Q. Does the slit shape of a cat’s pupil confer any advantages over the more rounded pupils of other animals?

Image Credit... Victoria Roberts

A. “There are significant advantages,” said Dr. Richard E. Goldstein, chief medical officer of the Animal Medical Center in New York City.

“A cat can quickly adjust to different lighting conditions, control the amount of light that reaches the eye and see in almost complete darkness,” he said. “Moreover, the slit shape protects the sensitive retina in daylight.”