best cat toy ever or deadly cat laser?

azith28

Lets just get it out the way that yes i spoil the shit out of my kittens and move on.

They love to chase the laser pointer, (have yet to see a cat that didnt), and I was thinking of getting one of those laser theater units that put a bunch of points all around the room and spins them around, that i could just flip on in a room before i leave for work to make sure they have entertainment.

Like this: http://www.amazon.com/OEM-SYSTEMS-COMPANY-Red-Green-Projector/dp/B005LATR0I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357569860&sr=8-1&keywords=laser+projector

or a higher end model:
http://www.amazon.com/Can-You-Imagine-Laser-Theater/dp/B00443AX2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357569791&sr=8-1&keywords=laser+theater

But I just wanted to make sure...is there any danger in this in harming the cats vision or anything? I'm in an apartment so i couldnt exactly mount it on the wall or a tripod, I would have to find a spot for it to cover a good part of a room and lock it down somewhere horizontally on a desk.

Also, a question if you have one of these things...are they fairly durable? If i did this, it probably would be running for 9 hours at a time or more, and i dont wanna drop too much cash if they are going to go out easily.

Thanks

Hevach

I don't see the class level on either of those, but generally, class 1 and 2 lasers take prolonged or repeated exposure to do any damage to people. Not sure about class 2 lasers with cats, but class 1 lasers are pretty safe for them.

I'd suggest looking into something like these though:
http://www.amazon.com/FroliCat-BOLT-Interactive-Laser-Pet/dp/B0021L8W6K/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_3
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Q6AG9K/?tag=047-20
http://www.amazon.com/Pets-Double-Laser-Chase-Toy/dp/B009KAS94K/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_7

I've seen a few variations on them at pet stores. Keeps a single point, instead of tons of them (third one has two), but it's designed to be safe for unattended cats. I've owned the ones in the top two links (the third is basically the second with a second laser), they're basically the same until the cats figure out how to knock them off the table, at which point the cheaper one's unprotected mirror is pretty likely to get broken. The more expensive one's survived just about everything they've thrown at it.

azith28

Well i own the frolicat, but after about a year of use the motor died on me so it just sits there. Since i was looking for a replacement and the ones like i listed seemed to be quieter (at least they were in spencers at the mall) i was going to go with something fancier.

Thanatos

Are you sure that after having access to a room with something like this in it going for nine hours a day, your cat won't just become inured to it and completely disinterested?

Also, the... uh... potential harm done by those sorts of lasers... uh... varies widely by breed and coloration. Yeah. That. So it would be helpful if we knew what your cat looks like. Preferably in adorable poses for... uh... science.

azith28

oh, sure... I think this will work. Sometimes dropbox gives me crappy links.

http://db.tt/CkLDaAA3

the Public folder is them when i first got them. the base folder is pretty recent. Still kittens but getting big.

Infidel

Put it on a timer?

Muse Among Men

Yeah, use a timer so they don't get bored of it.

Darkewolfe

Also use a timer so they don't dehydrate themselves if they're too OCD to stop chasing it.

JaysonFour

The trick to cat toys is to use it some, but don't bring it out enough so that they get bored of it. You'll know once they get bored of it- they won't show any interest in it when you fire it up, and you're left with a fancy doorstop.

Invest in many toys for your cat, and different kinds- squeaky mice, lasers, jingle balls, feathers, scratchers, maybe a small fishing pole with a bit of ribbon attached to it. If you can keep your cat guessing as to what they'll get to play with next, well, you'll have a happier cat.

Feral

Hevach wrote: »

I don't see the class level on either of those, but generally, class 1 and 2 lasers take prolonged or repeated exposure to do any damage to people. Not sure about class 2 lasers with cats, but class 1 lasers are pretty safe for them.

Well, the "Can You Imagine" doesn't list a power level, but the "OEM Systems Company" one shows 100mW for the red laser and 50mW for the green laser, which are pretty high-power. I would not leave that unattended in a home with a cat.

I would get one of these instead, once they're back in stock: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/cae2/

The output power is much lower and it turns itself on and off.

They also have this, which is similar: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/dcd0/?pfm=cae2_3_dcd0#tabs

RedDelicious

Your cat will love this thing

azith28

Oh ive got tons of toys...ive got that round thing just mentioned with the ball and the scratchy pad and had a folicat, they loved it, but recently the motor stopped working, so I was looking to kick it up a notch so to speak with something else.

Right now they are expecting play as soon as i feed them...thats not a problem in the afternoon but sometimes they wake me an hour before my alarm goes off for work, so i feed them then they come in and start meowing when id rather be trying to get that extra hour of sleep. I figured i could turn the laser on and distract them while i slept

is the link to the pictures working btw?

Mego Thor

What about the little hand-held lasers; are they safe? I know cats love to play with them, but I've always been a little afraid of getting one. I freely admit to being overprotective of my kitties.

azith28

I very much doubt the little ones are a danger. as linked above there are several cat toy options and ive seen them on sale at the pet store...if they were dangerous i think someone would have made a stink about it. long as you dont point it at there eyes, they should be fine.

azith28

Well, i picked up a cheap laser theater system for 22 bucks. it puts a ton of moving merging dots out, thought id let you guys know the results.

One cat kinda likes it...watches the dots move, occasionally will grab one but doesnt freak out like i half expected with so many dots moving around, the other one is afraid of it. Will leave the room when i turn it on. . I'll probably go pick up the dart mentioned above because of the mixed results.

Enc

Thanatos wrote: »

Are you sure that after having access to a room with something like this in it going for nine hours a day, your cat won't just become inured to it and completely disinterested?

Also, the... uh... potential harm done by those sorts of lasers... uh... varies widely by breed and coloration. Yeah. That. So it would be helpful if we knew what your cat looks like. Preferably in adorable poses for... uh... science.

The lazer spinners interested my cat for about 15 minutes the first night. Then he walked over to the device, knocked it over, and went back to playing with hair ties.

You want cat awesome funtime toys? Get the little bags of springs or a bag of nylon hairties. You can shoot them with your fingers, they chase them and chew on them. Alternatively you could get a box or large shopping bag and put tissue paper inside.

Both of those work better than expensive toys, and for longer.

azith28

Oh I've got tons of regular cat toys. The usefullness of something like this is you can turn it on before you leave for work and give them some play time, or distract them as needed.

Magic Pink

azith28 wrote: »

They love to chase the laser pointer, (have yet to see a cat that didnt),

I actually own one. He couldn't care less about the thing. He loves to kick the hell out of discarded underwear tho.

His brother LOVES laser pointers but doesn't care a whit about catnip which Puddy #1 goes into conniptions over.

Enc

One of my cats things socks are the best thing in all existence. I will come home to every sock in the house taken and made into a giant nest under a barstool.

The other thinks the only appropriate playing item are hair ties. Hairties are essentially the best thing ever and OH BOY LOOK I FOUND ONE NOW IM GONNA CARRY IT EVERYWHERE YESSSSSS

Void of socks and hairties, they are somber, serious chaps.

mrt144

We use Da Bird

azith28

I drink alot of bottled water. Everytime i pull out a bottle, one of them walks up to me because as soon as that top comes off, she wants it. She will steal it somehow unless i throw it away immediately and i will hear it getting batted around, but I have no idea where they end up. One of these days when i move out of my apartment I will find a mountain of them somewhere.