With their unique markings, powerful structure and undeniable strength, tigers are naturally both feared and admired. As apex predators - animals that have no natural predators - they don’t fear other creatures in their territories, but they do still need to rely on all their senses in order survive in the wild. With this in mind, here are the key five tiger senses. 

Sight 

The eyes of a tiger are adapted to hunting which they typically do at dawn, dusk or at night. Their vision is excellent, especially during low light and they can see up to six times better than humans in the dark. Their vision is similar to most other cats and they’re actually best at detecting motion and contrast when there’s not much light, which is why they have lots of light sensing cells and fewer colour sensing cells in their eyes. 

Smell 

To survive in the wild, tigers also need a good sense of smell. This allows them to detect prey or other predators and avoid conflict where possible. Tigers are largely solitary and mark their territory with scent glands. This means they can detect if another tiger has entered their territory or if they have crossed into strange territory. A strong sense of smell also allows tigers to find mates and breed during the mating season. Tigers can recognise their cubs through smell too, with each cub having their own unique scent. 

Hearing

As solitary creatures, tigers cover large areas alone and therefore need good hearing in order to stay aware of their surroundings. Tigers can actually hear in a wide range of frequencies and can detect ultrasonic sounds, which are higher than humans can detect. This makes it easier for them to hunt small prey. Good hearing also allows tigers to hear distress calls and directional hearing helps them to detect prey in dense forests.

Taste 

Like humans, taste can stop tigers from getting sick in the wild. While they do not have as many taste buds as we do and can’t taste the sweetness of foods, they can detect meat that’s spoiled or poisonous. Taste itself doesn’t play a key part in hunting but it can help to protect tigers once food has been sourced.

Touch

A tiger’s sense of touch is surprisingly well-developed and can help with hunting, navigation and social bonding, such as when mothers bond with their cubs. Their whiskers are deeply rooted in nerve-rich tissue, which allows them to act as very perceptive sensors, detecting tiny changes in air currents, nearby and the position and movement of prey. 

If you love tigers and are looking for theatre for preschoolers that features these fascinating creatures, don’t miss The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Based on the children’s book by Judith Kerr, this popular theatre show for under 5s is returning to the Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer, and is packed with fun, sing-along songs and clumsy chaos, making it perfect for the whole family. The production runs from 14 July - 7 September 2025, and theatre tickets for children’s shows can be bought online. Get yours today and join in the fun!