Some cats aren’t fans of the laser pointer, and this may be because the pointer doesn’t bother them.
However, you can teach your feline that the laser pointer isn’t a threat. When it’s playing around, it will likely ignore a pointer that’s only an inch or two away from its face.
So, why doesn’t my cat chase a laser pointer?
Cats love to chase things.
In fact, cats are known for their incredible hunting skills. However, cats don’t chase laser pointers.
Cats typically don’t chase things they can’t catch. This is because catching a laser pointer requires a lot of skill and patience that cats don’t have.
Simply put, chasing a laser pointer is too hard for cats.
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Why Doesn’t My Cat Chase A Laser Pointer?
Incorrect Laser Selection
Although this has not been proved, certain types of lasers may be easier to catch than others are.
For instance, the infrared version is often easier to “catch” than the red or green variety. The intensity of the light may also be a factor since some lasers emit more light than others do.
The beam width may also play a role since a wider beam may make it more difficult for a cat to “catch” the light.
Poor Vision
Cats have incredible night vision but their vision isn’t always perfect.
Your cat may have trouble seeing the tip of the laser if the light is too far away or too weak. Also, some cats may have difficulty focusing up close on the tip of the light if the beam is too wide.
Age & Health Issues Some older cats are less active than younger cats and they may not have the same desire to pursue the dot of light as the younger ones do.
They may not have the strongest legs to chase after a light that is moving across the floor and they may also have health issues that make it difficult for them to chase after or jump high to catch a fast moving object like the light from a laser pointer.
When you shine a bright light in your kitty’s eyes, they may blink their eyes and look away, but they are still blinking and looking at the light (unless they are blind).
As a result, the red or green light can get trapped in their pupils for a longer period of time than if the light was pointed at the ground.
What they perceive there is just too bright for them to look at for long periods of time so they end up squinting and moving their head to try to avoid the light.
He Figured It Out
This may surprise you, but cats have an incredible ability to figure out when something isn’t a threat to them.
Most pets quickly learn that chasing a moving object is futile and they will stop trying after they fail at catching it several times in a row.
If your pet stops chasing the dot of light after several attempts, don’t be concerned!
They probably figured out it wasn’t worth the effort and they stopped pursuing it.
After a few sessions of playing “chase” with your laser pointer, your cat may begin to develop an interest in playing with you instead of the object.
They will sometimes capture the elusive red dot with their paws and hold it close to their body or mouth before dropping it in front of you.
Also Read: Why Do Cats Like Their Tail Pulled?
Conclusion
That concludes the three most plausible reasons why your cat may not “chase” your laser lighter.
It’s unlikely they are sick or injured, but you should still take your cat to the vet if you are worried they have an eye problem or other medical condition that could be causing them to blink excessively or stare wide-eyed at the laser light.
By taking the time to understand the reason why your pet is refusing to play with your laser lighter, you can better understand why they aren’t interested in playing with you.
It could be a good idea to obtain more than one laser pointer if you have multiple cats in your home, since some cats may prefer one color over another.
This way, you’ll know precisely what type of laser to use for your pet when trying to get their attention.
