Why a pointer for a cat: harm or benefit?
A speck of light moving chaotically across the floor resembles a small creature that the cat happily hunts for. The pet is driven by the instinct of pursuit; the lack of a three-dimensional form does not matter. Active play allows you to fight the main enemy of living in an apartment - adynamia. A teasing toy helps prevent obesity. The pet gets tired and quickly falls asleep.
The automatic laser has multiple speeds and timer settings, providing up to 16 operating modes. You can turn on the toy and go about your business. The pet will be so busy that he won’t care about anyone.
However, cat owners who have tried the teaser on their pets believe that the toy is dangerous for cats for the following reasons:
- The laser beam can burn the retina of the eye, and the cat may lose sight. Even when a bunny is reflected from a glossy surface or mirror, significant damage is caused to the eye.
- The pet bumps into furniture while jumping and may fall out of an open window.
- The game has no logical ending. The cat cannot catch the light spot and eventually becomes frustrated.
Why do cats chase lasers?
June 27, 2019
All cat parents are familiar with the eternal struggle between the cat and the laser pointer. Something nimble and odorless, this little red dot can sure keep a cat energized, despite the fact that she'll never be able to catch it. Interestingly, there is some debate about whether laser pointers are an appropriate toy for our feline friends. So why do cats chase lasers, and is it time to ditch the laser for a different type of toy?
Laser Charm
Lasers are inherently stimulating to cats due to what they are: fast moving prey. Just because your cat doesn't have to work hard for food (unless you count all the effort it takes to meow all morning until you fill her bowl) doesn't mean she's not ready to go.
When a laser dot pierces a room, your cat perceives it as a small animal trying to run and hide. Thus, certain forms of behavior inherent in cats appear, in particular, the innate desire to hunt, pounce and kill the prey that we are talking about. The fact that it's just a projection doesn't really matter because your cat is running on instinct, not intellect.
How cats see lasers
There is another important factor why your cat chases the laser: it simply looks attractive to her. To understand why, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of how cats' eyes work and how they differ from ours.
The retina is one of the main structures of the eye. It is made up of two key cell types: rods and cones. Rods deal with low vision and motion detection, while cones help the eye see color. Human eyes have more cones than rods, which means we are better at seeing colors. Cats, on the other hand, have more rods than cones, making them experts at observing even the slightest movement.
What does this have to do with lasers? This means that they are quite difficult to ignore. The moment you turn on the laser dot for your cat, she will immediately notice it in her peripheral vision. And if she has not yet fully understood that she cannot eat this red dot (and even if she knows that she cannot, she still wants to be!) then this is enough to begin her predatory cycle.
Dispute about cats and lasers
You might be surprised to learn that there is some controversy as to whether laser temptation is a good time for your mustachioed friend, but the debate has been going on for some time.
The main problem noted by laser cat lovers is that having your cat chase the laser is a form of "teasing". Remember, your cat is chasing and pouncing on that red dot because her brain is telling her that it is food to be caught and killed. She doesn't clearly recognize it as a game, even if she's having fun.
The laser is an elusive goal, and no matter how good your cat's hunting skills are, she will never be able to eat it, and she will never end her predatory cycle. Many cats come up with a trick and stop interacting with the laser. Others find this extremely frustrating and may engage in bad behavior as a result. Frustrated cats behave less than ideally, such as becoming destructive or aggressive. If you notice a connection between playing with your cat and the laser and bad behavior, it may be time to put your pointer away for good.
To make laser pointers more fun rather than teasing, give your cat a treat or her favorite toy immediately after playing. This way she will get satisfaction from the "kill" even if it is not the laser itself.
Tips for using a laser pointer
If your cat really enjoys chasing the "restless red dot" and hasn't gotten caught in an endless loop of frustration from that chase, then there's probably nothing to worry about. Chasing a laser is a fantastic way for your cat to get some physical and mental exercise, and also allows her to tap into her cat instincts a bit - something indoor cats don't do as often as they'd like.
Of course, you should still follow proper safety precautions to avoid harming your cat while playing. Here are the two main ones.
Don't shine directly into your cat's eyes. Even toy lasers emit incredibly bright light, so it's important that you don't shine them directly at your cat (or yourself!). Otherwise, you may experience vision problems and/or eye injury.
Provide your cat with plenty of other toys. If the laser is your cat's only option for play, it's more likely that frustration will begin to build. Make sure she has access to plenty of other things to hunt and play with, including catnip toys and foam balls.
Source:
- thesprucepets.com
Laser pointer for a cat: rules for safe play
To keep your cat safe when playing with a laser pointer, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Do not direct the laser beam so that it hits the cat's eyes. A single exposure injures the retina, and repeated exposures lead to loss of vision.
- Do not point the pointer at glossy or mirror surfaces. The reflected beam has the same negative effect as the direct one.
- If you highlight a wall with a red or green dot, an enthusiastic cat will run into it and hurt itself.
- The movements of the beam must be coordinated, otherwise an overexcited hunter will damage the situation.
- These disadvantages can be avoided if you purchase an automatic toy. The device is designed in such a way that the wandering spot is always directed towards the floor. A person may get tired, the hand will twitch and direct the beam in a dangerous direction. An automatic toy has no such disadvantages.
Be sure to read:
TOP 5 automatic feeders for cats 2020, comparison and review, advantages and disadvantages
Why cats love to play with laser pointers
Cats love to play with laser pointers
The most popular entertainment for a cat (or rather for the owner) is chasing a luminous point created by a laser pointer. While you, sitting on the sofa, move a laser pointer around the apartment, laughing at the same time, your cat heroically rushes after prey. Jumping over the ottoman, flying into the wall at full speed. She tries to catch the tiny glowing ball, but, alas, she will never make it.
So why do cats love to play with laser pointers?
Firstly, cats are natural hunters and are attracted to all moving objects.
“The laser simulates the movement of the prey, so it attracts the cat's attention and causes the cat to chase and pounce,” says animal behaviorist Dr. Stephanie Borns-Weil.
“Most often, kittens are attracted to a laser pointer, but adult cats are not averse to chasing prey.”
But it's just a moving point of light, insignificant and obviously not a mouse - do cats know this? It turns out that for us the beam from a laser pointer is just a beam of light, but the cat can see a different picture (see the structure of a cat's eye ).
To a cat, the red dot produced by laser pointers is probably not related to color. The fact is that a cat's eyes are not sensitive to the color red, so most likely they see a yellow or white stripe of color.
Second, their brains are connected to their eyes differently than humans. Which makes them more sensitive to the slightest movement. Even a slight trembling of your hand with a laser pointer for a cat is seen as fast running prey.
For this reason, cats love to chase laser pointers, seeing them as potential prey rather than a beam of light.
Are playing with laser pointers safe for cats?
Some veterinarians believe that playing with laser pointers is harmful to cats.
“This is fun for you, but mental trauma for the cat. Because they are constantly chasing what they cannot catch. This can lead to neurosis or isolation of the animal.”
But this is just a guess.
After all, cats are constantly chasing prey, wild cats are trying to catch birds, domestic cats are hunting for their toys. And they are not always able to catch up and “kill” their prey. What happens is that all cats sooner or later turn into closed, nervous animals.
So you can play with laser pointers, but in moderation. A few minutes of chasing the red dot will provide mental relief and stimulate your cat's muscles. And it will bring you moments of fun and laughter.
Meaaaaaaaaaaaaa Love cats.
Advantages and disadvantages of laser pointers
The advantages of playing with a laser beam are the indescribable delight that your pet experiences while chasing an elusive moving dot. The cat gets very tired, falls asleep quickly and does not disturb its owners at night. An animal that spends its entire life in an apartment receives physical exercise.
Muscles, ligaments, and the musculoskeletal system work and become stronger. Excess calories are burned, which protects your pet from obesity and chronic diseases.
To prevent the cat from getting tired of the game, it is alternated with others - a wind-up mouse or a fishing rod with a fish at the end. However, thoughtless passion for lasers harms not only the physical, but also the mental health of the cat.
The pet becomes overexcited and may get injured. The unattainability of the goal makes the pet angry; he realizes his inability to catch the will-o'-the-wisp. The cat gets a nervous breakdown and loses interest in games.
Is a laser pointer suitable for a cat?
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Is a laser pointer suitable for a cat?
How often do we play with our pets, particularly cats? It’s good when there are children in the house - this mischievous and restless audience will definitely not let the family pet get bored. What if the owners are adults? Let's face it: at best, a pet is played with when it is still a kitten. And then everyone plunges into the realm of routine. Meanwhile, scientists claim that most of the most common modern diseases come from a sedentary lifestyle. This also applies to cats. Let's see how an ordinary adult (and even more so an elderly) city cat spends its time. We are afraid that we are in an eternal half-asleep state, with short breaks for meals. Hence obesity and many associated diseases.
Therefore, you should still play with the family pet. Playing with a cat is like going to the gym; during play, the animal uses literally all muscle groups. It develops physically, which means that old age and decrepitude can be postponed for a long time. We are often asked what is the best game to play with a cat. In this regard, our most “advanced” readers recall a laser pointer. Is it suitable as a toy for furry pets? An article from British colleagues could not have come at a better time.
A few words about safety. Play with your cat using a laser pointer? Not a bad idea, but not all products are suitable for this purpose. It is better to purchase a toy pointer in a specialized store, and make sure once again that the product you choose is intended exclusively for cats. Don't accidentally buy a pointer with a high-power beam!
When you visit a pet store and come to the toy department, you will be offered laser pointers in a wide range - different shapes, sizes, with a light beam of different colors. Carefully study the accompanying label and consult with the seller. Remember: using a pointer with a high-power beam will inevitably lead to visual impairment (primarily for your pets and, especially, children). The recommended beam power is no more than 5 milliwatts.
Never point the laser beam into the eyes of people or pets, it is dangerous! Project the beam onto the most ordinary things and objects that are in your pet’s field of vision.
Priority is given to interactive games. What is pet play and what is it for? As noted above, it is necessary to maintain your pet's physical fitness; In addition, the game strengthens that very invisible connecting thread that exists between you. Your friendship and mutual understanding are growing stronger every day!
Therefore, actively involve yourself in the game process, make it exciting. Let the cat understand that you are playing with her, that you are nearby. The worst idea is to buy an expensive automatic toy that shoots rays in different directions. The cat will quickly become confused and leave the game. On the contrary, show active participation, move, encourage!
It should be especially emphasized that laser pointers are not suitable for all animals. It is better not to buy them for pets with behavioral problems, easily excitable, under stress, etc.
Know when to stop. Cats are very interesting animals, and being their owner is a pleasure. They themselves tell the owners what to do. As soon as you feel that the cat has lost interest in chasing the luminous point, do not interfere - she is just tired. Most likely, she will take on an independent appearance and do other things.
Remember that there is no natural "ending" to this game - that is, the "victim" will never be caught, and this hurts the cat's pride. She is a born hunter, and what a disappointment!
Therefore, if you decide to play this game with your pet, try to make it fast, sharp and exciting. Leave the game on time (both of you!). And at the end, treat the cat to something tasty - she deserves it.
Your most important task is to prevent your cat from experiencing a feeling of terrible disappointment from the game. Play can cause serious harm to the mental health of strong cats with developed hunting instincts. Why – we noted above.
Watch your cat carefully during the first play sessions. If she is noticeably irritated or nervous, you should not continue. Return to a bow on a string, a feather on a stick, a mouse and other “good old” toys.
Original post: Are Laser Pointers Good Toys For Cats? Source and photo:
Safety rules during the game
It is best for a cat owner to give up the laser pointer and replace it with alternative entertainment. Stores sell many different toys that will be more beneficial to the animal, such as wind-up mice, tracks with a small ball or artificial cheese, feathers on a string or stick, teaser fishing rods and squeakers.
Some cat lovers make their own using lifehacks and ideas from the Internet, or allow the animals to frolic with a natural rabbit or fox tail.
If the owner decides to use laser light in games, the entertainment process must be carried out in compliance with safety rules.
They are as follows:
- Do not shine the beam directly into your pet's eyes.
- Use only low-power lasers purchased in specialized stores.
- Do not use pointers with a power higher than 5 mW.
- Do not use professional laser levels.
- Choose a laser with green rather than red color. It's much safer.
- Do not direct the beam at reflective surfaces such as mirrors or glossy furniture, as even reflection from them can harm the animal’s eyes.
- Hang mosquito nets on the windows to protect your pet from falling out of the window.
- Do not play indoors where there are sharp objects, corners, or obstacles.
Games with a pointer: harmful or useful
Fun with laser pointers has both benefits and harm.
When spending time actively, the cat's muscles warm up, breathing strengthens, and all vital organs begin to work well. Catching a luminous point helps develop movement coordination and improve body balance.
Long running and jumping relieve stress and tension. Even the most aggressive animals calm down and subsequently rest or sleep for a long time, without interfering with the owners’ business.
Playing with light is especially suitable for indoor cats that lead a sedentary lifestyle and are obese. Active entertainment provokes weight loss. The prey that scurries across indoor walls and floors cannot be swallowed like any other commercial toy, so it is safe for the cat's digestive system.
