Is Laser Pointer for Cats a Good Idea?

Chase. Caught. Found Nothing. Chase. Caught. Found Nothing.

Cats are bamboozled by the red dot of the laser pointer. Remember the ‘red dot’ scene from the Secret Life of Pets 2? When Gidget catches the red dot and pretends to eat it (at least that’s what cats think), she is chosen as the queen of felines as she solves an infamous mystery of the laser pointer.

Sometimes, you can make good use of a laser beam. But you should know when to stop. If you overdo it, your cats won’t appreciate it, thinking that you are teasing them or making a fool out of them. The aggression and dissatisfaction of not being able to feel the physical sensation of their hard-earned prey despite chasing multiple times will soon start showing in their behavior.

Now that’s definitely not what we want for our cats.

Disadvantages of using a laser pointer for cats excessively

Discontent: Cats need to hunt and get rewarded for their efforts. In the wild, taking control over the prey successfully is their reward. But with laser pointers, cats win nothing as a prize. Hence, there is no motivation for the cat to chase the beam again. In some cases, cats may take it as fun and still run behind the red dot, however, in most cases, cats feel disappointed. That brings us to the second disadvantage.

Destruction: Cats may exhibit destructive behavior. So, maybe you will notice mess all around the house which indicates that your cat has gone overboard with the chasing activity. Also, this sends a message to your cat that it is okay to behave aggressively, tear carpets, jump on curtains, drop things on the floor, etc.

Lasers are hazardous: Shining laser beams into the eyes of any creature can lead to permanent eye damage. Although the risk of permanent damage is less, even a fleeting eye exposure may cause distraction and temporary loss of vision.

Advantages of using a laser pointer for cats cautiously

A physical exercise for your house cats: Believe it or not – house cats get bored with just sitting and sleeping. Also, a sedentary lifestyle is extremely bad for cats as it leads to health concerns like obesity. Here’s a quick read on identifying cat obesity and ways to prevent it. While there are several other alternatives to the laser pointing game, when there is no option, you can use a laser beam just to get your cat moving.

Mental stimulus: If your cat tends to hide or sit in one place with little movement, so much so that you tend to forget for a while that there is a cat in the same room, it is possible that she is bored and disinterested to initiate any activity. In the wild, cats do not have the option of being bored or disinterested. They are mostly on hunting expeditions that keep them active. Therefore, cats are fast, have strong reflexes, and have survival skills. Just hunting for food keeps wild cats mentally stimulated. At home, cats really don’t need to make an effort for anything. In such cases, cat parents need to start activities and get cats involved. Laser pointers tend to keep cats active and shed that sluggishness. It triggers the cat’s desire to hunt.

One more playtime reason for cats: Making them chase a laser beam is better than not doing anything. If done in moderation, cats consider it to be playtime with their ‘hoomans’ and totally appreciate the attention. I strongly feel that my cat, Akki knows that the laser beam cannot be grabbed. In fact, she looks at the laser pointer in my hand every time the beam vanishes, almost instructing me to point the beam again. Cats are intelligent. They are among the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom, so let’s treat them like one.

An Easy Way to Play: When you come home tired after a busy day and find your cat at the door asking for some playtime, what do you do? Or in case you are busy doing something and your cat desperately seeks attention, will you just ignore her? At such times, pointing a laser beam works in our favor. You can rest on a lounge and point the beam in different directions, not making it too difficult for the cat, or too easy. Remember, the idea is to make them move.

Looking at both advantages and disadvantages of laser pointers for cats, one can say that it’s okay to use laser pointers but don’t point the laser beam directly into your cat’s eyes. Consider PetSafe Zoom Rotating Laser Cat Toy, Automatic Laser Game for Cats. This toy uses two lasers that rotate 360 degrees to provide twice the amount of fun; multiple kitties can chase the dynamic laser patterns. It operates with minimal electronic sounds so even the shyest cats can enjoy chasing the fun play patterns. These pointers are safe for both human and pet eyes even in case of occasional direct contact. However, it is strongly recommended to avoid looking straight at the laser for an extended period.

Do not forget that any game, be it laser pointers or mice hunting toys, it should be allowed for a limited period in order to avoid overstimulation. Also, don’t just stick to laser beams for entertaining your cats as they get bored quite soon with one type of toy. Keep creating fun moments and a healthy environment to have happy and healthy cats.