Having a laser pointer and a cat

[elicross]

...is kind of like having a radio-controlled car. You can sit in one spot and make him scoot all around the room.

[jhundt]

that sounds like fun... I'm getting me a laser pointer so I can play too!

[Westerly Sunn]

I have a Torpedo level with a laser that we keep sitting out for that very purpose...

[LGOberean]

Yeah, we have two cats, both just a little less than 3 years old, so they're both still kinda feisty. My wife came home with one of those laser pointers a few weeks ago. I guess she figured they weren't feisty enough.

Celeste, the Siamese/Tabby mix, quickly caught on and just stared up at me; she'd located the source, and then couldn't be bothered.

OTOH, the gray & white Little Orphan Annie (rescue cat, obviously) just goes nuts with it. As in I can run her in circles for so long I wonder why she don't puke.

[Telenut62]

There's a bit of a danger you'll leave poor puss "unfulfilled" so switch to something that can be caught and “killed,” such as a real toy. Your cat can then wind down with the satisfaction of having won the game, with “dead prey” to show for his/her hunting prowess.

[hilljr170]

Our cats literally climb the walls going after them. Good way to get a belly laugh.

[thumbpick]

i hope its not on top of a pistol

[Shepherd]

Originally Posted by thumbpick

i hope its not on top of a pistol

After reading some of the threads posted lately ....

[HoodieMcFoodie]

Just don't do it while the cat is flying the helicopter.

[Larry F]

I have also heard that it is a good idea to end the session with a physical object that they can grab and kill. But the laser pointer is such fun with those guys.

[LarsOS]

I do the laser pointer thing with my aquarium fish. They go nuts too, trying to kill and eat the dot.

[Fenderbender60]

My oldest daughter does this with her cats. Very funny stuff. But what we find even funnier is our other dauhter has a pitbull that goes crazy over the laser pointer. He'll chase it as long as you will let him. This is the first dog I've seen that will do this. We tried it with our dogs and they looked at use like we were crazy. Lol

[Skub]

[uriah1]

We just got one with our new maine coons.. Love it..worried that I might
accidentally hit their eye while they are chasing it?????
any concern?

[jimd]

Our cat is terrified of the laser pointer. It will run him right out of the room. He's a bit jumpy at certain things. We have a couple of balls that flash little led lights when they are bounced and he hates those too.

[SPUDCASTER]

Had a Blue Heeler that would go nuts chasing the dot.

The Border Collie could care less.

[zwayne]

CAREFUL FOLKS! THIS IS A PATENTED IDEA & YOU COULD BE INFRINGING!

Patent US5443036

(I love the drawing; maybe he's exercising kitty because he got mauled too many times?)

[BiggerJohn]

My cats ignore the laser pointer. They would rather chase a ball of wadded up paper or an insect.

[elicross]

Originally Posted by Telenut62

There's a bit of a danger you'll leave poor puss "unfulfilled" so switch to something that can be caught and “killed,” such as a real toy. Your cat can then wind down with the satisfaction of having won the game, with “dead prey” to show for his/her hunting prowess.

Yeah, I always follow up by tossing some Temptations treats for him to "catch" and eat. Not enough treats, I hope, to cancel out the exercise he just got.

[elicross]

Originally Posted by uriah1

We just got one with our new maine coons.. Love it..worried that I might
accidentally hit their eye while they are chasing it?????
any concern?

I think any eye contact would be extremely brief and harmless. These "toy" laser pointers aren't powerful enough to do eye damage unless you stare right at them for several seconds or more. Still, I always hold the pointer up high and angle it down to the floor, just so there's no chance of direct eye contact. And I wouldn't use one of those green laser pointers that can burn paper, of course.

Everything I've read about laser pointers says the only danger is that the cat could be frustrated by a thing he can chase but never catch. Some vets even think this frustration could eventually lead to compulsive behavior in cats. So it's good to have a treat or another toy handy -- something tangible the cat can catch after he's chased the laser for a while.