Are Laser Pointers Healthy?

WhatchaCallKitty

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From a psychological standpoint, are laser pointers unhealthy? Sometimes it feels like a great game when we play with them, but most of the time it feels like my cats are distressed. Similar to a bird in the window they can't eat. The make the same noise. It makes me wonder if they actually don't see it as a game, but a disappointment (unable to catch food). For this reason, we give them a few treats after each laser session just in case, to ensure they are in a good mood.

What is your view?
 

fionasmom

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Someplace around here this was recently discussed and several people felt that it was frustrating to the cat to never be able to catch the laser beam. However, giving the cat something to actually eat or play with at the end seemed to be more acceptable. My cats have no interest in them and I have stopped even buying them. Over the years, of the few who did, they rapidly lost interest when they realized that there was nothing to catch.
 

daftcat75

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I think it depends on the cat.

Krista knows it’s a game. But it triggers something in her every time even if just for a moment or two. She pancakes her body, saucers her eyes, and for that moment, she chases it like a kitten. Then I think age catches up and she stops and looks up at me like, “I’m getting too old for this.” Between her IBD and arthritis, she has a fair amount to be mopey about. So if the laser perks her up and maybe she forgets her discomfort and pain for a moment, I will keep bringing it out for her. Usually just before meals.

Krista is getting up there in years. Exercise remains important for her to keep her muscle mass. I have begun Assisi Loop (targeted pulsed EMF) treatments for her arthritis. The laser or a wand toy remain a way to keep her active but also to see how the Loop is working out for her. We just started the Loop this week so maybe we’ll start seeing real results by the end of next week or the week after.
 

denice

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I used it with mine when they were younger and they enjoyed it. I have one left now and she is almost sixteen so I don't bother with it, a slow short game with a wand toy is about it for her now. I did always follow the laser with a wand that they could 'catch'. I have heard not to use it with parrots. Parrots of all types are prone to OCD and easily stressed both of which can be triggered with a laser.
 

SDerailed

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I've had several cats that love the laser and if followed by a wand toy do well with it.
But I also have an OCD cat who is obsessed with the laser. To the point of physical and emotional anguish.
 

Talien

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Depends on the Cat, all of mine enjoy it even if there's nothing to physically catch. Fresca especially will happily run around the entire house or even spin in circles chasing it until she's tired and then do it again just a few hours later if I bring it out.

I think it depends on the cat.

Krista knows it’s a game. But it triggers something in her every time even if just for a moment or two. She pancakes her body, saucers her eyes, and for that moment, she chases it like a kitten. Then I think age catches up and she stops and looks up at me like, “I’m getting too old for this.” Between her IBD and arthritis, she has a fair amount to be mopey about. So if the laser perks her up and maybe she forgets her discomfort and pain for a moment, I will keep bringing it out for her. Usually just before meals.

Krista is getting up there in years. Exercise remains important for her to keep her muscle mass. I have begun Assisi Loop (targeted pulsed EMF) treatments for her arthritis. The laser or a wand toy remain a way to keep her active but also to see how the Loop is working out for her. We just started the Loop this week so maybe we’ll start seeing real results by the end of next week or the week after.
I've had very good results with a loop. One of my fosters had stomatitis and short of a full mouth extraction it was basically the only option, it cut the inflammation by about 50% after the first couple weeks and kept it there. The vet wanted to try laser therapy after that and I didn't have the heart to tell her it probably wouldn't do any good since I was the one who convinced her to try the loop.
 

Etarre

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Both of my cats have enjoyed/enjoy the laser, and show no signs of frustration. With all toys, if the cat 'wins' by grabbing it (say, with the end of a wand toy), the game is over. So even with real pray, they'll sometimes let it go multiple times so they can stalk it again. If your cat likes the laser, I'd say go for it. It's one of the best toys for getting them to run off energy and exercise consistently.
 

KittyFriday

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I've tried to play laser with my cat and he doesn't seem to notice it at all. Or he sees the dot and just doesn't care. But then, he's not really one to play with toys either.

I don't have a laser pointer in my house anymore because I have one dog who is absolutely obsessed with it - and I prefer to play with physical toys. It doesn't seem to cause her mental anguish; in fact, she knows what the laser pointer itself is and will pick it up and bring it to you.
 

Kflowers

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Sweet Gum likes it, but I have to take her on the expected path up and down the hall three times and that's it. The hall is dark and I think that helps. I usually stop with the red dot on a ping pong ball or other toy, but she doesn't seem to care. She just wants the run -- with one stop and pancake stalk in the middle.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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I like using flashlight beams instead of the red laser light. I cup my hand over half the beam so that a smaller-sized "dot" shows up for Milly on the floor or walls. It's weird, too, she likes the old-fashioned lightbulb beam in a flashlight versus an LED flashlight beam. :dunno:

Anyway, what I have done is to hide a treat or jingle bell underneath some crumpled paper... race the light beam around and then have it dart "under" the paper (immediately turn off the beam as you hit the paper's edge). It leaves Milly attacking the paper and she finds her treat or "prey" there as a reward. (She never sees me put it under the paper, so I am not a participant in The Hunt!)
 

nwc

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If your cat looks at you when the laser goes away, or physically brings the laser pointer to you then the cat knows it's a toy.

However, there does seem something unhealthy about how excited they can get over it. Mine recently took some nasty falls when trying to catch it. Perhaps it is partially my fault for pointing the beam to places only accessible through jumping/climbing. But since the falls, he seems to have less confidence when I point the laser some place high. He will just look at it, whimper, and quit without trying. This happened yesterday though, so maybe he'll get over it.
 

Neko-chan's mama

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I think if your cat likes it, it's ok as an occasional toy. I have one and use it once in a while when I'm too tired for a proper play session but I always finish with a physical toy she can sink her claws and teeth in to. My last cat didn't like it, he realized that he couldn't catch it for real and after the first time never chased it again.
 

Maria Bayote

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It took only a few moments before my Bourbon realized where the laser light was coming from, and completely lost her interest in it.
 

SpecterOhPossum

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Echoing another post here, but it really depends on the animal.
For example, we've had 4 dogs before; one of which played with the lazer; another who got scared by it, and the other didn't care at all.

I've met cats who don't care, cats who love it, and 2 odd balls who found where the lazer comes from, and still enjoy it. Specter sees the lazer pointer and sort of gestures for me to start it up, so again, depends. I think that if any activity causes discomfort or stress, it should be stopped. Usually specter ignores it, she knows how it works and knows it's just basically a shadow; in a way, but chases it when she just wants to run around. :) Same with flies and actual shadows! Oh, and probably ghosts.. But lets pretend the ghosts are just flies.
 

VinceL

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Our cats know which kitchen drawer I keep the laser pointer in. It is the same drawer where we store batteries. If I open the drawer to get some batteries, the cats come running (it's like that drawer makes a different sound from any other drawer in the kitchen). Unless I'm busy with something, I will get the laser pointer out and let them chase it some.
Even though they are 9 and 10 years old, Bonnie & Clyde still love to chase the red dot. Loki and Lexi will chase it for a little while, and they just lay there and watch the other 2 cats chase it.
 
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