Laser Pointer Yikes!

Here's something new to worry about with our cats' favorite toy (okay,
second favorite, since we hoomins appear to be their favorite toys -
grin).

->LOS ANGELES -- A hand-held laser pointer appears to be the
->cause of a fire at a Los Angeles high-rise that caused $200,000
->in damage.
->
->Fire officials said the blaze at the 17-story office building
->on LA's Miracle Mile began just after 10 a.m. Saturday.
->
->The laser device had been placed on an examination table in a
->dermatologist's office on the 12th floor. Officials said the

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

Good point. If I hear "laser pointer", I think of two places: an office
or an animal shelter. :)

badwilson...

True. Sadly, oh so very, very true.

->device ignited the surrounding furniture.
->
->The fire was put out by the building's sprinkler system, but
->firefighters had to mop up about three inches of water.
->
->There are no reports of any injuries.

I was not aware that a standard laser pointer could put out enough
power to ignite anything, even when continuously pointed at something.
Much less the furniture...

William Hamblen...

The battery probably shorted. Even a small battery can get smoking
hot. Some poor soul recently had his trousers set alight by a
wireless telephone.

John F. Eldredge...

Most battery-powered devices have the potential to cause a fire, or at
least get hot enough to burn human skin, if short-circuited. I once
made the mistake of carrying a 9-volt battery and some coins in the
same pants pocket. One of the coins shorted out the battery
terminals, getting hot enough to make me dump out the contents of the
pocket in a hurry. As far as the laser beam is concerned, the only
safety hazard is that you shouldn't shine the beam directly into
anyone's eyes (human or animal). It could potentially focus down into
a concentrated enough point on the retina to cause a localized burn,
resulting in permanent damage. Shining the unfocused beam onto
papers, skin, etc. doesn't do any damage.

Rhonda...

That's the reason I don't want them anywhere near our cats. How can you
tell a cat not to look directly at the beam?

A cat could whip around in the middle of playing and catch it in the
eye. I don't like those things at all because of that -- I won't chance it.

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

That's always been my reason for hesitating, too! My cats
are so much faster than I, I'd be afraid I couldn't move the
point fast enought to prevent shining it in their eyes. A
flashlight beam may not be quite so intriguing, but they'll
play with that, too, and there's no likelihood of blinding

Marina...

My Dad used to use his glasses to make a reflection on the floor for the
cats to chase. Old Thompson especially loved this.You need a bright
enough lamp in the right position, though.

Rhonda...

I never thought about a flashlight -- I'll have to try that on them.

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

I hit on the idea when I noticed one of my cats following
and meowing at a moving spot of light on the the wall, then
realized it was stalking the reflection from a ring I was
wearing! (I was reading, and every time I turned a page or
moved my hand, the spot would move.)

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

Today as I was saying goodbye to Smudge, a relection of light from my
car keys was moving around on the cement, near her. She didn't even
notice. :)

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

Well, you know there's practically NOTHING one can say about
cats that applies to ALL of them! :-)

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

That's certainly true. My comment above was focused mostly on how
uninterested in playing Smudge seems to be, rather than on how tempting
(or not) that particular game might be. Smudge doesn't play very much.
I don't know if that's due to age (she's almost 10), or that she feels
inhibitied with Roxy and Licky around, or maybe just that because she
goes outside and gets to do real hunting, she has no need for play.

them with it.

Oh well. Interesting idea for a science project, though. Or a mad
scientist experiment... Bwahahahahahhahhahah!!

Hugs and Purrs,
Mark