How Do Cats See Color? (And What Colors Savannah Cats See Best)

Yes, cats can see color, just not the way we do. Cats see blues and yellows best. Reds, oranges, and some greens look muted, grayish, or alike to them.

The chart above shows roughly how each color looks to a cat compared with how it looks to us.

Why cats see color differently

Human eyes have three types of color cones, for red, green, and blue. Cats have only two, so they are called dichromats. That is why the red end of the rainbow fades for them.

Cats are not fully color blind, though. Their world looks a lot like a softer, pastel version of ours, mostly in blues, yellows, and grays.

How each color looks to a cat

• Blue: bright and clear, one of the easiest colors for cats to see.
• Yellow: easy to see, a little softer.
• Green: looks more like a dull olive or yellow-gray.
• Red: looks like a gray-brown.
• Orange: looks like a muted mustard or tan.
• Purple: looks mostly blue.
• Black and white: look about the same as they do to us.

What cats give up color for

Cats trade full color for amazing night vision. Their eyes gather far more light than ours, so they see well at dawn and dusk, when hunting is best.

They are also great at spotting fast, small movements and have a wider field of view than people do.

Best toy colors for Savannah cats

Savannahs are smart, high-energy hunters, so playtime matters. Pick toys your cat can actually see.

• Choose blue or yellow toys. They pop the most for a cat.
• Skip red toys on red or brown rugs. To your cat they blend right in.
• Use contrast: a blue wand toy on a light floor is easy to track.
• Movement beats color. Quick, darting motion is what really turns on the hunter.

Raised with play from day one

Our SBT Savannah kittens are raised in our home from day one, with daily play, handling, and enrichment. That early care helps them grow into confident, curious companions.

We are a private breeding program. Apply to join our private waitlist — the $1,000 deposit is due after your application, when your kitten is 1 month old, and a $500 pre-birth deposit reserves your place on the priority list for the upcoming litter, filled in the order deposits are received.