I've read it in a couple of books. People thought that cats could only see in black and white because they originally thought cats saw in the dark because they had more (I think) 'cone' receptors in their eyes than 'rod' receptors. The 'cone' ones can see in low light, but can't see colors.
Turns out, cats have more 'rods' than people previously believed, but they can see in the dark because they have an added something or other in their eyes that bounces the light around more. (Been a while since I read this, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details) The reason that people's eyes reflect red in a camera lens is because the light shines off the blood vessels in the back of the eye, whereas many cats have that greenish color because the light is shining off that added bouncy light layer thing.
(It sounded a lot more professional when the cat expert wrote about it, mind.)
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Date: 2005-07-15 02:00 am (UTC)Turns out, cats have more 'rods' than people previously believed, but they can see in the dark because they have an added something or other in their eyes that bounces the light around more. (Been a while since I read this, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details) The reason that people's eyes reflect red in a camera lens is because the light shines off the blood vessels in the back of the eye, whereas many cats have that greenish color because the light is shining off that added bouncy light layer thing.
(It sounded a lot more professional when the cat expert wrote about it, mind.)