Cats are naturally curious about a lot of things, ranging from paper bags to cardboard boxes, to the occasional mouse gadget or feathers tied to a string. Cats love to chase things around the house, a feline habit inherited from their wild ancestors who needed to hunt for survival or escape a predator. However, giving the cat a chase with a laser pointer can leave them frustrated, according to a study published in the journal Animals.
Laser light play does not allow cats to complete the hunting sequence. Cats simply cannot catch the prey. When the pointer is used as the sole toy, the cat never actually catches anything, so it becomes frustrated. The study found a correlation between laser pointers and abnormal repetitive behaviors in cats. The study used an online survey of a total of 618 participants and nearly half reported using laser pointers to play with their cats. Of those participants, the cat owners reported their cats becoming frustrated if they did not catch something by the end of play time.
Cat owners reported behavioral patterns associated with laser light play were chasing lights and shadows, staring obsessively at lights or reflections, fixating on a specific toy, and over-grooming.
The study results support concerns that laser light play may be associated with compulsive behaviors in cats, warranting further research.
Exercise caution when playing laser light games with cats or any other animal. The beam should not be directed at the eye.
Learn more:
Kogan LR, Grigg EK. Laser Light Pointers for Use in Companion Cat Play: Association with Guardian-Reported Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors. Animals. 2021 Aug;11(8):2178.
Tips for using lasers with pets and other animals. LaserPointerSafety.com [cited 2022 Jan 14]. Available from: https://www.laserpointersafety.com/tips-animals.html
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