Are Laser Pointers Good or Bad for Cats?

Most cats like chasing after red dots, mainly referred to as laser pointers, as one of their favorite pastimes. So, is there any reason behind this habit? Are laser pointer projections good or bad for cats? There’re tons of reasons why cats go while for laser pointers. And it becomes apparent that when the laser is used correctly, lasers can indeed be of great benefit for your cat.

Why Do Cats Chase Lasers?

As you may know, cats are natural predators and usually possess a very high affinity for preying – the instinctual urge to catch bugs, birds, and rodents. It is the same reason cats often stare at tiny bugs moving on the ground before they can grab them or even look perplexedly to birds at their bird feeding chamber. It’s for the same reason also why your pretty outdoor cat will often come with presents for you like lizards, birds, or even little bunnies to drop on your doormat.

Lasers are naturally stimulating to cats due to what they mean: quick-moving prey. Just because a cat does not have to struggle for its food does not insinuate that it’s not ready for the job. While the laser dot jumps from one point to the other in the room, your cat will interpret that it’s a small bug trying to escape for its life. In that regard, particular natural feline behaviors show up, more so the innate urge to hunt, leap and kill the prey. And even if it's just a projection has no impact on the situation since the cat operates on an auto-pilot and not on its intellect.

Are Lasers Bad for Cats?

At one point, you’ve heard people talk about how bad laser pointers are to cats. The truth of the matter is that you need to ensure that you’re using a laser pointer projection rightly that ensure it achieves the cat’s instinct and doesn’t cause any stress on them. Here are some key guidelines for using a laser safely with your cat:

How Can Laser Pointers Benefit Cats?

Laser pointers are so beneficial for your cat. You can use them to stimulate your cat's mind and help them lose weight. It is also well known to help cats play together better to build more confidence. You will mostly find housecats just bored, obese, and very aggressive towards other cats and human beings. This is because these cats usually live more of a sedentary lifestyle. Most pets experience the problem of obesity because they could be overeating. Therefore, you will need frequent exercise and the right diet to maintain a proper weight. Just like human beings, cats can as well gain unnecessary weight.

As a wise pet parent, all you can do is use their natural prey drive to maintain good mental and physical health. You can get your cat moving with only a laser pointer and a proper diet. Additionally, you can use the laser pointer to keep your cats well bonded. This happens whenever you want to introduce two new cats. These tools are helpful by creating distractions each time the cats are in the same room. You can get a laser pointer for each cat for convenient operations. It allows you to move lights in opposite directions. You can then use the same light whenever the cats have known each other well.

How to Use a Laser Pointer With Your Cat

Different cats have different needs; therefore, you will need to pay much attention to their needs before starting using the laser pointer. You can start slowly until your cat is used to it. This is how you can use the laser pointer.

All in all, different cats may have a varied prey drive. Here, you will find that most cats will be chasing the laser pointer at a much higher pace for some minutes. Therefore, some may need more encouragement compared to others. If you have a cat that loses interest faster, it is high time to use a laser pointer together with catnip to excite them more. Since they're different types of laser pointers in the market, you can opt for an automated one to engage your cat even when you are not around.

What If My Cat Doesn’t Like Laser Pointers?

Most cats may not like laser pointers; therefore, they may not be conversant with playing as they chase the light spot. We’ve other several fun-making electronic toys to keep your cat busy, for instance, a remote-controlled mouse. Moreover, your cat may enjoy teasing toys or rather chase after things you throw in the air. You have to look for and try various toys to find one suitable for your cat. You should not give up trying the toy best for your cat as there are several toys available at affordable prices.