Cats love to play. They especially enjoy games that feed their hunting and chasing instincts. If you have multiple cats, they will likely chase one another and gain enjoyment from balls, toys on a string, and other toys that can be flung around and stalked. These activities are similar to chasing rodents and birds in the wild, and owners are often encouraged to add similar games to their daily cat care routines.
Another popular toy is the laser pointer. It’s a fun way to encourage movement and fulfill your cat’s desire to chase. If they are used responsibly, laser pointers are perfectly safe for a cat to play with. While certain precautions must be taken, this toy can be beneficial to your cat’s well-being.
Why Cats Love Lasers
Cats are predators. In the wild, they eat rodents and other small animals, which they need to catch before they can eat. Even as domestic pets, they retain the prey drive that would help them catch their dinner.
When they chase toys around the house, whether it is the fine dot of light from a laser pointer or a toy mouse on a string, they are re-enacting the hunt. So, when your cat is chasing that red dot, it is the same as chasing a mouse through a field or a bird up a tree.
Image by: Wanda Lizm, Shutterstock
Precautions to Take
Laser pointers are fun, but owners need to take certain precautions when using them:
Use a low-wattage laser toy — Use a laser pointer that has been designed for the purpose, not a high-powered one. Aim for a maximum power of 5 watts to ensure that there is less chance of causing permanent damage.
Don’t shine the light in your cat’s eyes — Low-wattage lasers won’t cause damage if they are briefly passed across your cat’s eyes, but they can cause irreparable damage if the laser is too powerful and there is prolonged exposure directly to the eye.
Store the pointer away safely — If the cat associates the red dot with the toy itself, they might go looking for it and accidentally turn it on. Store it in a drawer or a cupboard that your cat can’t access.
Take it slowly — One of the potential benefits of a laser pointer is that it can be used to exercise a cat. They will gleefully chase it around the room, and it is an effective way of introducing exercise, especially to a lethargic cat. Start slowly to prevent your cat from getting too tired and potentially causing breathing or heart problems.
Be careful of obstacles and obstructions — It can be fun watching your cat charge around the room to try to catch the dot, but they will focus on their target to the detriment of all else. This means they are likely to run into obstacles that are in the way. Shine the light in areas where there are minimal obstructions.
Image by: Seika Chujo, Shutterstock
Is a Laser Toy the Right Choice for Your Cat?
As with most things, there are benefits and pitfalls to consider before choosing a laser cat toy.
Pros
Physical Exercise: Cats need physical activity, and if your cat is an indoor cat, they may not have the same opportunity to run around and exercise. A laser toy is one way of ensuring that your cat is getting the exercise that they require, but you should start slowly.
Mental Stimulation: Hunting requires a lot of focus and thinking, as your cat works out where the prey is and anticipates where it will be. The red dot stimulates mental activity and keeps your cat on their toes.
Less Effort for Owners: Most owners know their cats need physical exercise and mental stimulation, but after a long day’s work, it can be challenging to walk around with a string toy and have your cat chase it. You can use a laser toy from the comfort of your chair.
Fun for All: Playing with your cat is not only fun for the cat, but it’s also fun for you, and it helps to develop a bond between you both.
Cons
An Unwinnable Game:Â When cats chase toys, they are mimicking a real-life hunt. Unfortunately, when chasing a red dot, they are being set up to fail because even if you stop moving the laser, they cannot catch their quarry. This can lead to frustration and anxiety, and if you see your cat becoming frustrated, you should stop.
Eye Damage: Even though laser cat toys are low-powered, prolonged exposure of the laser to a cat’s eye can cause permanent damage. Avoid shining the light directly in the eye, and if there are any signs of eye damage, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Physical Injury:Â There is also some risk of physical injury. The cat will be so focused on catching the dot that they may run into walls, furniture, and physical objects. Make sure you play in an open area that is free from obstacles and potential causes of injury.
Other Toys That Encourage Hunting and Chasing
Hunting and chasing are an important part of a cat’s development. Laser pointers are only one way to provide this type of stimulation.
Wand toys are plastic sticks that have a piece of string on one end and a soft toy on the end of the string. They enable you to pull and throw the toy around without the danger of getting scratched by your cat’s claws.
Small toys, which are usually shaped like mice, are other good options, and the inclusion of a bell or the addition of catnip makes them even more appealing to your cat.
You can even get treat toys, which dispense a small treat when your cat bounces or bats the ball vigorously enough. Not only do treat toys reenact hunting, but the cat also gets rewarded for their efforts, which further mimics natural behavior where a successful hunt results in food.
Are Laser Pointers Bad for Cats?
Laser pointers that are specifically designed for use as cat toys can be part of a fun and engaging way to encourage a cat to run around and chase, mimicking their hunting behavior in the wild. However, there are some caveats for ensuring that playing with the toy is safe. Make sure the laser is not too powerful, use it in an area that is free from physical obstructions to prevent injury, and don’t intentionally shine it in your cat’s eyes because prolonged exposure can cause eye damage, though this is rare.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
