# Attn zoologists/zookeepers! Do big cats... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691 "2015-12-30T00:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/1 "2015-12-30T00:28:23Z")
…go nuts for laser pointers like the idiots that live in our houses? Related question: How much would I be hated by the staff at the zoo for conducting such experiments? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/2 "2015-12-30T01:13:24Z")
Here’s a video of someone having a go at testing this (Short version: Some do, some don't) That video leads to: Do big cats like catnip? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_OPA1bZwOWc/maxresdefault.jpg "Do BIG Cats Like Catnip? \*PART 2 - The "Science"...") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OPA1bZwOWc) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/3 "2015-12-30T01:17:19Z")
I would have linked the same video. I was visiting the local zoo a couple years ago and one of the keepers was playing with a black panther with a large cardboard tube - like a Christmas wrapping paper tube but way bigger. Weird to see such a big, graceful creature lose his mind over a cardboard tube! Big Cat Rescue has other vids to see - including big cats in boxes. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/4 "2015-12-30T01:41:57Z")
[quote=“Baron\_Greenback, post:2, topic:741691”] Here’s a video of someone having a go at testing this (Short version: Some do, some don't) That video leads to: Do big cats like catnip? [/QUOTE] Right on. Thanks! It seems the bigger they get, the less they care. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/5 "2015-12-30T02:32:13Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Right on. Thanks! It seems the bigger they get, the less they care. Same with house cats, your 10 year old tabby is not likely to go scrambling around the room after a laser pointer. More likely just glance at it and give you a withering stare of disdain 😉 The ones that chase the laser dot in that video all look like juveniles. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/6 "2015-12-30T05:03:02Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > a black panther with a large cardboard tube - like a Christmas wrapping paper tube but way bigger Sadly, it was actually his elbow. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/7 "2015-12-30T05:45:43Z")
Well, a giant tiger is not really going to care about a spot that appears to be a small mouse or something. I assume what house cats are doing is chasing the subtle motion cues that indicate mice or similar miniscule animals - which would be a decent snack for them. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/8 "2015-12-30T05:50:56Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Well, a giant tiger is not really going to care about a spot that appears to be a small mouse or something. Tigers are still cats and they are very curious about new things in their environment. See this video: He’s kind of half heartedly chasing it trying to figure out what it is, rather than scrambling around after it like a kitten but it definitely got his attention. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/9 "2015-12-30T23:48:56Z")
That last one of the tiger… OMG the cute!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-zoologists-zookeepers-do-big-cats/741691/10 "2015-12-31T00:36:46Z")
It’s all fun and games until someone loses their head.