What colours can cats see?

Cats primarily see shades of blue and yellow and have difficulty distinguishing between red and green, which appear grey to them.

Image of a cat in an indoor setting, depicted through a cat's vision with predominant shades of blue and yellow, and muted reds and greens, emphasising brightness and contrast

Overview

Cats can see colours, but not as many as humans. Contrary to the popular myth that cats see in only black and white, cats mainly see blues and yellows. This means colours like red and green don't stand out and appear more like shades of grey, similar to red-green colour blindness in humans. The upside of this simpler colour vision helps cats see better in poor light.

Can cats see in the dark?

Practical advice for cat owners

Medically reviewed by Iain Harrison

Published on 09/05/2024 • Reviewed on 10/05/2024