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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / November 2005Laser Pointers?
A couple of questions about laser pointers. My Samba loves to chase the red dot on my laser pointer; I typically let her chase it for 5 or 10 minutes a day during play time. However, I'd like some guidance on a couple of points. 1. Is it safe to use laser pointers with cats? I understand that it is actually a *crime* in some countries (like the UK) to point a laser pointer at a person and you can even do jail time for it. This was apparently prompted by real incidents where someone had their vision damaged or destroyed by someone else deliberately pointing a laser pointer at them. I'm very careful not to point my laser at Samba but she occasionally steps into the beam for a second or two before I move it away. I haven't seen any ill effects from this brief exposure but I'd like to be as safe as I possibly can. 2. Is anyone aware of a model of laser pointer that has good battery life? The pointer I got was only $10 at a pet store and it eats batteries faster than I would like. It also uses somewhat expensive batteries (three small watch batteries). If I could find a pointer that goes through batteries more slowly - or even a rechargeable one if there is such a thing - it would save me some money in the long run. But it is just a cat toy so I don't want to spend big money!  SignatureRhino As long as you don't focus it at the eye for a long period more than about 5 seconds No problems it is like use getting a bright flash I don't know what type of stores they have out there But I bought a business laser pointer from an office depot for $12 made by opcom I have had it for 3 years now and never changed the battery it takes 2 AA anything that uses multiple watch batteries will eat them up >A couple of questions about laser pointers. > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > would save me some money in the long run. But it is just a cat toy so I > don't want to spend big money! Excellent! I'm delighted to hear that the ones using AA batteries last much longer than the watch-battery type. I'm in Canada but we have Office Depot stores here so I'll see if I can find some Opcom pointers there. Rhino > As long as you don't focus it at the eye for a long period more than > about 5 seconds No problems it is like use getting a bright flash [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >> such a thing - it would save me some money in the long run. But it is >> just a cat toy so I don't want to spend big money! > 2. Is anyone aware of a model of laser pointer that has good battery life? > The pointer I got was only $10 at a pet store and it eats batteries faster > than I would like. My ex-beau gave me a critter pointer that uses AA batteries and seems to last. Just be careful where you aim. I'm not so much worried about getting my cat in the eye, but I have inadvertently "made" him run into things like door edges because I wasn't paying close attention or realising how totally into it he can get. I'm more careful now. SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.diaryland.com/ >> 2. Is anyone aware of a model of laser pointer that has good battery >> life? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > My ex-beau gave me a critter pointer that uses AA batteries and seems to > last. Excellent! I was afraid the AA battery pointers would be just as short-lived as the watch battery pointers but apparently I was wrong. > Just be careful where you aim. I'm not so much worried about getting my > cat in the eye, but I have inadvertently "made" him run into things like > door edges because I wasn't paying close attention or realising how > totally into it he can get. I'm more careful now. Samba's pretty alert that way but I'll watch out anyway. She gets *very* enthusiastic when she goes after that red dot :-) Rhino > 1. Is it safe to use laser pointers with cats? Yes. Let common sense prevail. Be sure they have plenty of run-off and crash space. They can at times be dangerously oblivious to their surroundings when intensely engaged. >I understand that it is > actually a *crime* in some countries (like the UK) to point a laser pointer > at a person and you can even do jail time for it. This was apparently > prompted by real incidents where someone had their vision damaged or > destroyed by someone else deliberately pointing a laser pointer at them. Seems to me that casual damage at the hands of another, deliberate or not, is quite unlikely. The degree of distraction would be enough to make one move away long before damage could occur. However if pinned down and exposed torture style.... I've never heard of anyone actually suffering damage from a laser exposure. If someone is dense enough to stare into the beam for the duration it would require to cause damage - they deserve it. Many sporting venues here have local rules against possesion of lasers on their property - especially local race tracks. Imagine the havoc caused if a driver of a 1300 lb, 850hp sprint car were distracted by a laser in close quarters competition. My own cats love a round of laser chase but I do have to watch for signs of overdoing it. Some cats - even when dangerously fatigued - will still pursue the little red dot. The 12 yr old girl from across the street has to be monitored carefully as she would keep them running till they dropped if permitted to. I've had to find new storage places for the laser when not in use though. My two red toms got quite adept at jumping and knocking the laser from the key rack hook I used to hang it on. And they are especially attuned to the sound of the keychain it hangs on being moved. Anytime I want to know where the cats are - just rattle the keychain a little. >> 1. Is it safe to use laser pointers with cats? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > when > intensely engaged. Yes, of course. Samba has had a near miss or two when she nearly crashed into the open glass doors of the storage comparment in my TV stand while chasing the laser. I try not to point the laser too close to the TV stand now. >>I understand that it is >> actually a *crime* in some countries (like the UK) to point a laser [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > sprint > car were distracted by a laser in close quarters competition. There was a CSI Miami episode last year where someone brought down a small private airplane (!) by shining a laser pointer into the pilot's eyes. I'm inclined to dismiss that as Hollywood nonsense but for all I know, it is based on a real-life case. I believe that at least one of the producers of that show are former forensics experts so it might be something they encountered in a real case or heard about from colleagues. But I digress.... :-) > My own cats love a round of laser chase but I do have to watch for signs > of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > monitored carefully as she would keep them running till they dropped if > permitted to. How do you know that a cat is approaching its limits? I'm pretty sure that Samba is sensible enough not to overdo it but it would be handy to have some warning signs that I could watch for.... Samba usually runs after the pointer very fast for the first 30 seconds or so, then she seems to realize that she has to pace herself and stops to watch it more carefully and wait for an ideal opportunity to catch it. > I've had to find new storage places for the laser when not in > use though. My two red toms got quite adept at jumping and knocking the > laser from the key rack hook I used to hang it on. And they are especially > attuned to the sound of the keychain it hangs on being moved. Anytime I > want > to know where the cats are - just rattle the keychain a little. I keep my laser in a drawer. (Sometimes, I even _close_ the drawer....). Bebop loves to fish in the drawer for toys and pull things out but Samba doesn't. Fortunately, Samba is the only one of the two who enjoys chasing the laser so Bebop never disturbs it in the drawer. But Samba clearly knows the laser when she hears it clinking on its keychain; she always goes to the same place then: behind the TV. I don't know why she waits there in particular, as opposed to some other place, but I'm sure she has her reasons. Honestly, I feel a little cruel showing her the laser beam sometimes. I know she'll never "capture" it. I think/hope that she knows that it's just a game and that I'm not actually tormenting her by showing her something she can't possibly catch. Still, I wish I were 100% sure that I'm not just frustrating her with it.... Rhino >>> 1. Is it safe to use laser pointers with cats? >> [quoted text clipped - 79 lines] >possibly catch. Still, I wish I were 100% sure that I'm not just frustrating >her with it.... My local Walgreens had a 2/$5 special on cheap laser pointers so I bought a couple for Bubba. It took him about 30 seconds to realize he wasn't actually gonna catch the dot. Now he'll watch it intently but can't be bothered to make a move to try to catch it... Claude The laser pointer is safe as long as it doesn't point at the cat's eyes. The suggestion that up to 5 seconds is OK is incorrect. It should NEVER be pointed at a cat's (or anyone's) eyes. My Tiger will chase it once or twice before he loses interest. Amber couldn't care less about it. ---MIKE--- >>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire >> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580') sorry that should have should have been half a moment .5 my mistake The laser pointer is safe as long as it doesn't point at the cat's eyes. The suggestion that up to 5 seconds is OK is incorrect. It should NEVER be pointed at a cat's (or anyone's) eyes. My Tiger will chase it once or twice before he loses interest. Amber couldn't care less about it. ---MIKE--- >>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire >> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580') I but my lasers at the local dollar store. They last about six months on the cheap little watch batts. One of my favorites is to have Reagan chase the red dot around in circles.
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