Your pet cat may appear tame during the day, but its eyes tend to cast an eerie or ghoulish glow by dusk.
Ever wondered what causes it? [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
Cats’ eyes are proportionately larger than humans’ eyes and they possess a reflective layer of tissues known as tapetum lucidum.
These features enable cats to detect movement and objects better than humans in dim lights.
Tapetum lucidum is located between the optic nerve and the retina.
As bright lights are imposed upon the tapetum lucidum, it reflects a bright glow. This layer acts like a mirror, reflecting the light and giving rods and cones another opportunity to pick up limited amount of light available at night.
Rods and cones are photoreceptor cells found in the retina and capable of phototransduction or the process in which light is converted into electric signals and sent to the brain. These signals are then subsequently processed into the images we see.
Apart from cats, multiple other animals such as dogs, owls and crocodiles possess this feature that aids them to see better at night, providing a natural edge while hunting for food or avoiding predators.
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