Why can’t my cat open at night? Uncovering the truth about cats’ night vision abilities
Recently, the topic of "cat can't turn on at night" has caused widespread discussion on social media. Many cat owners find that their cats seem to have trouble moving at night and even bump into furniture. What the hell is going on? This article will analyze the night vision ability of cats from a scientific perspective, and combine it with hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to reveal the truth for you.
1. Hot topics and content on the entire network in the past 10 days

The following are recent hot topics and data related to pets and cat behavior:
| topic | heat index | Discussion platform |
|---|---|---|
| Cat night vision ability | 85,000 | Weibo, Douyin |
| Cat bumping into furniture | 62,000 | Xiaohongshu, Bilibili |
| Pet behavior at night | 48,000 | Zhihu, Kuaishou |
| Popular science on cat vision | 36,000 | WeChat, Douban |
2. Cats’ Night Vision Ability: The Gap between Myth and Reality
Many people believe that cats can see clearly in the dark, but in fact, cats’ night vision abilities are greatly exaggerated. Here are the key stats for your cat’s vision:
| Vision characteristics | human | cat |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum light requirements | brighter light | 1/6 of human light |
| field of view | about 180 degrees | about 200 degrees |
| color perception | rich | Limited (mainly blue and yellow) |
| nocturnal dependency | vision | beard, hearing aid |
3. Why can’t cats “open” at night?
1.There are still limitations in low light conditions: Although cats need less light than humans, they cannot see clearly in complete darkness.
2.sudden change in environment: If all lights are suddenly turned off at night, the cat's pupils will need time to adjust, which may lead to temporary "blindness".
3.furniture moving: Cats rely on memory and whiskers to navigate, and they may bump into furniture if its position changes.
4.age factor: The night vision ability of elderly cats will be significantly reduced, and they are more likely to have difficulty moving at night.
4. How to help cats adapt to the night environment?
1.Keep weak light sources: Use a night light to help cats navigate.
2.Keep furniture in position: Avoid frequent changes in home layout.
3.Check your eyesight regularly: Especially elderly cats need to pay attention to their eye health.
4.Provide open space: Reduce narrow passages and reduce the risk of collision.
5. Hot discussion among netizens: Cat’s confusing behavior at night
The following are interesting things about cats at night shared by netizens recently:
| behavior | frequency of occurrence | Possible reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Hit the transparent glass door | 32% | Unable to recognize transparent obstacles |
| Ran suddenly in the middle of the night | 28% | Hearing triggers hunting instinct |
| Stare into the darkness | 20% | May hear sounds inaudible to humans |
| Can't find the food bowl location | 15% | Insufficient light makes positioning difficult |
6. Scientific conclusions
Cats are not really "cannot turn on at night". Their night vision is better than humans, but they still need a certain amount of light. The so-called "cannot open" phenomenon is mostly caused by environmental changes or health problems. Understanding the visual characteristics of cats can help us create a safer living environment for them.
As can be seen from recent hot topics, pet science is receiving more and more attention. Only by correctly understanding the behavioral characteristics of cats can we better coexist harmoniously with these mysterious little creatures.
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