Laser pointer syndrome in cats

There is a genre of cat video for all tastes. All standard fare, really. Then there are the infamous laser pointer videos.

One common form of play between companion cat guardians and cats involves the use of laser light pointers LLPs. Although viewed by many as an enjoyable shared interaction, experts have suggested that it may increase the risk of compulsive behaviors. Our earlier study recruited participants through social media to examine the relationship between LLPs and potential abnormal repetitive behaviors pARBs. Because of possible biases in this form of recruitment, this study was conducted utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk. A total of responses Significant associations between the frequency of LLPs and the occurrence of spins or tail chases, chasing lights or shadows, staring "obsessively" at lights or reflections, and fixating on a specific toy were found. Additional associations for these pARBs included declaw status, cat age, and number of cats in the household.

Laser pointer syndrome in cats

Curated By: Buzz Staff. Trending Desk. When cats are chasing the laser pointer, they are following their instinct to chase and catch prey. Giving your cat a chase that does not end in it catching something can leave them frustrated. Laser plays are linked to cats developing abnormal repetitive behaviours or Feline Compulsive Disorders, claims the study. The abnormal behaviours include self-directed aggression — chasing or chewing their own tail, staring into shadows and chasing light reflections that may be indicators of hallucinating and overgrooming. If your cat displays such behaviour repetitively and out of context, it might be suffering from FCD. Complete treatment of the condition is not common, but there are treatments directed at the reduction of such behaviours. According to scientists, when cats are chasing the laser pointer, they are following their instinct to chase and catch prey, which they think is the laser point. Not being able to catch the laser point their prey can cause motivational conflict, frustration and stress. The researchers conducted an online survey of people that had a cat for more than six months. They asked the respondents a range of questions from how attached they were to their cats to if they played with a laser pointed and how their cats behaved. Scientists found that abnormal repetitive behaviours were significantly linked with laser light playing. According to scientists, providing a resolution after the lase light play can help avoid the harmful effects. Such a resolution could be giving your cats to catch an actual prey when the laser play ends so that they are not left dissatisfied, frustrated and confused.

Herzog H. All standard fare, really.

Many cats enjoy chasing after red dots, also known as laser pointer projections, as a favorite pastime. So why do cats like lasers so much? Are laser pointers good or bad for cats? There are many reasons cats go crazy for laser pointers. And it turns out, when used properly, lasers can actually be good for your cat. Cats are natural predators and often have a high prey drive—the instinctual drive to catch rodents, birds, and bugs.

Bennett received her DVM degree in from Purdue University and later completed a residency in animal behavior with a focus on shelter medicine, obtained a master of science degree, and became certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in Sara Bennett and Dr. Margaret Gruen. His current research interests include canine and feline cognition, age-related changes in the brain, and novel therapeutic approaches to behavior disorders. Compulsive disorders can be defined as normal behaviors that are abnormally repeated, sustained, and out of context. However, all repetitive behaviors should not be considered compulsive. Diagnostic criteria generally include an abnormal repetitive behavior performed excessively and out of context, which is difficult to interrupt and is performed in replacement of other normal behaviors. No current evidence indicates that animals experience intrusive thoughts; rather, compulsive episodes in animals are often triggered by stressful or high-arousal situations. For dogs and cats, these behavior patterns can be classified as locomotor, oral, aggressive, vocalization, or hallucinatory.

Laser pointer syndrome in cats

Luqman Javed. Laser pointers are popular toys, and it can be fun watching your cat chase after that little red dot. The good news is that if you do use a laser pointer carefully, it can be a safe and suitable toy for your cat. Cats love laser pointers for the same reasons that they love any other toys. Unlike kicker toys, which your cat has to interact with to get it moving, the quick movement of a laser pointer can encourage even the most laid back cat to indulge in playtime. If your cat turns up their nose at most toys, a laser pointer is almost guaranteed to catch their interest. Playing is a great way to encourage your cat to exercise and help them maintain physical strength. Play is also a great enrichment activity that helps keep your cat from getting too bored. You should never use a cat laser toy outdoors or point it out a window, at people, cars, or planes.

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Provision of some form of outdoor access is recommended by some cat welfare organizations [ 25 ], and a number of studies have found that behavioral problems, such as unacceptable indoor elimination often termed inappropriate elimination , destructive scratching, and aggression, as well as feline lower urinary tract disease FLUTD are more common in indoor-only cats vs. Psychogenic Alopecia in Cats: 11 Cases — J. Those guardians who indicated they currently do play with an LLP or have in the past were asked to select the reasons why e. Elsevier; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Cats are predatory animals, and they are made to be top-notch hunters. Also, not understanding where the light comes from nor being able to smell or hear it like they would a rodent or bird may cause a cat to become jittery, always watching for the dot to appear. Although correlational, these results suggest that laser light toys may be associated with the development of compulsive behaviors in cats, warranting further research into their use and potential risks. Vance April 29, There are many types of lasers on the market—even some that are automated so your kitty can play when you are not at home. Post hoc analysis revealed a significant difference between each of the four categories never used, used in past but no longer, used less than once a week, and used more than once a week. Pain Management. Allowing your cat to experience these satisfying end-points to the hunt can help keep her from experiencing negative mental side effects from laser play. By Role Associates. Ask Emily: Do I need a monthly staff meeting? My cats absolutely love the laser pointer.

Many cats enjoy chasing after red dots, also known as laser pointer projections, as a favorite pastime. So why do cats like lasers so much? Are laser pointers good or bad for cats?

Laser plays are linked to cats developing abnormal repetitive behaviours or Feline Compulsive Disorders, claims the study. We found significant associations between the frequency of laser light play and the occurrence of all surveyed ARBs, apart from overgrooming. Lori R. To get your cat moving, a laser pointer can be a great tool that you can use in conjunction with a good diet. This modification consists of ending LLP play by having the light land on a small toy that resembles catchable prey e. Those guardians who indicated they currently do play with an LLP or have in the past were asked to select the reasons why e. Interactive play between human and cat using an LLP would appear to meet two of the five pillars of a healthy feline environment [ 1 ]: allowing for an enjoyable shared interaction between human caretaker and their cat, and potentially providing an opportunity for exercise in the form of species-typical, normal hunting behaviors. This percentage is in line with earlier work [ 31 ] in which cat guardians were asked to report whether certain behaviors, typically perceived as undesirable, were exhibited by their cat; note that these percentages are typically higher than those reported in studies looking at for example case reports from veterinary behavior practices. How losing a pet helped me connect with veterinary clients. Almost all species of cats, including large wild cats, are more inclined to chase after something that moves.