We’ve all marvelled at the cat’s determination to catch that little red dot. It’s something few other toys can ignite in many of our feline friends. But are cats having as much fun as it seems?
There’s no doubt that laser pointers are up there as one of the best ways to encourage feline play, and the benefits of play are huge - I could write a whole article just on this. In a nutshell:
It’s exercise
Provides an opportunity for predatory behaviour - that may otherwise be directed at human feet or other cats
Provides mental stimulation and keeps them occupied
When owners are involved with play, it helps strengthen the owner / cat relationship
For some cats, play with lasers may be their only opportunity for owner initiated play. And this mental stimulation is important for their wellbeing and preventing behaviour problems, especially for those without access outside. Lasers are also super convenient for owners, generating a high level of play for minimal effort. Perfect for those without much time on their hands or those with limited mobility. Who doesn’t love a device that transforms their cat into a deadly huntress in seconds?
Lasers work so well because cats eyes are sensitive to fast, unpredictable movements, perfect when hunting prey animals. Of course, lasers fit the bill in this respect and grab their attention, engaging the predatory drive. Here’s where the problem arises - lasers don’t allow performance of the entire predatory sequence of behaviours. This sequence usually follows the same pattern of search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch/manipulate and consume/bite and whereas lasers are excellent for the search, stalk, chase and pounce part, something more physical is needed for catching and biting, i.e. another toy or something to eat.
Without this, the cat is left in a state of high arousal - hugely motivated to catch this elusive little spot, just to find nothing beneath her paws after a perfectly timed pounce. Cue frustration, along with over-stimulation and the cat finds itself in a very negative emotional state, potentially leading to behavioural changes. Research is yet to be conducted in this area however anecdotally - cats can redirect this pent up energy on to owners or other cats, presenting as “unpredictable aggression”. They can become hyper vigilant in their search for the spot that suddenly disappears without a trace - potentially inducing anxiety. Of course anxiety is associated with a whole host of other behaviour problems including urine spraying, excessive grooming, excessive vocalisation and more.
All things considered, lasers need to be used with the cat’s behavioural health in mind and used in conjunction with different toys that channel the catching and biting aspects of hunting. Lasers can initiate a play session to engage the benefits discussed above, and can then be swapped out for other more physical toys or food treats. These will provide an appropriate opportunity to complete the hunting sequence, relieving that frustration and leaving the cat more emotionally stable.
As with all areas of cat behaviour, every cat is different. Some may be more frustrated by lasers than others. It’s about understanding the cat as a species and as an individual and allowing this to determine the best way to keep happy and healthy cats.
