Is it a crow or a cat? Optical illusion sparks worldwide confusion

A new optical illusion has sent the internet into meltdown as people from across the world argue over what they see in a tricky photograph posted to Twitter.

The image, which was shared to the social network by Robert Maguire on Sunday, has left thousands completely baffled as they wrack their brains trying to work out if they see a crow or a cat.

While at first glance it appears to be a side profile of a crow on a tiled floor, Maguire confirmed it is actually a black cat that is looking back at the camera.

“This picture of a crow is interesting because… it’s actually a cat,” he wrote in the post.

This picture of a crow is interesting because…it's actually a cat pic.twitter.com/dWqdnSL4KD

— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) October 28, 2018

While from far away it appears to be a crow looking sideways, upon further inspection you can see what many thought was a beak is actually the cat’s ear as it turns its head to face the camera, with its second yellow eye hidden by a shadow.

In the space of just two days, the post has received over 140,000 likes and 1,000 comments as Twitter users share their disbelief over the photo.

“That’s brilliant, great photo, it really does trick your eyes,” one person commented.

While a second joked: “Probably better off not having a shapeshifting animal in your house”.

And a third added: “I maintain it’s a raven, cunningly disguised as a cat pretending to be a crow”.

Read more: What do you see? New optical illusion divides internet

There have been many optical illusions over the past year that have sent social media users into a tailspin. Before the cat versus crow image, it was a photo of a woman shared to Twitter that had the world talking. 

The photo received thousands of comments and shares with most people left completely baffled by what they did or didn’t see in the photograph.

Some people saw a head of short curly hair on a long neck, others were convinced it was long hair flowing down a woman’s back. Although the majority were in favour of the first option, it turns out they were wrong.

https://twitter.com/LilMaarty/status/1048740892159295488

It may take a few moments to realise, but if you look closely you will see the woman sitting cross-legged, leaning forwards with her long hair draped down her back. What looks like an ear on the left side of the photo is actually the woman’s arm and shoulder.

Most were in utter shock to learn the truth, taking to Twitter to share their confusion.

“Been staring for 5 minutes and if it’s not a neck I’m stupid,” one person wrote.

A second comment read: “Took a good 30 seconds to realise it was a back now I’m trying to see how I seen a neck in the first place.”

What do you see in the photograph? A cat or a crow?