THOSE CAPTIVATING CAT EYES

Those captivating glimmering limpid pools of blue, green, yellow, orange and a host of other colours can be quite bewitching! A cat’s eye, especially when she gazes lovingly at you, can literally carry one into another world. Just as in humans, taking care of your cat’s eyes will ensure that your fluffy ball of joy will have a good quality of life.

- Dr Reeja George P.*

HOW IS YOUR CAT’S EYE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS?

Over the time and through normal process of evolution, a cat’s eye has developed unique features that enable it to have clear indoor and outdoor vision. The way it functions, in general, is very similar to a human eye especially with regard to basic functions. However, there are some differences that are unique to a cat’s eye so that it can improve its success rate while catching a prey and also escape any danger lurking in the dark. Two features of a cat’s eye stand out as distinct from a human eye – First is the presence of a ‘third eyelid’ that is a pale membrane-like structure seen between the eyeball and inner corner of the lower eyelid. The third eyelid ensures that your cat’s eye is kept moist always, besides cats also use it to cover their eyeball as a protective measure when they fight with other cats. Cats are additionally endowed with a special tissue inside their eyes called the tapetum lucidum that absorbs excess light and makes your cat’s eye six times more sensitive to light as compared to yours.

HEALTHY CAT EYES

Generally, your cat’s eyes will be bright and clear and those pupils – those black slits within the coloured part of the eye – will be of equal size. The inner parts of eyelids will have a healthy pinkish hue and the third eyelid will be intact and not protruding out.

SIGNS OF TROUBLE