Why Do Cats Love Laser Pointers?

Get it Grizz, Get it!!! 

“It’s the LASER!! LASER!!”

(This is how my husband taunts our cat when I pull the laser toy out of the drawer. All he has to do is say “LASER” and Grizzabella’s ears shoot backward, her eyes go wide, and she assumes the pounce position. She recognizes the tone in our voices when we shout that thrilling word of words “LASER”.

If you haven’t guessed, Grizzabella loooves chasing a laser light! Like most cats, this is an absolute thrill for her. She will run up and down the hallway, stairs, porch, and couches chasing that thing.

After a while of course, she will stop and stare, or I should say, stop and stalk. As the official laser pointer, that would be me the human, this can get a little daunting. Standing for minutes with my arm in the air and no kitty action going on can feel tedious.

After a few minutes of this, I stop and put the laser down and explain she has to chase if she wants me to hold it!

A few minutes go by and I try again. This time she’s learned her lesson and off she goes running wildly after the “LASER”!!

My husband and I get the biggest kick out of watching Grizz do this. She goes bonkers and absolutely loooves chasing this little red dot. This little toy and activity are not only good exercises for her, but it also calms her down when she is feeling anxious. Grizzabella is prone to anxiety, so whenever she is wandering around meowing and acting a little restless, I know that’s my cue to pull out the magic toy. It really helps!!

Do All Cats Like Laser Pointers?

Most definitely not! You may have already discovered this with your own cat. I first realized this when my parents bought a laser toy and tried to get their cat Isaac to chase it. Their hope was that Isaac would love it and shed a little extra weight in the process. Isaac loves to hunt and bring home mice and any other animal he can torture. So the laser seemed like an obvious win.

Nope! Isaac lazily stared at it and never once moved one of his six-toed paws for it. I guess he thought it looked pretty pathetic compared to mice and lizards.

In fact, I watched a video on Youtube where a man tried the laser light on wildcats to see if any of them would react.  All the big cats such as tigers, lions, and cougars were totally disinterested and bored with it. However, the only wildcats that responded and chased it was the small African wildcats and the Servals and Caracals–who are relatively small. Click on this link and watch the video here.  It’s really cute!!

Why Do Cats Love Chasing Lasers?

My first response to this question is their predatory instincts.  Stalk and pounce! Even if they never catch it, they don’t seem to mind. Cats thrive off of activities that stimulate the movement of prey. According to Dr. Stephanie Borns-Weil, an animal behavior specialist at the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, “It is certainly a play behavior in young cats–and maybe in older indoor cats as well. However, it may also be an aberrant expression of the predatory behavior that is, if you will, hijacked by the laser movement.”

Cats are wired to spend their days stalking food, and since indoor cats don’t get this stimulation, the laser really satisfies that primal urge. This also explains why Isaac the Lazy over at my parent’s house had zero interest. He’s one of those tough and rough outdoor kitties!!

Do Laser Pointer’s Hurt a Cat’s Eyes?

As far as I know, as long as the laser is not pointed directly into their eyes then it is safe. According to Dr. Jon Bradshaw, author of The Trainable Cat, their eyes work differently than ours. Bradshaw says that even though cats react to the red laser light, the color has nothing to do with their excited reaction. Apparently, cat eyes are not sensitive to the color red. Most Likely, they see white or yellow.

Secondly, according to Bradshaw, cat’s eyes connect to their brain differently than a human’s eyes, making the cat far more sensitive to movement. This results in immediate interest at the slightest jerk of our hand if we are holding the laser pointer.

Can the Laser Pointer Become Psychologically Taxing for Cats?

Some experts feel that chasing a laser over and over again leads to a neurotic cat. They feel the constant chasing after something they don’t catch can be harmful. However, Bradshaw does not agree with this theory. He simply states that cats chase their toys all the time and never kill them. This playful behavior has never caused any previous issues for cats.

I agree. In fact, I feel it makes my cat less neurotic. It simply helps her burn some angst and energy. After a good run around the house with the “LASER”, Grizzy will relax on the porch or couch where she will pass out on my lap!

Isn’t that right Grizzabella!

If you think this silly little red light will amuse your kitties, you can find them at most pet stores or online at Chewy.com.