Mystery of feline night vision

If you've ever stumbled into a coffee table on your way to the fridge at night, only to see your cat deftly sidestep the same obstacle with graceful ease, you may have wondered: can cats really see in the dark?

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The answer, as with many things about our feline friends, is fascinatingly complex. While cats can't see in complete darkness any more than humans can, they have a range of biological adaptations that allow them to see remarkably well in low light.

To understand a cat's night vision, we have to peer into their eyes literally. Cats are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. Their vision evolved to serve this lifestyle, and it begins with the structure of their eyes. The feline eye is designed to gather as much light as possible, which is why their pupils can dilate into enormous vertical slits. When fully open, a cat's pupils can expand much wider than human pupils, allowing them to let in more light when it's scarce.