WHAT OUR PETS REALLY SEE

August 17, 2010

Have you ever wondered how and what our favorite pets see? Well, pets generally can’t see objects any closer than 1 or 2 feet from their noses instead they use their noses and whiskers to identify close objects. They are also less able to accurately judge distances. Our pets can distinguish an object at 20 feet away that we humans could see at 60 or 80 feet.  Pets also have better vision in dim light than we do. Cats can see with about 85% less light than humans need. (from http://www.naturaleyecare.com/pets/how-pets-see.php)

When sometimes we often see our favorite cats and dogs in front of the television as if they are watching our favorite TV program. Well, they are, watching sort of, but, in a different sort of way. They see movement so well that they may see flickering images on television just like the 4th of July rather than the continuous image that we can see.

Dogs and Cats are not really color blind. They only see pale shades of color. They can’t also tell the difference between orange, red and green but can mostly differentiate and predominantly see blue and yellow.

For those who have feathered friends, daytime birds see a greater range of colors than humans, including ultraviolet light just like our water loving pets.

Carps and common goldfish are able to perceive ultraviolet light and thus see more vivid and variety of colors than we do. So the next time you think about getting neon colored pebbles and sand, better think again. You wouldn’t want your pet fish to have vertigo!