• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered by Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Dog Training
  • Get Rover
    • Dog Boarding
    • Pet Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • House Sitting
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Are Laser Pointers Bad for Cats? Experts on Safety, Ethics, and Kitty Playtime

Share125Pin It0
grey kitten stalking red laser dot, facing camera
Evgeny Zhigalov via iStock

Are Laser Pointers Bad for Cats? Experts on Safety, Ethics, and Kitty Playtime

For Cat People
By Zibby Wilder

Share125Tweet0Pin It0
  • This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
  • 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. Can something that seems so fun actually be bad for your cat? We asked the experts.

Why Do Cats Like Lasers So Much?

Cats have great eyesight and strong prey drives. Lasers 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.

Laser pointer for cats

The popular Litterbox.com laser represents the classic laser format.

Since the 1990s, when cheap, low-powered handheld lasers became ubiquitous for presentations and cat entertainment alike, the pet market has exploded with options.

There are still traditional handheld laser pointers, though they’re typically now rechargeable via USB cord instead of battery-powered. They also often come with some modest bells and whistles, like color or pattern options, plus flashlights or even blacklights, like the popular Litterbox.com laser pen.

cat laser toy

The PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser Toy runs automatic light patterns to entertain your cat.

Then there are the programmable or automatic lasers, which will run a pre-programmed laser show to entertain a cat. Some have slow-to-fast settings, some create random patterns, and still others offer multiple lasers to play with at the same time. Most automatic laser toys have a timed shut-off to avoid overstimulating a cat.

Finally, there are wand and stick laser toys, which marry a laser pointer with a traditional wand teaser toy with attractive feathers, strips of leather, and ribbon. Some cat parents prefer these, since they give a cat both an elusive light to chase and a more rewarding object they can sink their claws into and catch.

Laser wands like the Ethical Pet Dolphin pack maximum distraction power, though they can be a little unwieldy for human operators.

cat laser toy

Ethical Pet’s Dolphin Laser Wand offers several toys in one multicolored package.

For more cat laser toys, see The 12 Best Cat Laser Toys.

What the Experts Say About Cat Laser Toys

The vast majority of experts do not think laser pointers are bad for cats.

Melissa M. Brock, a board-certified veterinarian with Pango Pets in Madison, Wisconsin, explains. “Cats are predators, they need exercise, and they’re curious about their environment and looking for something to do. Laser toys help fulfill all three of these needs at once!”

Brock adds, “Using this tool allows owners to interact with their pets in new ways and helps them bond more quickly than they would otherwise.”

Are there ways that laser pointers could be bad for cats? The experts all agreed on three areas of concern: safety (for humans and cats), frustration, and potential for aggression.

Safely Playing With Cat Laser Toys

Safety issues that cat parents must keep in mind include proper handling of the laser itself and environmental awareness so that your cat doesn’t get hurt while, er, laser-focused, not to mention protecting any precious objects in your home.

“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 into the pupil and focuses on the retina.”

A beautiful calico cat staring at a red dot from a laser pointer

JosephJacobs via iStock

These safety concerns are echoed by Cutler, who adds, “When cats are playing with laser pointers, they will typically do so until the person ends the game. A concern with the use of lasers for play is you could cause your cat to exercise more than they should with very few breaks.” If your cat is panting, it’s probably time to put the laser away.

To keep laser pointers safe for cats, humans, and household items, all of our experts recommend being aware of the environment in which you are playing. You can ensure your cat’s safety by only pointing 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.

A final note regarding safety: Never use a cat laser toy outdoors or point it out a window, at people, or at cars or planes. Because cat lasers are indistinguishable from laser sights on guns or more powerful lasers that can cause eye damage, even from long distances, many places have banned the public use of lasers of any kind.

Cat Laser Toys and Frustration

“Laser toys are often used to provide mental stimulation and exercise to cats,” says Cutler. “While they do often cause cats to run around, allowing them to express chasing behavior and get exercise, they do not allow them to physically catch their moving ‘prey.’ This could quickly lead to frustration in your cat, as they never have the chance to be successful in their hunting efforts.”

Cat playing with laser pointer

ramustagram via iStock

To balance exercise and play with actual feelings of accomplishment, all of our experts stress the importance of giving your cat something to actually catch while playing with a laser toy. “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 points out.

Cat Laser Toys and Aggression

“The frustration of chasing the laser repeatedly without being able to catch anything can lead to problems,” Cutler adds. “In some cats, if their arousal is really high when the game is ended, they could potentially chase after a person or other animal in the house, making them appear aggressive.”

This type of behavior is likely less actual aggression than it is overstimulation, and experts note it can be prevented by ensuring you have toys on hand for your cat to actually catch. This fulfills that prey drive instinct and also redirects cats toward an appropriate outlet for their considerable energy. It also gives them a break from the pursuit, which can quiet all those “chase” neurons that lasers fire up.

Final Verdict

It seems laser pointers are, in fact, not bad for cats—the benefits, including physical and mental stimulation, far outweigh any drawbacks. But there are some good safety practices to keep in mind when using them.

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.

How We Chose

The cat laser toys featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including Rover’s Cat People Panel. We prioritized value, ease of use, and interactivity. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

  • 11 Best Cat Laser Toys: Your Kitty’s Favorite Workout
  • Chasing Down the Best Kitten Toys for Your Little Beastie
  • Banish Boredom With the Best Cat Toys for Indoor Cats

 

 

Share125Tweet0Pin It0
Avatar photo

Zibby Wilder

Zibby Wilder is a writer specializing in food, wine, travel/tourism, personalities and histories of place. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

sidebar

Avatar photo
By Zibby Wilder

Share This Article

Share125Tweet0Pin It0

Popular Posts

  • 3 Frozen Dog Treats You Can Make in Less Than an Hour [Recipe]
  • 5 Reasons Dogs Lick and Chew Their Paws — And How to Help
  • The ‘Catluminati’ Magically Makes Friends With Every Cat He Meets
  • Ice Licks Keep Your Dog Cool and Happy All Summer Long [Recipe]
  • What to Do if Your Dog Is Stung by a Bee
  • What You Need to Know to Prevent Heatstroke in Dogs
  • Two-Ingredient Watermelon Ice Cream Is an Easy Summer Treat for Your Dog [Recipe]
  • 4 Blended Summer Slushies to Share With Your Dog [Recipe]
  • Peggy the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Molly the Magpie Make the Cutest, Unlikely BFFs
  • Esther the Wonder Pig and Her Dog Brother Phil Are Besties for Life
Advertisement
Advertisement
More from The Dog People
Cat playing on cat tree in sunny room

Do Cats Need Cat Trees? What the Science Tells Us About Climbing and Kitties

Cat emerges from transparent backpack in fall park

Are Cat Backpacks Safe? Everything To Know About the Latest Backpack Carriers for Cats

Cat eats from automatic feeder

Are Automatic Feeders Bad for Cats? The Pros and Cons, According to the Experts

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy

Need Help?

  • Help Center
  • Join the Team
Advertisement
Your privacy choices
© 2023 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.
"Mmmm... cookies!"

While slightly less delicious than physical cookies, digital cookies help us enhance and personalize your ads and experience, analyze website traffic, and more.