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Cats are known for their luminous, sometimes spooky eyes. Here’s a little of the science behind those mysterious peepers.

Cats have eyes that face forwards, which is a common trait in predators. It allows them to see well into the distance and with great depth perception. Prey species, on the other hand, have eyes on the sides of the head. This cuts down on distance sight, but allows them to watch all around for predators.

Relative to their body size, cat eyes are very large. They can see better at night than humans, needing only one-sixth the amount of light we require to see in the dark. One reason they are able to see so well in the dark is the size of their pupils. Cats have relatively enormous pupils, which allows them to take in much more light than human eyes can. The large, rounded cornea also contributes to this large intake of light.

The luminous quality of cat eyes comes from the tapetum lucidum. This mirror-like part of the eye reflects dim light back to the retina.

Finally, cats have a second eyelid. You see this in your kitty when she is sleepy and opens her eyes. A thick, film-like lid starts to retreat back to the corner of her eye. The second lid evolved to protect wild cats’ eyes when hunting. The prevent tall grasses and other plants from scratching the eyes.