The Spooky Science of Glowing Eyes in Cats

Have you ever wondered why wild cats' eyes seem to glow in the dark as they move through the night? There is a fascinating feature found in wild cats like tigers and leopards called the tapetum lucidum. This reflective layer of tissue behind the retina gives them the ability to see in low-light environments enhancing their night vision as they stalk prey.

What is Tapetum Lucidum?

The tapetum lucidum layer enhances vision by reflecting light that passes through the retina, allowing photoreceptor cells to absorb more light. Acting like a retroreflector, it bounces visible light back through the retina, increasing the amount available to the photoreceptors. However, it still requires some ambient light to function effectively.

For wild cats, this ability is crucial, enabling them to navigate effectively in low light. Their whiskers also play a vital role in enhancing this skill.

Tigers stealthily approach their prey at dusk, while leopards excel in dense forests, using their keen sight to navigate shadows. Even smaller wild cats, like servals and ocelots, benefit from this adaptation, enhancing their hunting prowess under dim conditions.

Wild cats are most active during dawn and dusk (meaning they are crepuscular), which can complicate research efforts. Their natural behaviors often occur at times when humans are less active, making it harder to observe and study them in their natural environment. This, combined with their solitary nature, contributes to the gaps in our understanding of their behavior, communication, and social structures.

There’s still so much to learn about wild cats. Fortunately, the tapetum lucidum enables scientists to track and observe them in low-light conditions as they get recorded on our wildlife cameras. This is made possible by 'eyeshine'—the visible effect of the tapetum lucidum when light or a wildlife camera’s flash is directed into a cat’s eyes at night. 

Interestingly, tapetum lucidum isn’t exclusive to wild cats — it’s a trait shared with our domestic cats and many other, mostly nocturnal, mammals. That’s right; your house cat and dogs can see very well at night, which explains why they can dart around in the dark. Depending on the angle at which the light hits, their eyes can shine in various colors — white, blue, green, or red, for example.

Humans lack the tapetum lucidum layer, yet we sometimes experience "red eyes" in photographs, creating an eerie effect. This isn’t due to any otherworldly traits; rather, it’s a result of the low reflection of light off the vascular layer of our eyes. The spooky red color comes from the blood in our capillaries!

Check out our #GlowingEyes series on the @PantheraCats TikTok and Instagram accounts to catch footage of our wildlife cameras capturing those glowing eyes in the dark!

Remember that the glowing eyes peering at you from the shadows can see you just fine!

Show Off Your Glowing Eyes!

Got a cat with those mesmerizing, glowing eyes? Snap a pic and share it with us using the hashtag #MyCatDoesThat for a chance to win our #MyCatDoesThat shirt! Embrace the spookiness of the season and celebrate the enchanting science behind your furry friend’s night vision. Happy haunting!