Cats will chase almost any bright spot... a flashlight... a reflection from something shiny... even a spot of sunbeam coming through curtains. It's natural. The laser just heightens that response.
No, I don't think that playing with a laser will hurt a cat as long as you don't get it in his eyes.
The reason I say "habituated" instead of "addicted" is because I think the cat thinks it's really, really fun to chase the red spot.
When I was at college, many years ago, I had a helium-neon laser that was salvaged from an old laser copier. It was about 12 inches long, 2 inches in diameter and it got its power from a power supply that plugged into the wall. It was so powerful that you could see the spot from, literally, a mile away. Yes! I measured the distance!
I could sit by the window of my third-floor apartment and shine it across the street and cats would chase it from a block away! They would seemingly appear from nowhere just to chase the red spot!
With that in mind, I don't think a tiny, little diode laser that runs on watch batteries will do any harm.
If your cat lives indoors 100% of the time like Casper does, the exercise he gets chasing the red spot will be good for him.
However, if your cat does get too riled up it might be wise to limit his playtime with the laser.
Just keep his playtime down to ten or fifteen minutes at a time and maybe one or two sessions per week.
No, I don't think that playing with a laser will hurt a cat as long as you don't get it in his eyes.
The reason I say "habituated" instead of "addicted" is because I think the cat thinks it's really, really fun to chase the red spot.
When I was at college, many years ago, I had a helium-neon laser that was salvaged from an old laser copier. It was about 12 inches long, 2 inches in diameter and it got its power from a power supply that plugged into the wall. It was so powerful that you could see the spot from, literally, a mile away. Yes! I measured the distance!
I could sit by the window of my third-floor apartment and shine it across the street and cats would chase it from a block away! They would seemingly appear from nowhere just to chase the red spot!
With that in mind, I don't think a tiny, little diode laser that runs on watch batteries will do any harm.
If your cat lives indoors 100% of the time like Casper does, the exercise he gets chasing the red spot will be good for him.
However, if your cat does get too riled up it might be wise to limit his playtime with the laser.
Just keep his playtime down to ten or fifteen minutes at a time and maybe one or two sessions per week.