Why do cats struggle to see objects close up?

This article first appeared on iCatCare here on the 21st of February 2023

Cats, like all predators, have forward-facing eyes and binocular vision. Binocular vision means that each eye produces its own image, which are then combined within the brain to create a 3D image. This is the same for us humans too!  

You may have noticed though, that a cat may struggle to find a toy or locate a treat right under its nose and wondered why? Well, unlike us humans, their eyes can form a clear image of an object approximately 25cm away but are unable to focus on objects closer than this (with an optimal range of 2-6 metres away from them). This, along with a wider field of vision than the human eye and other unique adaptations, helps cats to spot prey in their surrounding environment.

Don't miss out!
Subscribe To Newsletter

Receive top cat news, competitions, tips and more!

Invalid email address
Give it a try. You can unsubscribe at any time.

2 thoughts on “Why do cats struggle to see objects close up?

Why not meow a comment to fellow readers?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.