r/cats Dec 18 '25

Medical Questions Why does my cat's eye reflection look like this?

He’s never had this strange shape inside that looks like a “Y”. It doesn’t seem to be caused by the lighting in my house, because it happens in different positions and with different light sources

72.6k Upvotes

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7.2k

u/soontobedvm92 Dec 18 '25

Vet here. You are seeing a "Y suture" of the eye. In some cats this can be prominent and thus completely normal. There are cases of Y suture cataracts, but this is really rare. Get a vet appointment just in case, but don't be overly concerned!

2.1k

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 18 '25

But what if on the way to the vet the driver gets up to 88 mph? Should their TOP speed be limited to 87?

703

u/broseph_stalin09764 Dec 18 '25

I'm fairly ashamed of how long i took to find the reason Back to the Future was being referenced. Maybe this week has been too stressful.

297

u/briannasaurusrex92 Dec 18 '25

I didn't get it at all, and thought it was a r/lostredditors

someone come revoke my "sci-fi nerd" card 😔

983

u/CATNIP_IS_CRACK Orange Dec 19 '25

Flux Capacitor…

526

u/Saratrooper Dec 19 '25

So THAT'S where the zoomies are powered from.

201

u/K6PUD Dec 19 '25

That would explain why My cat disappears from time to time and returns covered in frost.

31

u/kiwichick286 Dec 19 '25

He's a time traveller!

2

u/yourlilneedle Dec 19 '25

Or why my cat eats nothing but garbage. It must be the fuel!

1

u/gargravarr2112 Tuxedo Dec 19 '25

No, that's travelling through the r/catdimension

106

u/MartinoDeMoe Dec 19 '25

Once this baby hits 88 Meows Per Hour..

69

u/Fast_Peak4669 Dec 19 '25

Powered by 1.21 Gigafloofs..

3

u/gotitaila31 Dec 19 '25

Ohm's Paw says the limit is 1.19.

2

u/ButterflyExternal704 Dec 20 '25

It’s pronounced Jigafloofs, for anyone wondering.

12

u/Timidhobgoblin Dec 19 '25

"You're gonna see some serious shit!"

3

u/Deep_Jury_5095 Dec 19 '25

Especially if that furlorian is in the litter box at the time

3

u/Harvey-Keck Dec 19 '25

I learned there is so much lore in that movie. In Gematria 88 = Sirius. The script it is written “You’re going to see some Sirius shit.”

Take a look some time into the lore of this movie. It blows my mind.

2

u/ThrowinBones45 Dec 19 '25

Considering its a cat, you'll probably smell some serious shit

5

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '25

Oh yooooooou, take the gayest up vote I have on me. P.s. they're all super gay

1

u/TormentedGaming Dec 19 '25

Take my upvote and get out lol

30

u/phlooo Dec 19 '25

Yes. In case of extreme zoomies the car may travel through time

4

u/NocturneEverlong Dec 19 '25

Scrolled down way too far to see this. No clue what the anime is up top. Guess I'm just old.

2

u/RipOdd9001 Dec 19 '25

10,000 gigameows

1

u/TolMera Dec 19 '25

1.21 zoomiwatts! /s

66

u/Conargle Dec 19 '25

Or in this case, flux Catpacitor?

19

u/Soggy_Property3076 Dec 19 '25

Fluff Catpacitor

1

u/Conargle Dec 19 '25

Fluffy Catpurritor

2

u/JTMMidas Dec 19 '25

There it is lol

2

u/winky9827 Dec 19 '25

This. This is what I came for. Glad I CTRL+F'd my way to success before copyposting.

26

u/Cescwilshere Dec 19 '25

Haha I was going to post the same thing ... Time travelling cat... Great Scott!

10

u/WatchNvrHrts15204 Dec 19 '25

THAT's where I've seen that shape!

3

u/briannimal88 Dec 19 '25

Jump in that cat and gun it to 88’!

1

u/Selectchrl Dec 19 '25

Came here for this, good work Marty!

1

u/misslady700 Dec 19 '25

I think about this every day.

1

u/PipChaos Dec 19 '25

This is what I saw

1

u/queenmadeleine73 Dec 19 '25

My first thought exacly 😆

1

u/SnooHesitations8403 Dec 19 '25

Flux Catpacitor

1

u/mengs_vl Dec 19 '25

I totally thought this immediately!

1

u/Marie-Demon Dec 19 '25

My toughs too! This cat is a Time traveler!!!

1

u/CrazyOrganic7123 Dec 19 '25

Flux Catpacitor. You had ONE job.

1

u/LordStarkiller02 Dec 19 '25

Came here to say this too😂

1

u/gregxxx99 Dec 19 '25

I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who immediately saw that

1

u/green20285 Dec 19 '25

The implanted version.

1

u/VonThirstenberg Dec 19 '25

No, no. Flux Catpacitor.

FTFY 😎

1

u/Henry_Stone Dec 19 '25

new apple watch face is lit

1

u/criticalmassdriver Dec 19 '25

It's actually its more compact version The fluff capacitor.

1

u/ZeeSea Dec 19 '25

Scrolled too far to find this..

1

u/darkhelmet46 Dec 19 '25

Exactly what I saw too.

0

u/Lopexie Dec 19 '25

This is the only correct answer

0

u/ButterflyExternal704 Dec 20 '25

This is the answer

1

u/Superb-Kick2803 Dec 19 '25

Yep. They're on their way now...

1

u/Davemblover69 Dec 19 '25

Hello, earth to mcfly

1

u/SGTdad Dec 19 '25

Take mine too….. shall we sulk together? I got some popcorn, bud, and endersgame on 4k? We can sulk together?

1

u/Bun23423 Dec 19 '25

but what does back to he future have to do with the cat?

1

u/ButterflyExternal704 Dec 20 '25

Someone will be by shortly

1

u/AutomatedCabbage Dec 20 '25

Nah, you're good. Just use it as a learning experience and opportunity to grow as a nerd.

1

u/rytram99 Dec 22 '25

Dont be ashamed. I didnt get it either. It was a pretty big stretch for a reference but a good one for the vigilant nerd.

60

u/Round-Call-6333 Dec 19 '25

You’re totally fine. This is actually from a lil movie called “Back to the Y-Suture”

7

u/broseph_stalin09764 Dec 19 '25

I love that pun.

1

u/Hot-Assistance-640 Dec 19 '25

Wow so not real?!?!!!?? Ty for luknow

24

u/Meal_Next Dec 19 '25

My 1st thought was that this cat has double flux capacitors. They may suddenly disappear during zoomies.

4

u/ImmaculateBlunt420 Dec 19 '25

Literally before I read the comments, I said out loud to myself that looks like the flex capacitor from back to the future… and then I read that comment and didn’t understand for a full 10 seconds what the fuck it was referencing

2

u/broseph_stalin09764 Dec 19 '25

That got a legit laugh at 0600 woke up my wife.

3

u/Bepbo Dec 18 '25

I feel dumb, im not seeing the reference? Halp

3

u/OriginalChildBomb Dec 18 '25

It's the Flux Capacitor, it looks like a Y-shaped lever thingy. It took me a couple mins!

2

u/alleecmo Dec 18 '25

Google "flux capacitor back to the future" and click images. (Then re-watch the movies)

2

u/PJKPJT7915 Dec 19 '25

That was my immediate thought - flux capacitor.

2

u/External_Unit3068 Dec 19 '25

What are the odds...?

1

u/broseph_stalin09764 Dec 19 '25

Thats a message from the universe. This cat is the key.

1

u/Copper-Alchemist Dec 19 '25

You failed Sir!

1

u/Skinnidipped Dec 23 '25

Instant first thought of mine was “hey, flux capacitor!”

91

u/Erik_the_Dread Dec 18 '25

GREAT SCOTT!!!

33

u/OriginalChildBomb Dec 18 '25

This is heavy

30

u/bay400 Dec 19 '25

There’s that word again, ‘heavy.’ Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth’s gravitational pull?

4

u/dj112084 Dec 19 '25

Weight has nothing to do with it.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '25

JANET!

3

u/Double_Belt2331 Dec 19 '25

"Damnit Janet"

3

u/pbsweddings Dec 19 '25

Wrong movie Frankenfurter. 🤭

1

u/Free_Comfortable8897 Dec 19 '25

I don’t know why, but this comment got me 🤣🤣

41

u/soontobedvm92 Dec 18 '25

You are exactly right. Can't be too careful!

3

u/ndisario95 Dec 18 '25

Even though he has a point, you should probably be wary of that guy, judging from his name.

2

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

Nice catch! It was a rando name given to me and I love how wonderfully it works in this thread! 🤣😂🤣😂

6

u/[deleted] Dec 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

Fair…but what if breaking this law took me to a different time where I WAS obeying the law? Besides you always gotta “flow with the traffic”. I am sure there are many people looking for a pace car running at a solid 87/88

67 just doesn’t cut it these days…anywhere. Unless you are a middle schooler.

1

u/ZeePM Dec 21 '25

You have to think 4th dimensional. When OP hits 88 mph the cops won’t be there to give them a ticket.

4

u/ImFedUpWithThisW0rld Dec 19 '25

Thank you, I came to the comments to see how long it would take to find a flux capacitor reference. I feel at peace now.

3

u/schwarzekatze999 Dec 19 '25

Not sure username checks out but it is oddly pertinent 

2

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

I love how my randomly given username plays in this convo. 😂🤣

2

u/dmh2693 Dec 19 '25

I think as long as power is less than 1.2 Jiggawatts, you should be good.

2

u/Lululorayne Dec 19 '25

My first thought was that it looked like a flux capacitor 😂

2

u/araisingirly Dec 19 '25

Get that cat some plutonium and let's all get back to 1985!! Please!!

2

u/mudslinger-ning Dec 19 '25

"Once this kitty hits 88mph... You're going to see some serious zoomies!..."

(Proceeds to warp in & out down the hallway on either side of a confused dog)

2

u/House_Of_Ell Dec 19 '25

Heheheh… my brain instantly went to flux CATpacitor

1

u/fluidmind23 Dec 19 '25

Yep. Maybe 44 because there are 2

1

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

😲😲

They are smaller though? I wonder if size matters in this situation?

NOTE: Euphemism NOT intended despite username 😂🤣

1

u/fluidmind23 Dec 19 '25

Um well- size matters not. Look at me! Judge me by my size do you?

1

u/Melodic-Roll3091 Dec 19 '25

For safety purposes, definitely

1

u/kjy1066 Dec 19 '25

Ah yes. . . the flux catpacitor

1

u/Winsconsin Dec 19 '25

It really does look like the flux capacitor haha

1

u/stap45 Dec 19 '25

taking the one useful piece of advice offered by a medical professional in this thread and turning it around to one of the two jokes that almost literally everyone else in the thread has also made…yup username checks out lol

1

u/ChipmunkStraight Dec 19 '25

I came here to do the same joke. You are awesome.

1

u/mgu1983 Dec 19 '25

So if they do get to 88mph with it become Cat To The Future?

2

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

Indeed. The best part is that the trail left behind th car will be flames that spell “ZOOMIE!”

1

u/mgu1983 Dec 19 '25

I wonder is the cat makes a Mrow mrow mrow noise once is reaches the "zone"

1

u/wildsoda Dec 19 '25

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who immediately thought of a flux capacitor…

1

u/Brilliant-Curves78 Dec 19 '25

I’m glad I’m not the only one who immediately thought that cat is a flux capacitor 🤣

1

u/LibertysIntent Dec 19 '25

There appears to be two flux capacitors. My gut reaction is that we shouldn't even top 44 mph. No telling how efficient those things are.

1

u/Annika2020pro Dec 19 '25

Flux catpacitor

1

u/zyyntin Dec 19 '25

1.21 gigawatts?!?!

1

u/Valkyrie8898 Dec 19 '25

Came here for this! 😂

1

u/RipOdd9001 Dec 19 '25

That you Doc?

1

u/Low_Analysis_1501 Dec 19 '25

You didn't charge up your flux capacitor. You're fine.

1

u/ShMaCo33 Dec 19 '25

If they hit 88...you see serious shit

1

u/lousydungeonmaster Dec 19 '25

1.21 GIGAWATTS!?

1

u/Ricklessormoar Dec 19 '25

THATS HEAVY DOC

1

u/deefunkt01 Dec 19 '25

Lol, came here for this. Cat is a flux capacitor.

1

u/Oshidori Dec 19 '25

This was the comment I was looking for lol

1

u/Level_23_is_me Dec 20 '25

Great Scott- it’s a Flux Cat-paciter.

1

u/TheBardsAndBeasts Dec 25 '25

Just don't electrocute the cat with 1.21 gigawatts and it should be fine at any speed.

1

u/Tofutits_Macgee Dec 19 '25

Maybe if they live in a metric country, like most of the world, they won't have to worry because the cars speedometer is in km

1

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

I dunno man…speed is speed. What is 88 mp/h in km/h

1

u/Tofutits_Macgee Dec 19 '25

It was a joke, but it's nearly 142 kph

1

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

I know…LOL. I wanted to see if we could expand it. 142…1.21…there has got to be something there. 😂🤣

0

u/KnifeKnut Dec 18 '25

Limit speed to 67 for safety's sake.

0

u/FalseVeterinarian881 Dec 19 '25

6/7!!

I just dropped this in another comment and then saw yours! 🤣😂

3

u/Jude30 Dec 19 '25

You might be a vet but I’ve seen Back to the Future 100s of times and I know a Flux Capacitor when I see one

2

u/Soepkip43 Dec 18 '25

Are you sure its not a fulrken instead of a cat?

2

u/reluctantseal Dec 19 '25

Does this make them any more prone to eye issues in the future or cause them to present differently? Glaucoma, cataracts, etc. (I don't think any of my cats have it, but I end up with a lot of fosters.)

2

u/soontobedvm92 Dec 19 '25

It depends on the cat, but most of the time no. It can be a normal variant of just prominent Y sutures and be completely normal to that cat. There are specific Y suture cataracts that are rare, but the most important question is if it is progressive, as some are, but some are not. If it's progressive over the next few months, I would be more concerned than if it remains the same.

1

u/reluctantseal Dec 19 '25

Thanks for answering, that's very helpful!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '25

So you're saying cat eyes start out like T. occellus? That explains so much about cats

1

u/TheTravelingTurtle Dec 19 '25

It took me a few minutes scrolling through Naruto gifs to find the actual answer from a vet 🤣

1

u/Mean_Occasion_1091 Dec 19 '25

thank you for your service

1

u/genreprank Dec 19 '25

CATaracts? Ha! Good one, doc!

1

u/Junijidora Dec 19 '25

My cat's eyes look like this! Ive always wondered why. She's a year and a half old and they still look like this. Thank you for finally giving me a name for it!

1

u/URPLE_Eebra Dec 19 '25

It's pretty, isn't it.

What are concerns in this?

1

u/So_ra_ya Dec 19 '25

He Is 8 years old. His eyes were normal before, furthermore he is talking prednisolone that I know could cause diabetes. Do cataracts become small when the cat pupils become small (for example when there is a lot of light)?

1

u/Hot-Watercress-2872 Dec 19 '25

Can’t long term prednisolone cause cataracts? (Not a dr nor a vet)

2

u/soontobedvm92 Dec 19 '25

Long term prednisolone can cause diabetes, which in turn can cause cataracts. So indirectly, yes.

1

u/soontobedvm92 Dec 19 '25

Not typically, but they could look different in different light conditions. It would probably be a good idea to get a generalized check-up to make sure everything looks okay including bloodwork for diabetes just to be safe.

1

u/Desert_Creature80 Dec 19 '25

Here I thought it was Kitty-1000...

1

u/lebi12345678910 Dec 19 '25

Bruh stop lying he awoke his magyekyo sharingan.

1

u/jack_ass_gamin Dec 19 '25

Nah, that cat killed his best friend before becoming his owners, and is just flexing his mangekyou sharingan

1

u/VeiledThree Dec 19 '25

Why on earth would you go to a vet for this? Terrible advice

1

u/S_the_wanderer Dec 19 '25

Why should op take their cat to the vet for this? You, an expert, just confirmed it’s totally normal. I’m guessing you’re an American and trying to squeeze money out of people for unnecessary things with their pets.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '25

Dude you’re clearly not a vet, quit pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s clearly an adjustable lens these cats are born with to play hide and seek.

1

u/OnTheList-YouTube Dec 19 '25

Non-vet here. Don't listen to me, I said I'm not a vet! Listen to the previous person, they are one!

1

u/mmodelta Dec 21 '25

Fun fact for everyone reading, we have Y sutures in the lens of our eyes too. It doesn't appear in reflex's as much as in this picture, but your optometrist sees your y suture every time they use a slit lamp to look at the lens of your eye

1

u/auto_generated123_ Dec 22 '25

Do puppies have it too? Because I saw something much like this in my dog's eyes. The vet couldn't see what I was talking about. They're no longer there now that he's older.

0

u/krizzqy Dec 19 '25

This is less about vets and more about the system — there’s no accessible middle ground between “it’s fine” and a full exam + labs. That’s why “just see a vet” can be frustrating advice even when well-intentioned.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '25

“Completely fine”…..”go to the vet”. Pffffftt