Is it Worth Turning on the Light at Night for the Cat?

You might have wondered if you should leave a night light on for your cat when you go to bed or leave home for the night.

Today, we explore whether it’s a good idea to leave the lights on for your cat at night.

Can Cats See in the Dark?

Cats see at least five times better in the dark than humans, thanks to evolution. As crepuscular animals, they are adapted to be active during dawn and dusk. Their eyes contain a different type of retina that allows more light in, and they also have a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer behind the retina. (This makes a cat’s eyes appear to glow when light hits them in the dark.) This layer reflects light back onto the retina, ensuring sharper vision in low light. Cats’ eyes have more rods than cones (rods are for detecting light and dark, cones for color), which helps them distinguish darkness from light.

However, cats cannot see in complete darkness better than we can. Some ambient light is necessary for their eyes to process images, no matter how faint it is. Most homes have some light filtering in at night, and complete darkness is quite rare.

Does leaving the lights on for the cat have any advantages?

As previously mentioned, cats see perfectly well in the dark, much better than we do, so there is no need to leave any light on for them. In fact, turning off the light as part of the bedtime routine can signal to the cat that it’s time for everyone to settle down and sleep.

You might wonder if it’s worth leaving the light on when you’re away from home at night. We know that routine is extremely important for cats. Thus, if there is a change in circumstances, try to keep other aspects as familiar as possible. If the light is usually off at night, don’t leave it on when you’re away. If the light is usually on, then turn it on in your absence. If you frequently spend nights away from home, consider getting a timer for the lights.

However, it is important to highlight that no cat should be left alone for more than 12 hours, and for kittens or sick cats, this period should be even shorter.

A Very Important Argument for Turning Off the Light

Cats, like humans, have an internal biological clock called the circadian rhythm, which responds to changes in light. Their pineal gland produces melatonin during the dark hours, signaling that it’s time to sleep. Contrary to popular belief, cats are not nocturnal but crepuscular, so they spend most of the night and day sleeping and are most active at dawn and dusk. Therefore, leaving a light on at night can disrupt their natural time perception and routine.

In summary, there is no need to leave the light on for your cat. Try to maintain balance in your routine and ensure the animal can rest undisturbed at night.