Some Common Myths Thought to be True - Myth 109
Myth 109: Dogs and Cats See only in Shades of Grey
Many adults think that dogs and cats cannot see any colors, only shades of
gray. But this is not true. Cats and dogs can see some colors but not all of
them. So in a sense they are like adults who are colorblind. Cats and dogs have
cells in their eyes that respond well in bright and dim light. At night, cats
and dogs use cells called rods that are sensitive to dim light. They are found
in a lining at the back of the eye called the retina. When light falls on the
rods, they send a message to the brain to explain the image that they see. For
the bright light of day, you need cells called cones.
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Cat and Dog | |
Now, do cats' eyes glow in the dark? No they don't. Cats and dogs have some
cells behind the retina that act like a mirror. These cells are found in a part
of the eye called the tapetum. This mirror reflects light back, giving the rods
and cones a second chance to pick up the small amount of light available at
night. It is this tapetum that makes cats' and dogs' eyes seem to glow in the
dark.
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