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Are Cats Farsighted?

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Mike - 03 Sep 2004 05:46 GMT
I've had Isis, my long-haired Tabby, for about 4 years now so she must be
about 6 or 7. I've been noticing lately that she really doesn't see close up
things very well. I believe she has trouble seeing things that are 3 to 6
inches from her face.

I don't think she has any trouble seeing things that are far away. She can
spot a cat across the street from her window perch in a second.

Do cats get farsighted as they grow older or do you think that, like us,
they get near sighted or farsighted depending on genetics?

Thanks!

Mike in Illinois
mlbriggs - 03 Sep 2004 18:57 GMT
> I've had Isis, my long-haired Tabby, for about 4 years now so she must be
> about 6 or 7. I've been noticing lately that she really doesn't see close up
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks!

> Mike in Illinois

I believe cats are generally farsighted.  I am not an expert, but     this
conclusion is also from observation.   MLB
Steve Piper - 04 Sep 2004 03:59 GMT
Cat eyes aren't easily defined in these terms; the structure of their face
and eye means they find it hard to impossible to see immediately under their
nose or in front of their face, outside of those few inches though they have
good vision over a short distance, so technically would be short sighted.

Their eyes aren't really built for general observation like ours though,
they're built to detect movement, so movement which is further away than
their "relaxed" vision (such as the cat across the road) will be picked up
and locked on to; you know it's happening if their pupils suddenly dilate.

Try this; next time your cat is sitting somewhere suddenly produce their
favourite piece of string or toy and start flicking it around; watch their
pupil really closely, even on a sunny day when the eye is normally a slit,
producing "prey" triggers the hunting instinct; ears shoot forward, pupils
dilate to let in as much light and information as possible, tail starts
flicking, they're like some amazing hunting machine.

It's thought cats can see in colour (certainly blue and green), they can
also see exceptionally well in bad light; they can't see in complete
darkness but their amazingly adjustable pupils can expand to cover most of
the visible eye and let in every last scrap of light available.

I expect with cats as with humans though, some will be a little long sighted
and some a little short sighted so there will always be exceptions!

Steve

> > I've had Isis, my long-haired Tabby, for about 4 years now so she must be
> > about 6 or 7. I've been noticing lately that she really doesn't see close up
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> I believe cats are generally farsighted.  I am not an expert, but     this
> conclusion is also from observation.   MLB
Mike - 07 Sep 2004 01:47 GMT
Hi, Steve.

I did some looking on the net and found little about this question. I assume
it's because cats can't tell us what is going on.

I think you are right in that perhaps they cannot see close up items. I know
Isis can't. When she is playing with me her eyes do indeed dilate to
maximum! It's kinda scary!!

I've seen her go nutso following a buzzing bug's trail around a lamp.

I'll try the toy trick the next time I think she's too relaxed and watch for
the amazing expanding eyes!

Thanks.

Mike in Illinois

> Cat eyes aren't easily defined in these terms; the structure of their face
> and eye means they find it hard to impossible to see immediately under their
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
> > I believe cats are generally farsighted.  I am not an expert, but     this
> > conclusion is also from observation.   MLB
 
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