Can You Spot the Cat in This Sea of Owls?

If you’re into hidden image brainteasers, you’re probably familiar with Gergely “Dudolf” Dudás, a Budapest-based artist creating work that’s as challenging to the brain as it is pleasing to the eye. Dudolf’s drawings tend to captivate the attention of the Internet, largely because so many people have trouble spotting the creatures and objects he hides in his work. That’s because puzzles like these play up the human brain’s tendency toward “laziness,” or difficulty in identifying subtle visual differences without investing a bit of time in careful scrutiny.

In this brainteaser, Dudolf has hidden one cat in the middle of dozens of owls in the image below. The colorful critters are all packed together tightly, almost making it difficult to determine where one owl ends and another begins.

Owl-eyed viewers will need to scan the image closely to find the hidden kitty. It’s a tough puzzle—the beasts share a body shape and boast unusual colors. And because their shapes are so similar, our brains tend to lump them together.

If you haven’t found the cat yet, here’s a tip: Pay close attention to the animals’ faces.

Looking for more animal-themed brainteasers? See if you can find the doe hiding among the stags or the mouse concealed amid the squirrels. If you’re still trying to spot the sneaky feline hidden among the owls, check out the image below for the answer. When you’re done, be sure to brush up on your owl facts here.

A version of this story originally ran in 2015; it has been updated for 2022.