Is it true that cats cannot see television screens?

Question

Is it true that cats cannot see television screens?

Answer 1

Sort of. Cat's motion detection vision is different from ours, they do not have persistence of vision, so the build up of the picture by scanning lines will not form the same illusion in their brains that it does in humans. They will see something, though! Especially if areas of the screen are changing rapidly - that is why they sometimes seem to pat or chase things on the screen. Change = movement  = prey!

Answer 2

My cats used to love snooker and my kitten loved the bit in Predator when the invisible thing is on the screen!

Answer 3

Don`t think it`s true;my cat watches TV,if there`s birds on the screen he stalks them and makes that clicking noise that cats make when watching birds...so, obviously he can recognise what is on the screen.He was hit by a car once and if there is a car going across the screen,even without any sound,and he`s watching it,he runs and hides under the desk,which is where he crawled after he was knocked down. He can definately recognise what is showing on the screen. He`s not the first cat I`ve had that watches TV or listens to the radio.

Answer 4

They do see the tv; but their vision is more suited for night time, as they are nocturnal and normally hunt then.  They see in muted colors, but mostly recognize shapes and swift movement.

Ever notice how a cat will look at something and then shrink back, and come forward again, checking it out.  That's why.  Shapes not colors.

Answer 5

When i was younger i was watching Nick TV and my cat was with me. she seemed very entranced in the show. lol. my previous dog did that too, whenever the doorbell would ring on the TV show she would leap up and run to the door barking her head off. then she would run back, glance at the screen and tilt her head up at us. lol  

Answer 6

yes they can see tv screens... just not the image that is on it.

Some cats can see the image on the screen and you will see them watching or swating at the screen.

Apparently cats can only see something if it is moving... that is why they loose mice.  

According to Discovery/ animal planet most cats can't see what is on the TV

Answer 7

My cat can definitely see the TV! He watches it all the time and once there was a seagull on there and he tried to pounce on it! it was so funny!

Answer 8

Nah they can, my cat always watches football with me and he sometimes tries to catch the ball by patting the screen and his eyes follow the players everywhere. lol makes me giggle :D

Answer 9

Its not true. My cats love watching wildlife programmes and love football. They love trying to catch the ball as its moving. You can even get special dvds now just for cats to watch

Answer 10

I put a video of yard song birds on TV and my cats love it! They can see the screen very well!

Answer 11

Not sure, one of my cats always watches it when big, bright colours come on (one of the Fanta adverts specifically :P)

Answer 12

i didnt know that!

xx

Answer 13

Mine can, you should have seen him at the beginning of Ice Age, he was going beserk swatting at the screen, they can definitely see them alright!!

Answer 14

No. Not true. Cats sometimes run up to television screens and pat things that move. Like birds, cars, planes, etc. Same goes for computers. Like http://www.cattv.com .

There is also videos in pet stores, that have rats, other cats, dogs, mice, chinchillas, rabbits, etc, that will catch some cats' interest.

Answer 15

Its not true, my cats sit and watch tv, especially car chases in films!!!

Answer 16

definatly not because when we have snooker on my cat chases the balls around like no ones business!

Answer 17

One of my cats once ran up and embraced the TV screen, when it was showing Police Dog Academy!

But generally he's more interested in the VCR because it sounds like mice to him.

Answer 18

i think they can, my cat watches the t.v (sometimes) lol

Answer 19

My two boys Monty and Brooks would always watch the television when it was on Animal Planet, especially "Pet Star". I never had a full grown cat watch TV before but the kittens would usually show interest. So, no I don't think it's true.