Can cats see infrared light?

[utepoot]

We just put up an outside security light, the cats seem to have sussed how not to set it off, can it be possible they they can see the infrared beams and avoid them?

[sunny-dave]

What an interesting question - and one that seems resistant to easy googling too.

I found one or two (reasonably authoritative) references to cats seeing further into the other end of the spectrum - beyond violet - but nothing about infra-red. Yet I agree that cats *are* very good at avoiding passive IR detectors.

[boxtops]

they can see laser pointers, but that's not the same, is it... could it be that the catz are just too low to the ground?

[utepoot]

Maybe they just have good memory, then. They probably took note of which areas are "safe" to walk without setting the light off! Good point about them being too low to the ground, the beams are meant to pick up humans so I guess they don't point down to a cat's level.

[rojash]

If it's a typical PIR operated security light, then there won't be any infrared beams for the cats to detect. The P in PIR stands for passive, which means that the detector doesn't send out infrared, it merely detects that given off by warm bodies (such as cats and humans).

[mibn2cweus]

The ability of fur to thwart infrared detectors is well known among . . . cat burglars.

http://www.claudsgate...-Detection-guide.html

http://www.eumyeducat...ages/infrared-cat.jpg

[rov1100]

They are also good at ignoring ultrasound weapons pointed at them.

[utepoot]

Thanks to all who answered! :)