FunCatQuick answer: A laser game for cats puts the classic darting red dot on your phone or tablet screen. Unlike a handheld laser pointer, there's no beam that can hit your cat's eyes, and the dot visibly "pops" when caught — so the hunt ends in a win instead of frustration. Laser Chase is free in FunCat.
Why cats can't resist the red dot
A laser dot moves like nothing else your cat sees indoors: instant direction changes, sudden stops, quick escapes along the floor. That erratic, ground-level darting is a supernormal version of insect and rodent movement — it lights up the chase circuit harder than almost any physical toy. FunCat's Laser Chase reproduces it on a high-contrast black screen, where a bright red dot with a glowing trail darts unpredictably, exactly the way cats like it.
Is a laser game bad for cats?
Two concerns come up with traditional laser pointers, and the on-screen version answers both:
- Eye safety. A handheld laser is a real beam — one careless flick can shine it into your cat's eyes. An on-screen "laser" is just pixels. There is no beam, so there's nothing to misaim. Screen brightness is well within what cats comfortably view.
- The frustration problem. Behaviorists' main criticism of laser pointers is that the cat can never win — there's nothing to catch, which can leave some cats agitated. In Laser Chase the dot pops and disappears with visual feedback when your cat's paw lands on it. Catch registered, hunt completed, dopamine delivered.
The standard advice still applies to any laser-style play: keep sessions short and finish with a physical reward — a treat or a toy your cat can actually bite. That "final catch" closes the hunting loop. For the broader safety picture, see Are cat games good for cats?
How to play Laser Chase with your cat
- Download FunCat free and open Laser Chase — it's one of the four free games.
- Dim the room slightly. The black background makes the red dot pop; lower ambient light makes it irresistible.
- Lay the device flat on the floor. The dot darts along the "ground," which is where cats expect to chase.
- Start slow, then speed up. Adjust dot speed to your cat's reflexes — kittens and seniors like it slower, athletic adolescents want turbo.
- End with a win. A few catches, a pop or two, then a real treat. Five to ten minutes is plenty.
Screen laser vs. handheld laser pointer
Keep both in your toolkit — they do different jobs. The handheld pointer gets your cat sprinting across the whole room (great cardio, needs your active aim, mind the eyes and never point at them). The screen laser is self-playing, safe to leave your cat batting at while you're on a call, and it gives the catch feedback a real laser can't. If your cat has ever looked personally offended when the red dot vanished at the end of pointer play, the on-screen version is the fix.