Using a laser cat toy is a common way people will get their cat moving. Cats may go wild chasing the red dot and, for some cat parents, it may seem like the only way to get their cat playing. Many people have concerns about the effects the mystical red dot may have on their cat so this topic is a bit controversial in the cat world. Let’s take an objective look to find out are laser pointers bad for cats or are you totally fine using them to get your cat playing.
Behavioral Effects Of Laser Pointers On Cats
If you’ve ever seen a cat playing with a laser, you’ve likely seen the cat:
- Paw or swat at the laser
- Follow it around the room
- Try to jump at it if it goes up a wall
- Stare intently at it if it’s not within view
Cats tend to have really strong reactions to lasers (with one study finding 54% of cat parents reported their cat enjoying the laser), but not all of them are interested in them. There is also a huge range of how intense the responses are with some cats reacting really strongly and others only being mildly interested (similar to how not all cats respond to catnip).
This may be helpful to get cats moving that need to lose weight (in addition to changing how you feed your cat) or getting a cat distracted while you do something else.
Long Term Effects Of Laser Pointers On Cats
Of course, many cat owners don’t use lasers with their cats. The same study that found that 54% of respondents report their cat enjoying the laser also found that many people who don’t use laser cat toys do so because of concerns about the effect on their cats.
Common concerns include cats not being able to catch the laser which can lead to frustration and even redirected aggression. While it may seem like a great way to engage a cat in play, laser should be used sparingly to start a play session before transitioning to a physical toy the cat can actually catch. In some cases, a food puzzles may also serve this purpose, but it’s less likely to fully satisfying the hunting needs of cats like interactive toys would.
Not satisfying the play need of your cat can create not only short term issues, but we sometimes see more complex abnormal behaviors in cats. In particular, concerns have been raised based on research suggesting cats may engage in abnormal repetitive behaviors if lasers are used for play. In particular, cats may fixate on reflections of light or other things they can never catch around the home rather than engaging in normal cat behaviors.
Cat Safety Risks Of Laser Pointers
Beyond behavioral effects on cats of laser toys, are lasers safe for cats from a medical perspective? After all, in the US, lasers pointers are regulated by the FDA to minimize risks to humans. We know that lasers can cause damage to human retinas so it’s not unreasonable that they may pose a risk to cats’ eyes.
The of damaging a cat’s eye can be minimized by not shining the laser pointer directly into their eye, but as you get a cat moving around wildly this may be challenging to completely avoid. It may happen totally by accident! If your cat gets too wild, they may risk over exerting themselves or doing something dangerous that leads to an injury (which is why cat proofing your home, including using furniture anchors to secure heavy furniture, is incredibly important).
Should You Use A Laser Pointer With Your Cat?
While some cats might enjoy playing with lasers and they can get cats moving around, there are some serious risks involved. Are laser pointers always bad for cats?
As with many things in life, the answer isn’t black and white. Lasers can be part of a rich, satisfying life for cats if used correctly. They shouldn’t be the only form of play that your cat engages in, but they can be an occasional tool.
Using A Laser Pointer For Play
Best practices for using a laser pointer with your cat:
- Use it to start play and quickly transition your cat to a physical toy they can catch. A wand toy is best for this as cats prefer toys that are moving.
- Stop use of the laser by pointing it at the toy and turning it off once your cat begins playing with the toy.
- Never point it at your cat’s eyes.
- Don’t use the laser for every play session.
- If your cat seems to only like the laser pointer, consider if the problem may be with how you’re trying to play with them or what you’re using to play. It may be that you need to try playing differently with your cat or use a different toy!
When A Laser Pointer Is A Really Bad Idea
There are, of course, a few situations where I wouldn’t recommend using a laser pointer to play with your cat at all. A few examples of situations where you should put the laser away:
- Cats with a history of redirected aggression to minimize the risk of the laser leading to frustration (frustration is one common cause of aggressive behavior in cats)
- Cats who become so activated by the laser that they seem unable to control themselves.
- If your cat develops any unusual fixations with light or other behaviors.
- During cat introductions, play can be a good tool to use as part of the introduction. Lasers are probably not the best way to get a cat playing during an introduction to another as you don’t want to wind up either cat too much or risk frustration.
In other words, laser pointers should be used very cautiously with cats if they are used at all. While they’re not always bad, there are serious risks. In most cases, you’re better off learning how to play with your cat. If you’d like some ideas, I made a video on playing with cats or you can pick up a copy of Play With Your Cat by Mikel Delgado for a comprehensive guide.
