Can cats see in the dark?

Yes we can see in the dark...better then any human or other animal. It is ok for your mom to leave the light off, my mom & dad do it when they need to be gone.

I think so. Our eyes dialate sooo much in the dark to let as much natural light in as possible. As far as it messing up your sleeping pattern, I doubt anything would mess up a cat's sleep.

I don't think anything could mess up mine and Murphy's sleep pattern. Mom wishes we had a basement to send us to when we won't let her sleep. Our mom says your mom is lucky. A night light might be better if she is worried about you being in the dark.

Of course we can! We can see well in the dark, better than in bright sunlight. This partially explains the cat's natural sleep pattern of being nocturnal. As for the eyes, since it's a bio question I can tell you with all certainty that we can see well in the dark. We have a shiny film in the back of our eye called tapetum. This allows us to direct partial light to areas of lower light in our brains. You can generally see this film when our eyes glow. Dad says these are my alien eyes, but I don't notice. I just know I can tag Dad's leg without him suspecting the better because of that shiny little tissue. Hope this helps!

Jellicle songs for Jellicle Cats - thank you Mr. Weber:

Are you blind when you're born? Can you see in the dark?
Can you look at a king? Would you sit on his throne?
Can you say of your bite that it's worse than your bark?
Are you cock of the walk when you're walking alone?

CHORUS:
Because Jellicles are and Jellicles do
Jellicles would and Jellicles could
Jellicles would and Jellicles can
Jellicles can and Jellicles do

SOLOS:
When you fall on your head, do you land on your feet?
Are you tense when you sense there's a storm in the air?
Can you find your way blind when you're lost in the street?
Do you know how to go to the heaviside layer?

Can you ride on a broomstick to places far distant?
Familiar with candle, with book, and with bell?
Were you Whittington's friend? The Pied Piper's assistant?
Have you been an alumnus of heaven or hell?

Are you mean like a minx? Are you lean like a lynx?
Are you keen to be seen when you're smelling a rat?
Were you there when the pharaohs commissioned the Sphinx?
If you were and you are, you're a Jellicle cat!

We can dive through the air like a flying trapeze
We can turn double somersaults, bounce on a tire
We can run up a wall, we can swing through the trees
We can balance on bars, we can walk on a wire

Can you sing at the same time in more than one key?
Duets by Rossini and waltzes by Strauss?
And can you (as cats do) begin with a 'C'?
That always triumphantly brings down the house?

Jellicle cats are queen of the nights
Singing at astronomical heights
Handling pieces from the 'Messiah'
Hallelujah, angelical Choir

The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity
Round the cathedral rang 'Vivat'
Life to the everlasting cat!
Feline, fearless, faithful and true
To others who do what

Jellicles do and Jellicles can
Jellicles can and Jellicles do
Jellicle cats sing Jellicle chants
Jellicles old and Jellicles new
Jellicle song and Jellicle dance

Thanks for the jingle, Ojo!

Cats can NOT see in total darkness. They can, however, see in very low light which is why they can navigate during the night outside since their eyes are much more sensitive than people eyes. Their whiskers also act a bit as 'feelers' to help them navigate -- helps blind cats learn the layout of a room.

At night, I leave a little night light on for O.C. in the cat room and one on in the kitchen for the blackies.

Ojo, you are too cool for school! :)