What Colors Can Cats See? A Guide to Feline Vision

Key Takeaways

Wave a toy across the floor, and your kitty may react to its movement even if its color isn’t especially noticeable. But what colors can cats see? While they can distinguish some colors, their visual system handles color differently from ours. Color is only one part of how they make sense of what they see. Movement and contrast can also play a big role. 

Cats aren’t colorblind in the way many people assume. They have color vision built around far fewer cone cells than humans have, which affects what colors stand out to them and which ones fade into the background. This guide explains how a kitty’s eyes process color, which shades they can distinguish, and how their eyesight compares with ours.[1][2] 

How Do Cats See Color? 

Your kitty’s ability to see color starts with the retina, the structure lining the rear interior surface of the eye. The retina contains specialized cells that respond to different aspects of incoming light. Cone cells contribute to color perception, while rod cells are more closely associated with vision under dim conditions. Humans have substantially more cone cells than cats, which contributes to our ability to distinguish a broader range of colors and finer color detail.[1][2][3] 

In low light, a kitty’s eyes can make do with a fraction of the illumination your eyes would need to see clearly. Cats also have many more rod cells relative to cone cells than humans do. Rods are sensitive to movement and low light rather than color, helping cats spot movement and navigate dim environments. This balance is part of why cats rely on scent over sight and their other senses to take in their surroundings. 

Are Cats Colorblind? 

The word “colorblind” oversimplifies things. In humans, colorblindness usually describes a specific difference in color perception. A cat’s dichromatic vision is different: it’s simply how their eyes are built from birth. It can be compared to red-green colorblindness in people, since both involve difficulty telling certain hues apart. But the comparison only goes so far: nobody can fully measure what a kitty actually experiences.[2] 

What Colors Can Cats See Best? 

Cats can see several colors, but not as many as humans. Here’s how different colors may appear to cat:

• Blue and Blue-Violet: These colors are generally easier for cats to distinguish and may stand out more clearly to them. 

• Yellow and Green: Cats can distinguish some yellow and green tones, although these colors may appear less vividly than they do to humans. 

• Purple: Because purple contains red and blue, cats may perceive it as more similar to blue than humans do.  

• Red, Orange, and Pink: These colors are harder for cats to distinguish from nearby shades and may appear muted or less distinct. 

Can Cats See Red? 

Cats have limited ability to distinguish red from nearby colors. Red may appear less vivid or blend more easily with other tones from a cat’s perspective. Keep this in mind when choosing toys, but don’t assume that a yellow or blue toy will automatically get more attention. Contrast, lighting, and movement can all affect how noticeable an object is.

How Does Cat Color Vision Compare to Human Vision? 

Cone types explain much of the difference between cat and human color vision. Human eyes have three main types of cone cells, allowing us to distinguish a broader range of colors. Cats have two main cone types, so their color perception is more limited and generally less vivid. 

Human eyesight provides greater color variety and sharper visual detail, while feline eyesight is better adapted to detecting movement and seeing in low-light conditions. Cats also have a wider field of view than humans, giving them broader peripheral vision. Their vertically slit pupils help regulate how much light enters the eye. 

The differences reflect different visual priorities. Human vision is better suited to fine detail and a broad range of colors, while feline vision is adapted to movement detection and low-light conditions. Each set of abilities fits the environment in which the species evolved to live or hunt.[1][2] 

The table below lays out where cat and human vision differ most: 

Why Don’t Cats Need Rich Color Vision? 

Feline eyesight evolved around hunting. Telling colors apart was never really the priority. If you’ve noticed your kitty suddenly perk up around sunset, that’s when some of the adaptations in their eyes become especially useful. Cats are crepuscular, meaning they’re often most active around sunrise and sunset, when light levels are lower and prey may be on the move. For a hunting cat, detecting movement in dim conditions mattered far more than distinguishing between a red berry and a green one.[1][2] 

• Rod Cells: A cat’s retina has a much higher proportion of rod cells than a human retina. Rods are sensitive to movement and low light, helping cats see in conditions where humans may struggle. 

• Tapetum Lucidum: Cats have a reflective layer behind the retina that humans don’t have. Light that passes through the retina can be reflected toward the photoreceptors, giving them another opportunity to detect it. This structure also contributes to the familiar eye shine you may notice when a cat’s eyes catch a beam of light. 

• Crepuscular Hunting Instinct: As light levels drop around dawn and dusk, cats’ visual adaptations help them detect movement and navigate their surroundings in conditions that can be challenging for humans. 

Night vision and color vision involve different parts of the eye. Cats’ eyes have a high proportion of rod cells, supporting vision in low light and sensitivity to movement, while their smaller number of cone cells limits the range and detail of their color vision. 

What Does the World Actually Look Like to a Cat? 

A kitty’s version of the same room would have less vivid color than ours, with some colors easier to distinguish than others. Contrast and visual detail would also differ from what we experience. 

Cats also see the world with less visual sharpness than humans. Their wider field of view gives them more peripheral awareness, while their visual acuity is lower. In low light, movement can become more useful than color because rod cells are much more sensitive to dim light than cone cells. 

Illustrations of a cat’s view can help build intuition. They’re informed approximations based on research into feline vision, useful for getting a general idea of how color and visual detail may differ from human perception. No illustration can fully capture what a cat actually experiences.[1][2] 

Does Color Matter for Cat Toys and Products? 

Color may play a smaller role in what grabs your kitty’s attention than it does for you standing in the pet aisle. A toy that looks exciting to you because of its bright red or orange color may be less visibly distinctive to your cat. A few other factors can have more influence:[1][2][3] 

• Contrast: A toy that stands out clearly against your floor or furniture is far easier for your cat to spot than one that blends into its surroundings. 

• Movement: Quick, unpredictable bursts of motion can hold a kitty’s interest and make a toy more noticeable than a static object. 

• Texture: Crinkly materials, feathers, and textured surfaces give your cat something to grip, bite, and chase. 

• Sound: Toys that mimic the rustle or scurry of prey can add another sensory cue that makes them more engaging. 

Color signals actually run the other direction too, from litter to owner instead of toy to kitty. The colors PrettyLitter uses to signal health changes, for example, are there for you to notice. Your cat doesn’t perceive those color changes the same way you do. 

So, What Colors Can Cats See? 

Cats see a real but narrower range of colors than humans do. Their dichromatic vision makes some colors easier to distinguish than others, while their eyes are especially well adapted to movement and low-light conditions.[2][3][4] 

For pet parents, that means color isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing toys or enrichment. Contrast, movement, texture, and sound can all influence how noticeable an object is. 

And because cats can’t tell you when something’s wrong, paying attention to everyday changes in litter box habits, appetite, grooming, and play can provide useful clues and help you detect early signs when something’s wrong. 

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FAQs 

Are cats completely colorblind? 

No. Cats see a narrower range of colors than humans. They aren’t completely colorblind; their dichromatic vision means they have two main types of cone cells and have more limited color discrimination. Blues and yellows are generally easier for them to distinguish, while other colors may appear more muted. 

What colors are hardest for cats to see? 

Reds, oranges, and pinks are generally harder for cats to distinguish from nearby colors. These shades may appear less vivid or blend more easily from a cat’s perspective. 

Do cats see better in the dark than humans? 

Yes. Cats generally see better in low-light conditions than humans. They have a high proportion of rod cells, which are sensitive to dim light and movement, as well as a tapetum lucidum that reflects light through the retina. These adaptations help cats see in conditions where human vision is more limited. 

Does a toy’s color matter to cats? 

Color can matter, but it’s only one factor. Contrast, movement, texture, and sound can also affect how noticeable or engaging a toy is. A toy that stands out against its surroundings may be easier for your cat to spot than one that blends into the background. 

References 

1. https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/cat-vision  

2. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/do-cats-see-color

3. https://cats.com/cat-color-blindness

4. https://cats.com/what-colors-do-cats-like