Have you ever noticed your dog watching an animal on TV? Or caught your cat staring intently at a bird flying across the screen? 

You might wonder: Can pets actually see what’s happening on TV? 

The answer is yes—but they don’t necessarily see it the same way we do. 

A recent article from How Everything Works explores how dogs and cats perceive television and why some pets are much more interested in the screen than others. 

What Do Dogs See?

Dogs see colour differently from humans. They have two types of colour receptors in their eyes, compared with three in humans, so their colour vision is more limited. Blues and yellows are easier for dogs to distinguish. 

Movement, however, may be especially interesting to them. 

Modern televisions display images differently from older TVs, and today’s screens can provide a much smoother viewing experience for dogs. Research has also found that dogs can recognize other dogs on screens and pay attention to both visual and sound information. 

So, when your dog suddenly perks up at the sound of a bark or starts watching a dog run across the screen, they may actually be responding to what they see and hear. 

And What About Cats?

Cats can see television images, too—and movement can be particularly captivating. 

In one study of shelter cats, researchers found that cats paid more attention to moving animals and objects on television than to people or a blank screen. Their interest also tended to decrease over time. 

That makes sense when we consider a cat’s natural hunting behaviours. A quick-moving bird or mouse on a screen may catch a cat’s attention in much the same way as a moving toy. 

Of course, watching prey on TV isn’t the same as hunting. A screen doesn’t provide the smells, textures or physical interaction that come with real-world experiences. 

Does Your Pet Think The Animals are Real?

It’s difficult to know exactly what pets think when they watch television. We can’t ask them! 

Research can, however, tell us how they respond to what they see and hear. And individual pets can have very different reactions. 

Some dogs may bark at animals on screen. Some cats may become completely absorbed in a nature documentary. Others might glance at the TV and go right back to sleep. 

And that’s perfectly normal. 

Is TV Good Enrichment?

Television can provide some pets with interesting visual and auditory stimulation, but it shouldn’t replace opportunities for real-world exploration, play, and interaction. 

For cats, interactive play allows them to stalk, chase, and pounce. For dogs, walks, sniffing, training and play provide opportunities to use their senses and natural behaviours. 

So, the next time your pet joins you for movie night, take a moment to watch them watching the screen. 

You might just discover that you’re not the only one enjoying the show.