Why Cats Chase Laser Pointers: The Curious Feline Habit
Why Shouldn't Cats Play with Laser Pointers?
The Natural Sadness in Cats
When we play with our cats, whether it's with a wand or any other toy, we are essentially mimicking their natural hunting instincts. Cats are born hunters. Feral cats are particularly skilled in the art of the hunt. Each chase often results in a bounty of prey, much like the classic catandmouse scenario. The mouse scampers away, and the cat chases it with relentless determination until the mouse is nearly lifeless. The cat prevails.
Toys like the wand have a tangible presence that cats can "catch." However, lasers lack substance. Cats chase them endlessly, yet they can never quite "catch" them, or when they think they have, they can't feel the satisfaction. This kind of play may exhaust the cat's energy but leaves them without the fulfillment of the hunt. It's like the frustration of dieting where you only taste the food and then spit it out—it's not satisfying.
Over time, this can lead to feelings of sadness and anxiety in cats, potentially causing destructive behaviors. After repeated attempts, the cat may feel a strong sense of defeat, driving it to seek out prey even more. In the long run, this could result in the cat becoming aggressive, even towards humans or its toys.
Moreover, the laser beam's pointer directly into a cat's eyes can cause irreversible damage. Therefore, when choosing toys for our feline friends, we should be careful not to choose toys that might bring us momentary happiness at the expense of our cat's wellbeing. We should find toys that are suitable for our pets, not just for our own pleasure.
Why Are Cats So Addicted to Laser Pointers?
Both humans and cats have two types of photoreceptor cells: cones and rods. Broadly speaking, cones are involved in color vision and have the ability to focus and discern details, while rods are responsible for vision and motion detection in lowlight conditions. Humans have more cones than cats, but cats have more rods. This means that even in low light, a cat's eyes are exceptionally good at detecting movement. Therefore, any fastmoving prey in dim light is almost impossible for a cat to ignore.
"Sweet to some, bitter to others," humans often struggle to empathize with the emotions of others, let alone those of animals. At all times, putting ourselves in someone else's shoes is a fundamental philosophy in human interaction. While the rules of cohabitation between humans and pets may not be the same, it's always beneficial to consider the perspective of our pets. After all, it's rather selfish to build our happiness on someone else's pain, even if that someone is just a cat.
