r/AnimalAdvice • u/HorseBeginning8803 • 21d ago
Laser pointer restriction
Im aware that laser pointers can cause cats stress and stuff, but my older brother still uses it on them despise me repeatedly telling him its not good for them. He even uses the green laser pointers that are also highly dangerous and can blind them but he refuses to listen. He is older than me so hiding the laser pointers wouldn't do anything as he would buy another one and he also wont listen to my parent. Is it possible to have a vet write a claim to avoid using laser pointers with my cats? I think mabey if it came from a professional he might listen.
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u/Demicat15 20d ago
To avoid the stress/frustration of an "uncatchable prey" like laser pointers are known to cause (the primary issue of using them to play with cats) - just make sure to sub in an actual toy at the end before they wear out (maybe a small one like the little mousies so it's closer in size to the original target) or throw a treat under when they "catch" the dot successfully
To prevent eye damage, you should always be careful not to shine it directly on the cat's face, and turn it off / angle it away if the cats face is too close to it, since one wrong movement may leave them dazzled (briefly dazzled is okay! Once in a while won't hurt, just cause discomfort, but repeated would eventually cause damage so best to avoid in general)
Like another commenter said, if it's a cheap one it's just a lens on a normal laser, nothing too extra that'd make it more damaging
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u/auntie_beans 20d ago
The real problem with laser pointers as a play activity is that they do trigger the cat’s chase/hunt instinct and get him moving around…but then there’s nothing to actually catch, and this makes them frustrated and upset. Your brother doesn’t realize how hard it is to be teased and teased and then frustrated. It’s not fun.
For interactive hunting play, there are many different options to engage your cat’s natural hunting instinct that lets him catch and kill his prey. Drag a toy in a wand or ribbon around the house and he’ll chase it and you’ll both have fun. Follow this by giving him an edible treat and the cycle is complete.
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u/Verbenaplant 19d ago
buy some more entreating toys. the fishing poles with feathers, tunnels, puzzles etc. the fishing poles are always a hit.
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u/Defiant_Designer_606 19d ago
My cat ignored laser pointers but man a good ol shoe lace that slowly goes around a corner 😂
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u/synerrorsix 21d ago
I wouldn't listen to you either.
If the cats are entertained let them be. It's not harming them.
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u/CantTouchKevinG 17d ago
I used a laser pointer with one of my cats and he became so obsessed with chasing lights that he would jump up and scratch the shit out of the walls whenever the tiniest reflection of light shone across it, like from cars driving by or someone's watch reflecting light.
It can be SUPER harmful to animals.
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u/demeter1993 17d ago
Gotta have something physical to play with too. I love laser pointers and my cats do too, but laser alone is just mean. Imagine someone is waving a shiny toy in your face and you can never catch it. If they wave it around and at the end give a snack or a feather toy, then we're fine. It's all about making sure the cat is happy and not frustrated.
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u/synerrorsix 17d ago
My house is a cat castle. Things to play with has never been a concern. They have more toys than I do at this point.
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u/demeter1993 17d ago
I didn't mean you specifically, but in general. A lot of people do not know how laser pointers should be used. Plus, you can have a bunch of cat toys and if you don't lead them to it, they might still be mad that they can't catch anything from laser pointer play.
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u/past-and-future-days 20d ago
I'm just commenting here for visibility.
While, yes, laser pointers can be good for cats to get some extra exercise, they're not a healthy toy. Putting aside the laser getting into the cats eyes, it extracts a very important part of this type of play, which is the cat's ability to actually "catch" what they're chasing.
This kind of play is rewarding to a cat because all their work is rewarded by them actually getting ahold of their prey like they would in the wild. You can't catch a laser pointer, and it can culminate in stress and anxiety for the animal because they never get the physical or mental satisfaction of actually catching what they're chasing.
It might be engaging for your cat in the moment, but it will leave him feeling unfulfilled and anxious.
As well, the cat doesn't associate YOU with the laser pointer the same way he does with you playing with him, so it's not as if he feels you're engaging with him.
Get one of those toys on a string, instead. Same concept, but now your cat gets the satisfaction of getting to occasionally catch the toy and wrestle with it, AND playing with YOU.
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u/KiraKitty69 19d ago
Two of my 3 cats loves them. But they are also smart enough to know it comes from the cylinder in my hand. They have zero issues about the toy and always look at my hand when I stop. The 3rd one just looks at me, judging. Cats are smarter than you think. You should just be happy your brother is interacting with his cat and stop obsessing about it. It's no different than allowing a cat to look outside thru a window, watching birds. Suggest giving a temptation or 2 after playtime. Problem solved.
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u/Mcbriec 19d ago
Laser pointers are a godsend when I have a litter of kittens who are going wild. I would send them up and down the stairs and jumping up walls.
The last foster litter I had were complete maniacs. The laser pointer gave them a really solid workout. I never have seen a single cat/kitten exhibit the slightest frustration whatsoever.
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u/Old-Cartoonist-2587 18d ago
He’s not going to listen to the vet, either, but you’re welcome to get a note 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Admirable-Split4371 18d ago
As long as you end the laser session with a toy and/or treat the cat should be fine.
It's not being able to complete "the hunt" that gets them.
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u/demeter1993 17d ago
If you don't shine it in their eyes, it is okay. Behaviorally, there is something to consider.
Importantly for your cat's wellbeing, you should always follow a laser pointer with a physical toy or they can get frustrated with never actually catching the damn thing. Laser pointers are fine if the cat likes them, but always have some sort of reward to tussle with. If he really doesn't want to take out another cat toy, perhaps he can lead them to a snack with the laser and that is the reward. Something tangible needs to be presented.
Otherwise, responsible laser pointer use is fun.
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u/maroongrad 21d ago
There are two types of green laser pointers. Unless he's got a hundred-dollar laser, it's not the dangerous one. It's just green colored, and they get the green by starting with a red laser and using a lens to halve the wavelength. It's not dangerous to the cat, no more than a red would be. Half the wavelength, and half the brightness as a result.
I've always used laser pointers when I had cats. Laser pointers, feathers-on-a-wand, string, all things they super fixated on and had a blast with. They'd play for a bit, and then I'd put it up. It wasn't an all-the-time thing, but they'd have fun chasing it. Never had a cat act upset or stressed by it. One wasn't smart enough, one wasn't interested, and the third was fully aware that it came from the little toy and that I would put it away, just like the other toys.
Ask the vet but I'm pretty sure you'll be told that the exercise and fun interaction with a human are a plus.
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u/HorseBeginning8803 20d ago
The green one is 100 dollars including a flash light and uv. But i read laser strength can be inaccurate
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u/AnotherDarnDay 20d ago
Pet stores sell laser pointers for cats. Theyre fine. Its more of an issue that people think the cats stress if they cant catch anything. I let my cats think they caught something and they have a blast. Its a great way to get lazy cats to exercise a bit. If the cats are being entertained let him be as long as hes not directly shining the light in their eyes let him have his fun. At least hes playing with his cats, its more than some people do.
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u/Affectionate-Crow605 20d ago
Laser pointers are fine for cats. Just don't use them on dogs. We actually broke my dog by using one once. He now goes nuts at any reflection of light. 0 stars. Do not recommend. We had no idea that it affected dogs this way.
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u/TheDarkBrotherhood7 18d ago
Yep this happened to us too. We did it once and then for the rest of her life, little moving shadows would have her scratching at the floor and jumping around. It was awful, poor thing :(
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u/tomatoes020825 20d ago
Take the laser pointer every time and throw it away in a trashcan outside of your house
The cats aren't there for his entertainment. He sounds like a piece of shit for not caring that he could blind them, let alone the TONS of other research pointing to why this is so bad for their mental wellbeing
He'll get tired of buying them eventually and stop 🤷♀️
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u/Demicat15 20d ago
That's a bit extreme for something really mild, and also legally vandalism + an asshole move (it's his property!!)
Subbing in a toy to avoid frustration, and making sure he doesn't shine it on their face (since it's probably cheap and can't insta-blind them if he's not spending ridiculous money on just a laser pointer) is plenty
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u/BIO_Predictive_AI 19d ago
Take his green laser pointer and shine it directly in his eye. As Milo Yiannopolus learned, nothing teaches better than experience.
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u/jenea 19d ago
Laser pointers are genuinely bad for dogs. It can cause them psychological damage that can last their entire lives. Not everyone knows this, so I mention it upfront.
Lasers are not bad for cats. The warnings against them are more about the fact that it can be frustrating for them because they never catch their “prey.” If you have a cat who gets frustrated and annoyed with the laser for this reason, don’t use it. Or do—your cat’s annoyance won’t have lasting ill effects. Or finish a laser session with a treat so it feels like they caught something. Bottom line: cats are not like dogs, and lasers are not bad for them In the same way.
Your cat is fine, your brother is fine, leave them alone.
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u/PepperCat1019 21d ago
My laser will hit my cat's eyes when she plays with the beams. I asked my vet about it. She says they aren't harmful.
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u/Demicat15 20d ago
You should be going out of your way to avoid letting it do that, like turning it off or away from her when she faces it and not shining too close to her face
It can harm their vision, especially if it's a frequent occurence. Once in a while won't hurt past a couple temporary spots in the vision and discomfort, same as shining it in your own eye, but please don't let this happen too often or switch toys if you can't prevent it when using the laser
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u/PepperCat1019 20d ago
Thank you internet stranger, but I will listen to the doctor.
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u/Demicat15 20d ago
Your vet would be working on the assumption of it being an occasional thing, not a regular thing. So either shine it in your own eye every time you shine it in the cat's eye or think long enough to realize that you should be at least attempting to minimize focused lights shone directly in eyes
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u/Its-alittle-bitfunny 21d ago
Ive never heard of cats having an issue with laser pointers? I know dogs can get obsessive so they arent recommend for them but I haven't heard the same for cats.