A cat can track a flicker across a dim room and still miss the morsel beneath its nose. That is no contradiction. Its eyes are tuned for detecting prey, not inspecting objects at point blank range, where the image can become blurred and another sensory system takes over.
The advantage lies in sensitivity, not perfect sight. The feline retina contains many rod cells, which respond well in low light and help detect movement, though they do not provide the fine detail associated with cone cells. Behind the retina sits the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer that gives light another chance to stimulate photoreceptors. There is a tradeoff. This arrangement helps cats hunt in dim conditions but can scatter light and reduce visual sharpness. They still need some light; darkness defeats them too.
Up close, whiskers become indispensable. A cat has limited accommodation, the ability to change the eye's focus, so objects only a few inches from its face may be difficult to see clearly. Calling every cat farsighted, however, goes too far: individual eyesight varies, and a near focus limitation is not by itself a diagnosis. Whiskers, or vibrissae, are anchored in sensory follicles that register bending when they contact objects or are disturbed by nearby airflow. They do not form pictures. They offer tactile information about obstacles and openings, helping the cat negotiate what its eyes cannot resolve. At the edge of its bowl, sight yields to touch.
