A YouTuber has created a simulation to demonstrate that our movements and voices appear slower to the eyes and ears of our feline friends, who perceive reality at 100 FPS. When a cat looks at us, it processes images and sounds faster than we do, which completely changes its perception of the world. The Affinity Foundation also points out in its latest report that more than 85% of owners in Spain consider their pet to be ‘a member of the family,’ and 40% admit that they talk to their dog or cat every day. But have you ever wondered how they see you when you talk to them? Or how your voice sounds from their perspective?
A new simulation created by YouTuber Benn Jordan (@BennJordan) has gone viral precisely because of this: it recreates how cats perceive humans. And it’s leaving the whole world completely amazed. Cats’ ultra-fast vision allows them to detect and capture prey in milliseconds, before humans even notice them.
Cats see the world much faster than we do.
Jordan explains that cats process images at a speed that seems almost impossible for humans: they see the world at about 100 frames per second (FPS).
To understand this in real terms:
- A human sees between 30 and 60 FPS.
- A dog perceives time more slowly than we do (approximately 33%).
- But a cat… is much faster.
This means that, to them, our movements seem slow, as if we were living in slow motion every time we raise our hand, walk or throw a toy for them. ‘Cats have much better visual acuity than dogs and humans… they have less time to process,’ explains Jordan. This visual speed fits perfectly with what we see at home: cats able to catch an insect in mid-flight, precise jumps between furniture, runs that seem like ‘disappearances’ and those reflexes that mean they are never late.
Do they see many colours? Not so many, but with greater precision
Although their colour vision is more similar to that of a dog (fewer colours than us), their acuity and ability to distinguish small movements and shadows are far superior. This explains why they detect insects or lights that we don’t even see, why they navigate so well indoors, and why they can walk across a full bookshelf without knocking anything over.
How do cats really hear us?
The simulation also recreates how a human “sounds” from a feline perspective, and the result is surprising: they hear higher frequencies, process sounds faster, and detect nuances that humans do not perceive. That is why they unfailingly recognise the sound of the food door, their owner’s tone of voice, or very faint noises, such as the click of a key or the footsteps of an insect. The video representation shows our voices as faster, higher-pitched and thinner, very different from how we hear them. Cats perceive our voices as higher-pitched and faster, processing sounds that humans cannot even hear
The reactions are telling: thousands of cat owners were left speechless
Comments on the video describe it as ‘hypnotic’ and ‘disturbingly realistic.’ Many say it has completely changed the way they see their cat. One of the most shared comments was: “Does that mean my cat makes those ninja moves faster than I can see? That made me respect him even more.‘ Another user added: ’I always thought cats perceived time more slowly… and I was completely wrong.”
When your cat looks at you, you will no longer see it in the same way. If you live with one, you are familiar with that stare it gives you from the sofa or the top of a piece of furniture. But after seeing the simulation, everything changes: to them, you move in slow motion, your voice sounds higher pitched and your presence is interesting but surprisingly slow. Suddenly, that mixture of elegance, precision and adorable superiority that fascinates us so much about cats makes sense. Science confirms it: they don’t live in another world, they just live faster than we do.
