Nick and the red dot

[Chris]

Layla's Momma, Niya Underfoot, loved her laser toy (it came with her when she visited with us). She knew it came from the pointer and that the light wasn't real. However, I'm sure it sharpened her prey drive. I would not choose to use one now.

 

[mimiretz]

We have never used one with Oberon, and in fact were told by a behaviorist not to use one with our cat, for the reasons cited above -- it frustrates the animal to chase something that can't be caught.

 

[Mom2Melli]

Back in the 1990's I took my show cat to my classroom as I was heading to a show right after work. Taking the cat allowed me to save an hour home and an hour back the direction of work to continue the direction of the show.

I had a laser pointer in the classroom and during my lunch I tried it and allowed the cat a little room out of his crate. He chased it and caught it under his paws. I clicked it off. He moved his paws aside and was so disappointed there was nothing under his paws. He looked up at me with these huge persian blue eyes of his like "wha happened?" I never used it again. I just quickly grabbed a piece of paper and tossed it for him to pounce on and all was good. He was a persian and none too bright, but I wouldn't use one on another animal again. That and, well, a kid once had one and shined it briefly in my eye and the blind spot I got from it for a short time made me never want to subject another being's eye to that.

 

[JLSOhio51]

... That and, well, a kid once had one and shined it briefly in my eye and the blind spot I got from it for a short time made me never want to subject another being's eye to that.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! THAT is the beginning of MY concern for lasers with pets. There are pointers of various types and classes (and the hazards vary with those differences). Although, quite frankly, the chance of a serious issue arising to the health of the dog is slight, it IS possible (in a perfect storm). It's just not a risk that I would be willing to take.

 

[Mom2Melli]

I was fairly hysterical about this. This was early in the day of laser pointers. It was a night event of astronomy for science class. I was working the perimeter and some punk flashed me for only a millisecond. I felt like I had a hole in my eye and had a blind spot. I dragged the punk to the principal (well, maybe not dragged), I think I was probably a jibbering idiot at that point but I was beyond mad and upset, but the science teacher told me to calm down and that it would go away. It took nearly an hour to go away. Of course, since then, laser pointers have had major restrictions put on them and I support that. I am, though, somewhat horrified to see a commercial with a kid and a cat and a laser pointer he shines up his dad's face to his forehead. Obviously, it was professionally done, but not liking the role model there.