, cats have the largest eyes of any mammal. Their eyes are located in the front of their heads because they are predators. Depth perception is far greater than if the eyes were located on the sides of the head. This is a significant factor when determining how far away a cat needs to pounce in order to land on its unsuspecting prey. (In non-feral terms, this may be limited to gauging leaps from couches to tables and the like).
According to Special Cat.Com (http://www.specialcat.com?CatEyesight.htm), if a cat can’t catch something, it doesn’t need to see it that clearly and Nature provides that alternative. They can only see within their “running range” and their vision is excellent for detecting motion, but not for deciphering detail. Also, night vision is excellent and a cat can see things six times better than a human can in low light. This is due to their pupils, which can be either round or elliptical. When elliptical, the eyes resemble a slit, and this allows a cat to squint its eyelids, covering only part of the pupil. There is also a special membrane in the back of a cat’s eye called a tapetum that acts as a mirror for light. This membrane reflects light back through the eyeball. An inner eyelid further protects a cat’s eyes.
So take a secret peek at your favorite cat the next time you think it might be sleeping. You may discover that its eyes are not only open, but that they are watching you! A cat’s life is really like that old movie, “The Night of The Hunter,” and lest we not forget it!