What is it about cats' eyes? There have been movies and books about them, numerous photos and poems, and speculation and sorcery in regard to the cat's eye. There are even gemstones named "cat's eyes" (which really don't do them justice). For an article all about those read this article. Some cat breeds are even identified by their unique eye colors and shapes.
So just what is it that fascinates us so much? Popular belief is that cats can see in the dark. While not entirely true, cats can see six to ten times better than humans can in low light situations. The ability of the pupil to dialate from a tiny slit in full sun to a huge orb within the iris helps in drawing in light from any source.
That huge range of the eye also gives a lot of expression. An excited cat will have huge eyes, intently focused on something. A cat lounging in the sun looking peaceful only has a tiny slit for pupils - perhaps making it look mysterious.
Some breeds have unique eye shapes, sizes and colors. Exotic shorthair and British shorthairs have very round eyes with many color ranges, including a deep copper and orange color. Many of the oriental source breeds (Siamese, Birman, Tonkinese, etc.) have deep blues, turquoise, and greens, which are characteristically more almond-shaped. Asian and middle eastern breeds (such as Persian, Abyssinian, Egyptian Mau, etc.) have gold or green shades. The French Chartreux is well known for its round, copper or deep orange eyes, which complements its deep heavy grey coat. And of course, the eyes of American and other mixed gene breeds (domestic shorthair/longhairs, etc.) come in a wide variety of colors and ranges.
That mysterious nature and ability makes the cat's eye a source of fascination and inspiration. There is a Cat's Eye Nebula somewhere in space. If you look at the images, you can see why it was named so. Of course, cats themselves are more mysterious than anything, aren't they? So it makes sense their eyes would captivate so much. The next time you look into your cat's face, think deeply about what's behind those eyes. What do they see? Do they just go on forever, or are they caught up in the thrill of a hunt or a chase? What is behind your kitty's eyes?
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