Are Cat Lasers Cruel – Everything You Should Know!

It is always great to spend quality time playing with your cat. Loving cat owners often seek exciting, new toys for their feline friends. When doing so, they may have asked themselves, are cat lasers cruel?

Cat lasers can be cruel if used as the sole toy for your cat to play with. Lasers can frustrate cats and be harmful to your cat’s vision if not used properly. Cat lasers incorporated with physical objects can be a helpful and practical play toy.

In this article, we will be answering whether cats can become crazy or depressed from the use of laser pointers. We will also look at laser pointer safety and why some people believe you shouldn’t use laser pointers with cats. 

Do Lasers Make Cats Depressed

Lasers can make cats depressed if the playtime is not integrated with a physical reward or catch.

Cats are natural predators that, in the wild, hunt to survive. McGregor et al. (2015) conducted a study that found that feral domesticated cats have a hunting success rate of 32%. 

Indoor domesticated cats have retained the hunting instinct, so they must be rewarded with success during their playtime, a hunting simulation. 

While lasers are a fun cardio activity for cats, they will become disheartened if you abruptly turn off the laser to finish the play session without any prey ‘caught.’ 

One way to stop your cat from becoming depressed after laser play is to mix laser play with a physical toy. You could guide your cat towards a toy with the laser, so they have something pounce on and catch at the end of playtime. Alternatively, you can point the laser at a toy, so it appears that it is the toy that is moving by jiggling the toy simultaneously. 

Do Laser Pointers Make Cats Crazy

Some cats get tremendously excited and exhibit ‘crazy’ behavior when playing with a laser. However, sometimes cats can become frustrated, aggressive, and over-stimulated, some describe as ‘crazy’ behavior. 

Cats see the laser in a laser pointer in a different way to us because we have different eye physiology. Retinas are made of cones and rods. Cones assist with color detection, and rods support limited visibility vision, such as low light.

Cats have more rods in their eyes; humans have more cones. This is why cats are described as ‘color’ blind yet have enhanced vision at night.

The additional rods in the cat’s eyes also make the laser visually more attractive and prey-like because cats pick up minuscule movements that we cannot detect. Cats see the tiny laser dot as being alive, a bit like a house gecko or spider. 

So, cats see a laser dot differently from us, so some cats become very excited or ‘crazy.’

Are Lasers Frustrating For Cats

If a laser pointer is the sole toy used during playtime, it is frustrating for cats. 

This frustration can lead to destructive behavior such as aggression towards you or other pets in the household, clawing, and biting furniture. The frustration can also be turned onto the cat themself with excessive grooming or fierce self-biting having been observed. 

Playtime is essential for cats, but more so for indoor cats. Unless cats have mental stimulation, they can become very bored and frustrated. Indoor cats also do not get a lot of exercise, so playtime is vital to raise the cardio rate and work out. 

Playtime is also an opportunity for you to bond with your cat. If you have a new cat, it will help you to build a relationship. Equally, if your cat is shy, it can help them come out of their shell and feel more comfortable with you. To achieve this, you need to make sure that playtime, with or without lasers, is rewarding and not frustrating.

Hunting, stalking and pouncing all release neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Dopamine is thought to contribute to feelings of pleasure. For a cat, hunting is a pleasurable experience, and they enjoy the thrill of the chase, but also the reward of the ‘kill.’ Remember, cats are predators in the animal world. So, if you are playing with them, you need to let them ‘win’ sometimes to avoid frustration building up.

Why Doesn’t My Cat Chase A Laser Pointer

Your cat may not chase a laser pointer because it is lazy, tired, or unwell. It could even be that your cat is old and just not interested in anything but their next nap or meal.

Another reason that your cat is not interested in the laser is that they have realized it is not prey, and they will never be able to complete the ‘game’ or ‘kill.’ If that is the case, you need to take a break from using the laser. When you re-introduce the laser, do so with an accompanying toy so your cat can get fulfillment from the chase.

If you have a younger cat in the house, with a senior cat who is no longer interested in play, the younger cat could ‘learn’ not to be interested in a laser pointer from the senior cat.

If this is the case for you, you can find other toys to stimulate your cat into playfulness. Remember never to force anything onto your cat; building and maintaining a strong, loving bond with your cat requires patience and respect. 

Respect your cat’s boundaries; if they are not interested in something, put it away and try something else. You can try the laser toy another time.

How Do I Get My Cat Interested In Laser Pointer

You can get your cat interested in a laser pointer by incorporating rewards or treats into the playtime. You can also combine laser play with a physical toy so that your cat has a target or a goal; this makes success achievable and the game rewarding. 

Laser pointers only utilize a cat’s sight. There is no stimulus for a cat’s other senses – sound, smell, touch, or even taste. To encourage your cat to play with the laser pointer, you may need to add sound cues or a physical object, so your cat feels encouraged to play.

Are There Safe Laser Pointers For Cats

Laser pointers with a red laser and less than five milliwatts power output are safer ones for use with cats. 

The most significant risk when using laser pointers is the damage that can be inflicted on the eyes. Cat and human eyes are vulnerable and can be damaged quickly if a laser is shone directly onto the retina.

Laser pointers that exceed five milliwatts power output can cause instant and lasting damage; the blink reflex is not strong enough to protect the eye. 

In July 2009, audience members of a laser show at a festival in Belgium received a direct ‘hit’ in the eye from a laser. They sustained long-term damage to their eyes, and their vision was permanently affected. 

Whenever you use a laser pointer, always shine it on the ground, not on your cat. Your cat will be following the dot in theory, but you cannot guarantee that they will not look up towards you, so you should always be very mindful and careful with how you handle the laser pointer. 

Red lasers are less powerful than green or blue lasers, which, even with a low power output, can still cause damage. Green and blue lasers have a higher beam wavelength, which requires more energy.

More energy means that the blue or green laser can cause more damage than a red laser. If you intend to purchase a laser pointer toy for your cat, ensure it is a red laser with less than five milliwatts power output and comes from a reputable supplier.

Opting for a cheap laser pointer could lead to higher veterinarian costs further down the road.

Can Some Cats Not See Lasers

Some cats cannot see lasers. If your cat has eye problems, that may affect its ability to see a laser. 

As cats age, some of their senses begin to recede. If you have a senior cat and it does not react to a laser, it could be that their vision is beginning to fail. It could also be that they are not interested in playing with a laser!

Due to the rods in cats’ eyes, scientists thought cats do not detect the red color of a red laser. It is more likely to be a yellow or white color that cats see.

Cats can discern a green laser better than a red one. However, green lasers have more safety risks than red ones due to the increased beam wavelength.

Why You Shouldn’t Use A Laser Pointer With Cats

Some people feel laser pointers should not be used with cats because of the risk of damage if the laser is shone in cats’ eyes. Additionally, cats could injure themselves as they dash after a laser in the home. 

If a laser pointer is shone into a cat’s eyes, it can cause severe and lasting damage. Unless you can be 100% sure that you will not accidentally flash the laser towards your cat’s face and eyes, it may be best not to use a laser to play with your cat.

Should you still choose to use a laser pointer for playtime, make sure that it is stored well away from the kitty. If your cat accesses the pointer and somehow switches it on, they could hurt their own eyes. 

Another risk is that cats may bump into furniture or a wall if they are focused on chasing the dot and not conscious of their surroundings.

This can be exacerbated if you have smooth tiles or a hardwood floor at home. Your cat could seriously hurt themselves if they are excitedly chasing the dot across a slippery surface. They are unable to put the ‘brakes’ on and could collide with a hard surface. 

Cat Laser Alternatives 

There are several alternatives to a laser pointer that will still stimulate your cat mentally and physically.

For those who cannot move freely and want a laser because of the ease it brings at playtime, consider using a flashlight. The beam of the flashlight can still be a stimulant for your cat without the risk to the eyes.

Ping pong balls or balls with small bells are good toys for cats to play with. It is great exercise for your cat to chase a ball.

Fishing rod toys that bounce mimic prey and are great to stimulate the hunter instinct. They also involve you, helping the bonding process with your cat.

Wind-up or clockwork toys are a good stimulus for cats as they can imitate the way prey moves. 

Things To Consider 

Laser pointers are a fun cardio activity for your cat, but to avoid accidents or injury, create a safe play space for you and your cat that is free from breakable objects like glass.

We all know how cats seem to knock things over. It is no different if your cat is chasing a laser beam; if anything, the risk increases as they will not be focusing on their surroundings. 

The Anti-Cruelty Society suggests that the average cat needs 30 minutes of playtime a day, nearly double that for kittens. Furthermore, The Anti-Cruelty Society suggests that half of that playtime should be with the cat’s owner to strengthen the connection between them both.

Play is essential for kittens as it is when they learn how to hunt. They also learn how to problem-solve and practice their hunting prowess.

For our domesticated cats, especially those confined to the indoors, playtime continues to be necessary, stimulating physical and mental well-being. Whether you use laser pointers or not, spending quality time through play will build and strengthen your relationship with your cat. 

Rotate your cat’s toy collection to keep them engaged and interested. If they play with the same thing simultaneously, cats can lose interest and become bored. If you have various toys, it will always be a fun playtime for you and your cat. 

If your cat exhibits withdrawn or unusual behavior after playing with a laser, stop using it. Laser pointers used sensibly and combined with another toy are not cruel. However, if it is the sole toy used, it is a tease to a cat and can be deemed cruel.