# Have you ever met a cat that learnt what a laser pointer is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442 "2019-03-24T05:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/41 "2019-03-25T19:49:01Z")
I think my cat understands it’s not catchable, I don’t think she cares, it’s just too much fun and really resonates with her hunting skills. She also knows when I pick up the laser pointer it is time to play. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/42 "2019-03-25T20:33:55Z")
I don’t think any of my cats ever figured it out. They would play with it until my finger gave out. I could get Shilla to chase the red bug under Moody, but not the other way around. I also would put the red bug on Moody’s paw and enjoy the confusion as to why she couldn’t grab it. (Shilla, being black, couldn’t see the red dot on his fur) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/43 "2019-03-25T21:21:48Z")
Out of the corner of my eye I keep reading this as “laster PRINTER” and I have to say, my cats are also greatly entertained, but mystified, at my laser printer. They don’t know what it is but they know they’re gonna get it. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/44 "2019-03-25T21:35:34Z")
> [@RandomNerd](#): > > Most probably link what is going onto the human, it is still fun. Almost have one trained to fetch althouh that seems more abstract to them. I wish I had a video of it to put up. I had a big orange cat who invented the game of fetch all on his own and “taught” me how to play. He was extraordinarily social and family/pack/whatever the call a group of cats oriented though and I think that played a big part in his ability to come up with a new game himself. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/45 "2019-03-25T22:56:05Z")
I don’t remember ever having a cat that didn’t respond to the laser pointer. (But I didn’t try it with every single cat I’ve ever had.) Obligatory [xkcd link](https://xkcd.com/729/). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442/46 "2019-03-26T00:15:18Z")
> [@susan](#): > > May I just remark that “Dr. Girlfriend” is a lovely user name? Aww, thanks! I forgot to mention my ex’s cat. She knew he was controlling the dot and would go to the drawer where the laser pointer was kept and paw at it until he got it out for her. She was a tiny cat but could do some pretty impressive Super Mario Bros- style wall jumps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-a-cat-that-learnt-what-a-laser-pointer-is/831442.md?page=2)