Why are domestic cats' pupils "vertical" (like snakes) while large wild cats' pupils are round?

by Kristin
(Bandon, OR, USA)

I was looking at a photo of a Snow Leopard and it struck me that the pupils were round, unlike my 8 cats' pupils. And my dogs' for that matter.

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starstarstarstarstar 		Vertical slit eyes are for accuracy in hunting
by: Sally F.

Domestic cats are primarily ambush predators, as are snakes. They don't chase down gazelle's on the open plains, they don't need to see far distances, and they're close to the ground.

They do, however, need to be able to judge distances accurately so they can pounce on prey with precision. It's been said that a vertical slit eye is best for doing exactly that.

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