Laser pointers and watching "Cat TV"

Cat-nificent

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I was reading here and there about cats and laser pointers as well as interacting with the TV. Some articles state, it's not good for cats to engage in that because they can never catch 'the prey'. I forget the details but it sounded convincing. Thoughts?
 
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Kris107

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It depends on the cat. Mine play with a laser pointer and then eventually stop caring. With other toys I usually do end with letting them walk off with it, but they don't seem to care about the laser.
 

Draco

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When I use the laser pointer, I always end the game by tossing treats towards the laser so they feel like they've successfully hunted. I also end the feather wand toy the same way too with treats.
 

neely

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As far back as I can remember all of our cats really liked the laser pointer including our new guy. I turn off the lights in the room or rooms where I'm using it to make it brighter and they love to chase it. They don't seem bothered by not catching their prey as you mentioned but I do give them a snack afterwards.
 

catloverfromwayback

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I bought a laser pointer to try to get Daisy to play. She lay on the bed and watched with mild interest (Phoebe went nuts for it, but then her favourite thing is chasing finger shadows). Daisy much prefers wrestling with her feather wand. She doesn't often chase it, just rolls around on her back grabbing at it.
 

Alldara

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I was reading here and there about cats and laser pointers as well as interacting with the TV. Some articles state, it's not good for cats to engage in that because they can never catch 'the prey'. I forget the details but it sounded convincing. Thoughts?
Cats need movement and engagement. As long as laser pointers or watching through a window aren't the only things, it's fine.

Cats don't catch every prey when they are outdoors either.

Some people online started saying laser pointers were bad and cat tv was good. But their reason for lasers being bad was they can't catch the laser and yet its okay for them to watch TV or look out the window and not catch anything? 🤔 doesn't make sense. But it sounds convincing and people pass it on more. Don't worry. It's confused a lot of people!
 

FeebysOwner

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It all depends on the cat. Feeby decided very quickly that the laser wasn't worth her effort. She also watched about 1 minute of a couple of squirrel/birds videos, decided they weren't real, and walked away never to look at another one thereafter.
 
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Cat-nificent

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Cats need movement and engagement. As long as laser pointers or watching through a window aren't the only things, it's fine.

Cats don't catch every prey when they are outdoors either.

Some people online started saying laser pointers were bad and cat tv was good. But their reason for lasers being bad was they can't catch the laser and yet its okay for them to watch TV or look out the window and not catch anything? 🤔 doesn't make sense. But it sounds convincing and people pass it on more. Don't worry. It's confused a lot of people!
I see your point, but when they watch Cat TV, they also try to attack and catch what's on the screen. The article said both the laser and Cat TV were bad. I have since turned the automated toys laser pointer back on they've been watching TV here and there. They don't seem interested in the laser. So strange.
 

aliceneko

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As others have said, it does depend on the cat. Toffee, my cat, loved laser pointers as a younger cat but now he's getting older he's not interested in them so much. Toffee doesn't catch prey much outdoors at all - butterflies are his limit!
 

Alldara

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I see your point, but when they watch Cat TV, they also try to attack and catch what's on the screen. The article said both the laser and Cat TV were bad. I have since turned the automated toys laser pointer back on they've been watching TV here and there. They don't seem interested in the laser. So strange.
I've never heard of anyone mentioning both are bad!
As long as you are playing with your cat with a wand toy or something too it should be fine.
 
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Cat-nificent

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I'll have to find the article. I believe it was more about tablets but Cat TV kind of is the same. The cats try to catch or play with what is on the screen, but never can. I'm not finding contradicting articles. Since posting, I've turned back on CAT TV and the laser pointer toy. They don't get into it much and are more interested in chasing chasing each other around. So, lots of exercise.
 

Alldara

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I'll have to find the article. I believe it was more about tablets but Cat TV kind of is the same. The cats try to catch or play with what is on the screen, but never can. I'm not finding contradicting articles. Since posting, I've turned back on CAT TV and the laser pointer toy. They don't get into it much and are more interested in chasing chasing each other around. So, lots of exercise.
Usually the term cat TV also includes bird watching through windows etc.
 
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Cat-nificent

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Ah I see. Yes, I've heard of that. I should have clarified in the OP. Also, my last comment, this " I'm not finding contradicting articles." should have read " I'm now finding contradicting articles."
 

SueLinda

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Ah I see. Yes, I've heard of that. I should have clarified in the OP. Also, my last comment, this " I'm not finding contradicting articles." should have read " I'm now finding contradicting articles."
Soooo you are contradicting yourself? :) Sorry, could not resist.....:hyper:
 

SueLinda

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Penguin loves the red dot. :bliss: Most of the cats and kittens at the animal shelter where I volunteer love the red dot.:banana1:
Rhett could not care less. :dunno:
 

Draco

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I decided to try a Youtube cat games on my TV for my cats.

They loved it. Dali would try to catch the mouse or whatever ran across the screen (make sure your TV is sturdy!). They watch intently and run back and forth to try to chase the critters.

But..

Now every time I turn my TV on to watch a show, he runs over expecting to see mice and lizards running across the screen lol.

"Dali, Down in front!"

He needs his own TV now.
IMG_6670.jpeg
 
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