Cat on a Fence Under the Moon

About this drawing

After sunset, a cat on a fence is right on schedule. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active around dawn and dusk. Those dim hours are when mice and other small prey move around, so the wild ancestors of our pets learned to hunt then, and the habit stuck.

Their eyes are built for low light. Huge pupils open wide to catch every bit of brightness, then narrow to thin slits at noon. A reflective layer at the back of the eye gives light a second chance to be detected. Even so, nobody should believe the old saying that cats see in total darkness. They need at least a little glow from the moon or a streetlight.

Hearing and touch fill in the gaps. Sharp ears pick up the tiniest rustle in the grass, and sensitive whiskers help a cat feel its way through tight spots without bumping into anything.

Backyard fences make a handy highway. They keep a cat high above dogs and traffic, and they connect one yard to the next. A long tail works as a balancing pole on the narrow boards, so even a young cat can trot along with confidence. It is also a popular place for loud nighttime conversations with other neighborhood cats, as anyone trying to sleep nearby can tell you.

• cat
• night
• moon
• stars