![]() Biting with its dagger-like teeth (only in extreme circumstances)Īs hilarious as it might be to ‘toy’ with a defensive kitty, don’t press your luck.A fluff ball in ‘defense mode’ will feel threatened and use whatever means necessary to protect herself, including: If you see a cat’s pupils widen against a sternly-focused backdrop, here’s why: Defense ModeĮven the most extroverted cats become startled from time to time, whether it’s due to the Fourth of July fireworks or introducing a ‘strange’ cat to the household. The video below shows how quickly dilation can progress:Īny experienced cat owner will recognize those intimidating, massive pupils and mutter the phrase, ‘Uh-oh.’ A cat whose pupils phase out those beautiful blue irises isn’t about to nuzzle in your neck or lick your hand affectionately they’re in defense mode and ready to attack! This theory doesn’t consider the psychological and emotional factors that control a cat’s every move.Īs terrifying as those bulging pupils seem from afar, they often appear with playful stalking and striking in well-socialized cats. ![]() If you see the whites, back off - Fluffy’s vying to pounce at anyone crossing her path!įrom the most fundamental scientific perspective, a cat’s pupils will only expand (dilate) in dim lighting - which is a possible explanation, though certainly not the only one. The sclera (eye white): The eye white is something you’ll rarely see in kitties unless they lend you a glaring side-eye or look far left or right without turning their heads.The retina absorbs the scene ahead, like a squirrel darting across the yard, and sends the signal to the brain. The pupil: The pupils are the black portion centered in a cat’s eye with one job - guiding the perfect amount of light into the retina for visual acuity.When lights are blindingly bright, like when sunbathing, the iris will constrict the pupils. In dim lighting, like when a cat’s hunting for prey at dusk, the iris will cause the pupil to dilate to allow more light in. The iris: The iris is the gold, pale blue, or copper-colored portion with one essential responsibility - detecting and responding to light changes. ![]() There are three main parts to a cat’s eyes that are visible to the naked eye: Those bold, full-moon eyes are called ‘ dilated pupils.’īefore we get into the why of feline pupil dilation, we’ll dive into the how. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |