Are Laser Pointers Bad for Cats?

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Cat laser toys are entertaining (for you and your cat), easy to use, and affordable—a combination that makes them wildly popular. But in recent years, there has been discussion about the safety and ethics of laser toys.

The most frequently cited concerns are 1) safety, since some kinds of amplified light can be damaging to the eyes, and 2) the emotional ethics of giving your cat something to chase that they can never catch.

Experts say that in most situations, the benefits of laser toys far outweigh the drawbacks. But there are some good safety practices to keep in mind when using them. Here’s what to know.

Why Do Cats Like Lasers So Much?

Cats have great eyesight and strong prey drives. Laser toys stimulate both of these, which can make for intense play interactions, no matter the age, size, or disposition of your cat.

“Cats are highly motivated to chase small moving objects, so lasers do provide that opportunity,” says Janet Cutler, Ph.D., certified cat behaviorist at Cat World. “Lasers tend to move around with slight vibration, causing them to move like a small animal, insect, or other prey they might chase would behave.”

Because these lights are basically irresistible to cats, they can’t help but chase them.

Benefits of Cat Laser Toys

According to Melissa M. Brock, a board-certified veterinarian with Pango Pets, laser toys offer a host of benefits, including:

• Giving cats opportunities to exercise and channel natural instincts like stalking and chasing
• Providing mental stimulation and curiosity about the environment
• Busting boredom by giving cats something exciting to do
• Creating new ways for pet parents to interact and play with their cats, helping to grow their bond

Signs Laser Pointers Are Bad for Your Cat

That said, laser pointers can be bad for cats when used incorrectly. Here are a few potential downsides:

• Frustration. Cutler notes that while lasers provide the opportunity to chase, they don’t allow the cat to physically catch them. “This could quickly lead to frustration in your cat, as they never have the chance to be successful in their hunting efforts,” she says.
• Overstimulation. The frustration of not being able to catch anything is also known as laser pointer syndrome. It can lead to high arousal, says Cutler, potentially causing the cat to display aggressive behavior, such as chasing people and animals around the house.
• Overexercise. “When cats are playing with laser pointers, they will typically do so until the person ends the game,” adds Cutler. “A concern with the use of lasers for play is that you could cause your cat to exercise more than they should with very few breaks.”

How To Use a Laser Pointer

To avoid any harm from using laser pointers, our experts advise the following:

• Give your cat something to actually catch. “This could be done by pointing the laser on a toy that could be moved, or removing the laser and tossing a small toy near them, or moving around a feather wand or other interactive toy,” Cutler says.
• Take breaks. Once your cat finally catches the toy, give them plenty of time to interact with it before moving the laser again.
• Keep play sessions short. To prevent overstimulation and overexercise, limit your playtime with lasers to 5 or 10 minutes. You can also give your cat a puzzle toy or lick mat afterward to help them decompress.

Tips for Cat Laser Toy Safety

Properly handling the laser itself also helps prevent your cat (or anyone else) from getting hurt while they’re, er, laser-focused. Not to mention, it can help protect any precious objects in your home.

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when using a laser toy:

• Point the laser away from people. “The most important thing is to always keep the laser toy pointed away from your eyes and other people’s eyes at all times, even when it’s off,” says Brock. “Never leave a child unattended with a laser toy or allow them to play with one without supervision because even low-powered lasers can cause eye damage if the beam enters the pupil and focuses on the retina.”
• Only point the laser at safe spots in your home. “You want to ensure there isn’t anything your cat could accidentally run into or hurt themselves on when playing,” Cutler adds.
• Never use a cat laser toy outdoors or point it out a window at cars or planes. Cat lasers are indistinguishable from laser sights on guns and could cause panic. Powerful lasers can even cause eye damage, even from long distances, and many places have banned the public use of lasers of any kind.

Alternatives to Laser Pointers

If your cat gets too frustrated when playing with a laser pointer, here are a few alternative toys and activities that provide mental and physical stimulation.

• Wand toys for cats offer a similar “hunt and catch” experience as laser pointers. Plus, they come in all types of shapes and sizes to keep things interesting.
• Hide-and-seek creates a fun cat-and-mouse game where your cat has to hunt you out. You can also turn it into a game of chase where they zoom around trying to catch you.
• Hiding your hands or feet under a blanket and moving them around for your cat can create some silly, pouncy fun.
• Scattering treats around the house will work their nose and brain as they sniff and hunt them down.
• Electronic cat toys can keep your cat entertained with solo play when you’re busy and are especially effective for kitties with lots of energy or older felines who need a bit more encouragement to get up and moving.

Final Verdict

In general, experts say that laser pointers aren’t bad for cats. The benefits, including physical and mental stimulation, are significantly greater than the drawbacks. But it’s still a good idea to keep these safety practices in mind.

When playing with cat laser toys, always:

• Make sure the area is safe for play
• Ensure children are supervised while handling lasers
• Keep an eye on how much play is too much
• Make sure there are toys on hand that your cat can actually catch when play is over

If you can’t commit to monitoring play or have a house full of precious breakables, cat laser toys might not be for you. Lasers are so stimulating and irresistible to cats that they can be unpredictable during play—even the least active cats might display bursts of speed or undiscovered acrobatic abilities. The great news is that cats love to play and there are many non-laser options out there to choose from.