Here's How Cat Eyes Work and How to Care for Them

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Dr. Erin O&#;Leary, DVM, co-founder of Heal House Call Veterinarian in Cary, North Carolina, shares about the awe-inspiring components that make up a cat&#;s eye.

Tapetum Lucidum

The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue located at the back of the eye, just behind the retina. Abundant with crystals, this thin layer gives cat eyes their characteristic glow, visible when illuminated by a flashlight or car headlights.

The tapetum lucidum plays a significant role in enhancing a cat&#;s night vision by reflecting visible light back through the retina. This phenomenon gives photoreceptors a second opportunity to capture the light, which amplifies the cat&#;s ability to see in low-light conditions.

The Third Eyelid

The third eyelid, known as the &#;nictitating membrane,&#; is a thin film that originates from the corner of a cat&#;s eye. While barely visible when a cat is awake and alert, this membrane naturally moves to cover the eye when the cat blinks or begins to fall asleep, becoming more noticeable from an external viewpoint.

The third eyelid serves as an extra layer of protection for your cat&#;s eyes. In situations when the eye is under threat, whether from dust particles or during a catfight, this membrane closes to shield the eye from potential harm while still enabling some degree of vision.

Elliptical Pupils

Cats have vertical, slit-shaped pupils that can swiftly adjust their size in response to different lighting conditions. In bright light, a cat&#;s pupils contract into thin slits to protect the sensitive retina from potential damage. Conversely, in low-light conditions, the pupils dilate (expand) widely to allow in as much light as possible, thereby optimizing visibility.

Cats&#; pupils also dilate when they&#;re scared, surprised or preparing to attack. This is part of the &#;fight-or-flight&#; response mechanism. Dilated pupils allow more light to enter the eye, which enhances visual sensitivity and broadens the field of view.

High Rod Count

Rods are a specific type of photoreceptor cell located in the retina of a cat&#;s eye. They play a crucial role in detecting changes in light, shapes and movement. Cats have a high concentration of rods, which significantly enhances their capability to see in dim light and perceive even the slightest movements.

Wide Field of View

Cats&#; eyes are positioned more on the sides of their head, giving them a broader field of view compared to humans. This wide-angle vision is advantageous for detecting motion and spotting potential prey or predators.

Felix Roser / EyeEm / Getty

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. On This Page

   • Kitten Eyes Change As They Grow

   • Predicting Kitten Eye Colors

   • How to Tell a Kitten's Age Based on Their Eyes

   • Worrisome Cat Eye Colors

When you have a litter of kittens, you can't help but be amazed by all the changes they experience in such a short amount of time. At first, they only seem to nurse and nap, and peer at you with a hazy gaze. Then before you know it, they're doing backflips off the cat tree all wild-eyed! So between these levels of accomplishment, when do kittens' eyes change color&#;and why?

Kitten Eyes Change As They Grow

Rowyn C. Rose is a science communications specialist at Basepaws, a cat DNA test brand. She tells Daily Paws that cats' eyes have a pigment of specialized cells called melanocytes found in the iris (the colored part of the eye). The front layer of the iris, known as the stroma, absorbs longer wavelengths and reflects shorter ones, based on the amount of melanocytes.

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This is why most adult cats have more diverse eye colors: There are more melanocytes in the pigment. But not when they're born. "An overwhelming majority [of kittens] have blue eyes because pigment doesn't begin to accumulate in the iris until the first few weeks of life," Rose says.

Tarina L. Anthony, DVM, is a longtime practitioner of feline-exclusive medicine, and owner and medical director of Aurora Cat Hospital and Hotel in Aurora, Colo. She says that kittens' eyes open when they're about 7&#;10 days old, but "anywhere between two and 16 days has been reported." This is also your first opportunity to confirm eye health. Anthony advises making sure kittens' eyes are free of discharge, as upper respiratory infections are common in newborns with naive immune systems. Their eyes might be mostly closed but shouldn't be "gooed shut."

Kittens' eyes change color when they're about 4&#;8 weeks old. Rose says this is when melanocytes migrate to the iris and produce melanin. However, some kitties, depending on breed, retain their baby blues. More on that below.

Predicting Kitten Eye Colors

Can you do it? Anthony says not likely, unless you've confirmed the heritage of the tom (Dad Cat) and queen (Mom Cat) 100 percent.

"It's hard to know what the eye color will be based on any markings on the kittens themselves," she adds. "Of course, some breeds tend to have certain eye colors." Which ones might these be?

• Some cats continue to have low levels of melanocytes into adulthood and keep their blue eyes. These include Balinese, Birman, colorpoint shorthair, Himalayan, ragdoll, Tonkinese, Siamese, and snowshoe breeds.

• Although amber-colored eyes are fairly common, dark copper eyes are rather rare. Usually they're a status symbol of the Chartreux breed, and sometimes the Bombay, too.

• Kitties sporting odd-colored eyes&#;usually one blue and the other on a spectrum of green, yellow, or brown&#;have a condition called heterochromia, which is often genetic. Breeds such as Khao Manee and Turkish van frequently have these jewel-toned eyes.

• Strictly green eyes in cats complete the appearance of a few adults, including Egyptian maus and Russian blues.

RELATED: Why Do Cats' Eyes Glow in the Dark?

How to Tell a Kitten's Age Based on Their Eyes

Anthony says veterinary professionals don't use kittens' eyes changing color as an indicator of age. They're more likely to use "juvenile dentition&#;the eruption of baby teeth" as the go-to for age approximation.

Kitten milk teeth start out as tooth buds, then blossom into sharp little nippers within three to six weeks. Fortunately for a nursing mom cat, six weeks is around the time kittens start eating food, too! Then, between the ages of 3&#;6 months, their milk teeth fall out, and they'll have permanent adult teeth.

Worrisome Cat Eye Colors

Even if you're not sure what breed your kitten is, pay close attention for health issues whose symptoms include changes in their eyes.

For example, Anthony says liver disease is a concern&#;specifically portosystemic shunt, a congenital condition when blood doesn't reach the liver properly and toxins build up in the blood. "There's some evidence that cats with [this condition] can have copper-colored irises," she adds. "While there are cats with copper-colored eyes that don't have this condition, and cats with this condition that don't have this eye color, any kitten that shows this eye color along with other clinical signs such as low body weight, decreased mentation (appearing dull), lethargy, and seizures should be evaluated for a liver shunt."

Other common eye problems for cats don't affect the iris directly to change its color, but their gaze might appear cloudy, or there could be discoloration surrounding the iris. Be on the lookout for conditions such as:

• Blepharitis, or eyelid inflammation, which appears red and irritated

• Conjunctivitis or "pink eye," a form of eye infection with many causes

• Glaucoma, which causes cloudy vision, redness, and swollen eyes

• Cataracts, a condition more common with senior cats, impairs vision

Your kitty's annual veterinary checkup visit includes an eye exam, but don't hesitate to book an appointment right away if you spot any signs of eye trouble.

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