Lazer Tag!

[bluesilverkdg]

So, the cats have a laser pointer now (they bought it with their allowance.) The first night I got it out, Trouble went nuts. He was running up walls like Michael Jordan and absolutely going crazy with this thing. General was terrified of it. Every time I got it out, he hid in the guest room or went running behind the coffee table to escape it. But I guess after a couple of days of feeling like a wuss, he decided he'd tackle this thing head-on, and since then, he's been fine with it. He and Trouble have Laser Wars now, and it's pretty hysterical. Yesterday headbanger118 came over, and we were laughing at them until tears were streaming down our faces. Oreo is not nearly as impressed with the laser pointer, but she will, on occasion, take a swipe at it. She also seemed to be a little scared of it at first, but last night, she evidently also decided it was OK. My question concerns Misty. I don't think she can see it! I'll shine the blasted thing right on the floor or wall in front of her and it's like she looks right through it. I have no idea if she's actually seeing it and is just too dignified to go after it, or if she honestly cannot view it. She obviously has normal eyesight, because she sees everything else and she will play with other toys. But why does she ignore the laser? She isn't scared of it like the others were, she just pays zero attention to it. It's the darndest thing.

So, have any of you ever had a kitty that couldn't see the laser pointer?

Here's a little snippety snippet of Trouble and General spazzing out on the laser pointer. This was towards the end of our "session" and they were getting a little tired. I also don't profess to be the best videographer in the world (it's hard to hold the camera AND the laser pointer!), plus there's no sound. I just use my digital camera, which is not the greatest. One of these days, I may break down and get a real video cam. It's about two and a half minutes of your life that you'll never get back, but hopefully entertaining. I've gotta say, for an old boy, General's still got it!

My babies are on the YouTube.

Comments

[baseballchica03.livejournal.com]

The absolute best is when I do it up the wall. If we've just started playing, he will try to chase it by jumping and climbing up the wall. If we've been doing it for a while already, he'll stand, look up for a minute, then go, "Oh, fuck it," and lay down on the rug. Ha. I also enjoy doing big, slow circles on the ceiling. He can't reach, but he'll perch himself on the floor, ready to pounce, following it around and around and around with his little head. Hilarious. I need to get new batteries. We haven't played laser in a long time.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

They will run up the wall on occasion, but I think they've figured out that it's pretty much pointless. I think they crack me up the most when I make it go up the staircase, and they fall off the stairs.

They also get a little put-out after a point (and were getting there when I made this video.) I guess they realize it's just not worth the effort anymore.

I found a laser pointer in the pet department at Walmart. It was three bucks. I think that's actually cheaper than buying batteries for a regular one.

[baseballchica03.livejournal.com]

Sniff had figured out that the red light comes from the little silver thing in my hand, although it's been a while so I don't know if he'd remember. He's a pretty smart little guy. He still liked chasing it around, but eventually when he'd get tired he'd just look at me like, "Ok, enough," and paw at my hand to stop.

Just for you.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

I'd never thought to put it on the ceiling. That just adds a whole 'nother dimension to the game. Trouble will follow it up there, but General can't seem to figure out to look up. You can see him lying on the couch, looking at Trouble like "what are you DOING?"

laser CATS!

[samuraigrrrl.livejournal.com]

hehehe. that's super. i don't even miss those 2.5 minutes.
my cats don't give a flying flip about a laser either. i don't know why. they see other things just fine. i assume that they do see it, they just don't care. now i hope that i'm not wrong about that...
also, i had to click one of the videos in the line up after yours was done. i chose "dr. tran - 100% ice". how very strange. i did not know that cocaine is vitamins for hotel soap.
anyway, thanks for that!

Re: laser CATS!

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

I've never quite gotten those Dr. Tran videos, and I remember the first time I watched one, I thought "why did someone send this to me?"

It's funny, with mine half of them go nuts for it, one is ambivalent and the other just couldn't care less. It's strange how cats in the same household have such different reactions to stuff. Kinda like how Sabrina was basically unaffected by catnip, I suppose. But at least I knew she saw it! :-P

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I have to think that it's not entirely fair to use a laser pointer to play with cats, since they can't actually catch it.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, but they enjoy it, and it's incredible exercise. General is 12 years old, but he boogies like a kitten when I get the laser poiner out. And I do let them "catch" it sometimes, when I slow it down enough that they can pounce on it. Plus, they have plenty of other "prey" around the house. Did you see all the mousies and feathers lying around, that they can actually put in their mouths and bring to me?

[seraaalicious.livejournal.com]

How cute!!!

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[solfox.livejournal.com]

Very cute. Miko will chase a laser pointer for a very short time and then give up and just watch it (and possibly swat at it if it comes near). My dad's siamese goes bonkers, and our former roommates have a half and half house (a couple go nuts, the other two don't care).

Strangely, on a fluke I picked up a little mouse for her, yesterday, with little feathers for a tail. She has a ton of little mice, but she's been going crazy over the one with the feather tail ever since I brought it home. Loves it.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Mine LOVE their feather mousie. Did you see it lying in the floor? Almost every night, one of them brings it upstairs to me as their "prey", while I'm in bed.

I don't feel so bad now, that I know other cats don't all react to it. I thought Misty was some kind of weirdo, or worse yet, that she could somehow not see or process the laser. I guess she just really doesn't give a flying flip.

[solfox.livejournal.com]

I missed it, being so amused by your cats, instead. =) And, aww... they 'gift' you with their prey. *smiles*

[wowthatisminty.livejournal.com]

awww.

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

That's a hilarious video! My cats don't care at all about the laser we have, but I'm pretty sure that they can see it.

I wish I'd taken a video of Tama in Iowa. He used to chase fireflies- they'd fill up the yard. He'd go barreling after them like crazy as soon as they'd light up, but halfway to them, they'd disappear, and he'd just look so upset! I loved those lazy nights- I'd just sit on the back step and watch him for an hour or so.

[headbanger118.livejournal.com]

I'm still laughing over General tumbling down the stairs. That is awesome!