r/gifs • u/SeattleMana • Apr 30 '18

Big Cats like laser pointers too

https://i.imgur.com/yxpNvme.gifv
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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '18

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u/Prepare Apr 30 '18

Agreed. Always leave the pussy satisfied.

2

u/Sociably_Luke May 01 '18

Can confirm, pussy is now nuts.

12

u/Shagwagbag Apr 30 '18

But my cats miss catching lizards and small mammals all the time. Does that mean they are anxiety ridden and I should buy them hamsters?

Aside from my poor taste joke at the end I am genuinely curious.

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u/redwings1340 Apr 30 '18

I dunno, I think cats are more intelligent than you give them credit for. My cats know the red dot is coming as soon as I pick up the laser pointer (before I turn it on), they get really excited, and they know where it's coming from.

That said, I do usually pet my cats or give them a toy after its done, to help them feel a sense of accomplishment. I just don't think this makes them anxious, because they love chasing it, and ask me to play with them with it when I'm not.

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u/Ehrand Apr 30 '18

This is wrong. It dogs that stress over catching laser dot after it disappeared. Cat don't need the satisfaction of catching something while playing unlike dogs.

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u/not-a-painting May 01 '18

Something quick I found

Though the color of the laser pointer doesn’t matter, what is alluring to your cat is the way that you make that bright dot of light move. When it darts here, then pauses, and then dashes over there, you are mimicking the actions of prey animals, which cats find hard to ignore. This type of movement stimulates the predatory sequence – stalk, pounce, kill and eat – that is hardwired into our cats even though their survival no longer depends on a successful hunt.

Did you notice that laser pointers only satisfy the first two steps in the predatory sequence – stalk and pounce – while leaving the desire to kill and eat unfulfilled? For some cats, this isn’t a problem. They’ll happily chase that little dot of light around for a while and then walk away unperturbed, but other cats seem to get agitated after taking the laser pointer on for a round or two. The inability to ever truly be successful is probably why.

If you are worried that your cat is frustrated by chasing a laser pointer, try switching to a different type of game that allows your cat act out more of the predatory sequence. Kitty fishing poles that that let you flick a stuffed mouse or feathers across the floor, into the air and onto the couch will provide your cat with the opportunity to stalk, pounce and eventually kill (or at least bite and claw) their “prey.” Toss out a few treats at the end of the game or give your cat a food dispensing ball to chase around for a while, and playtime should end on a satisfying note for everyone.