As far as the laser pointer goes I've found over the years and through seven different fur-babies that there seem to be two classes of cats when it comes to this toy: those that tire of it relatively quickly when they realize they can't catch it and those that remain fascinated by the unending...
Hearing about your poor foster kitty breaks my heart. I truly hope you find him his forever home, every animal deserves that and it sounds like he, more than most, has earned it.
