Laser Pointer

Tomorrow’s my Birthday! Please email me if you would like a list of gift ideas, I have plenty in all price ranges. Today’s post is a cat story. For all of you out there that don’t like cats, please see the podcast links. For those of you that are cat fans, I’m sure this story is neither original or extraordinary, however it is amusing so if you’re interested in hearing it, please read on, for those that are not, please see request for non-cat lovers.

A few years ago we picked up the modern day cat’s favorite toy, the almighty laser pointer. All the cats loved it, especially our male Spike, he would chase the laser non stop for as long as he had the energy. He even recognized the sound of the key chain the pointer was on and would come running whenever he heard it being picked up. Well the batteries died out long ago, and the pointer itself lost to the forgotten realm of time, and even though I saw one at the grocery store now and again, we always passed it by.

I was shopping by myself on Sunday as the wifey was out of town and I came across one in the kitty section and figured I’d pick it up. I got it home and after unpacking the groceries, pulled it out, cut off the top and pulled it out. I added the batteries and screwed the cap back on, during which time I jingled the key chain that it came on. Out of a superman movie, a white blur came flying into the room and skidded to a halt in front of the sofa in which I was sitting. Spike looked up at me quickly, then began scanning the floor in earnest for the little red dot he know had to be there somewhere. Unable to resist his cat like charms, I obliged him and turned on the pointer which he bounded after with more energy than I have seen him exhibit in as long as I can remember. He ran from one end of the house to the other chasing the beloved red dot, ran in circles trying to catch it, and attempted to sneak up on it and pounce on it every now and again if it stopped in one place for to long.

As Spike is not the most light footed or graceful of cats, his kathumping around the house attracted the attention of the other cats and brought them into the room looking around curiously. The older of the cats followed the dot with her eyes, but would not case after it unless it was within arms reach. If it was close enough she would make an obligatory lunge at it, or try to snap at it if the dot were to hover on her front paw for a few seconds. The youngest kitten didn’t quite seem to know what to make of the mysterious red dot. She spent a good deal of time staring at it, following it around, but never attacking it with the zeal that Spike would. That is until she watched him for about 10 minutes chasing it like a crazed lunatic. Once he wore down, and she had a much better idea of what to do with the strange red dot, she warmed up to it nicely and chased it down with a much more enthusiastic attitude.

The day after my wife had gotten home from her trip to the Midwest, I decided to play a very small trick on her, and left the laser pointer on the ironing board, knowing full well that at some point she would want to but the ironing board away and would have to pick up the laser pointer to do so, when she did, Spike would come running. I found out later that day that my plan had worked perfectly. As soon as she picked it up, Spike came running, looked up at her for a second or two, then began to scan the ground excitedly for the dot. He was too cute to resist, so my wife played with him for awhile and he got some much needed exercise. He is most definitely a very nutty cat, but he’s our nutty cat and we all love him dearly.