Why do cats’ eyes look different? Our cats’ eyes definitely take on different hues depending on the light — daylight versus incandescent, or dim light. Cats’ eyes have long been an object of fascination for humans — we’ve named precious gems “cat’s eye” or “tiger’s eye.” There’s a variety of a child’s marble called a “cat’s eye.” Go back a few thousand years, and learn from the ancient Egyptians. Cats’ eyes also have a unique structure called a “tapetum lucidum” (“shining layer” in Latin). Dogs and ferrets have zinc in their cells; cats’ cells have riboflavin.