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FrozenGate by Avery

Laser Pointer for cat

I pay exactly $1 dollar for a small button cell keychain pointer and it gives me about a weeks worth of play time with my cat before I just throw it away because its cheaper just to buy a new one. This is with a cat that goes absolutly crazy for them and will not stop from morning to night. As far as the dot I can see it 50ft down the hall spot on. Is your purpose to play outside with your cat and does your cat like them so much that batteries are that much of an issue. I know you have to press a button but is it that much of an issue? What ever you prefer is your absolute right but I feel so much safer using the ones I do and just get 5 for $5 and throw them in a draw, and i'm thinking the pet smart ones are the exact same as the dollar store ones or very close. What ever you get its still fun to see a cat play:crackup:
 





I do play outside from time to time, so the range at times is worth it, but it'd also just be nice to wow friends every now and then as well-- consider it a double duty between cat toy and man toy, haha.

Now that I've read up more on how different laser colors are made with their pros and cons, green seems less appealing than a bright 635nm red-- specifically its low runtimes off a single primary.

I do find having to hold down a button for continuous use very annoying as well, so I'd say having the rear clicky made it to the top of my priority list.
 
I do play outside from time to time, so the range at times is worth it, but it'd also just be nice to wow friends every now and then as well-- consider it a double duty between cat toy and man toy, haha.

Now that I've read up more on how different laser colors are made with their pros and cons, green seems less appealing than a bright 635nm red-- specifically its low runtimes off a single primary.

I do find having to hold down a button for continuous use very annoying as well, so I'd say having the rear clicky made it to the top of my priority list.

At these power levels <5mW you really don't have the major problems of duty cycle, high cost and possible eye damage which is quite nice.

As I'm sure you know 532nm is DPSS whereas 635nm is direct diode. Both have their pros and cons but for your specific purpose, the only major deciding factor should be which wavelength you like best, and it seems like you've picked 635nm! Enjoy :yh:

-Alex
 
Like others have said a cheap ebay laser can be a lot more than 5mw.
The purple ebay lasers marked as 5mw can be 50nm - 80mw otherwise you couldn't hardly see then it, thinking there safe when they are dangerous is a bad thing, so you need to know what your buying.

A good idea is to put CAT TOY LASER in your ebay search. But still look for the words "safe for your pet" in the description.

cat toy laser | eBay
 
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I have two lasers that use the button cells, one is high quality so it's not disposable, the other one was my first laser and still works so I want to keep it. They each use different size button cells, these button cells are expensive to buy in stores but I found you can buy them online 50 or 100 at a time really cheap.

Alan
 
Well, those all sound like good options (except for Ebay, dont get a laser on ebay if you want it to be safe).

What i would highly recommend a pen from laserbtb, they are guarenteed to be under 5mW (or 1mW if you choose). If i were you, i would get the less than 5mW 635nm pen from them. LP 635nm 660nm 5-130
 
I have two lasers that use the button cells, one is high quality so it's not disposable, the other one was my first laser and still works so I want to keep it. They each use different size button cells, these button cells are expensive to buy in stores but I found you can buy them online 50 or 100 at a time really cheap.

Alan
Pi, when pointers came out around 15 years ago they had these kits with removable tips that projected all kinds of symbols and if this is the one your mentioning, yes they were made very well and the tips were real brass but were around $40. Now the dollar store I go to has this style with maby a keychain with the bigger style button cells that is usually labeled cat toy. Then they have the smaller keychain type with a led flashlight and red laser again with the smaller button cells. These dollar stores also carry strip pack of a variety of cell batteries "again" for a $1 Of course they dont last to long but will get you out of a pinch. I regret till this day when I gave my first higher quality red pointer away as it had like 50 different symbol tips. I really dont want to be self centered on my opinion but its a win win to me to buy these $1 reds for its price and saftey to use with our pets:)
 
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Pi, when pointers came out around 15 years ago they had these kits with removable tips that projected all kinds of symbols and if this is the one your mentioning, yes they were made very well and the tips were real brass but were around $40. Now the dollar store I go to has this style with maby a keychain with the bigger style button cells that is usually labeled cat toy. Then they have the smaller keychain type with a led flashlight and red laser again with the smaller button cells. These dollar stores also carry strip pack of a variety of cell batteries "again" for a $1 Of course they dont last to long but will get you out of a pinch. I regret till this day when I gave my first higher quality red pointer away as it had like 50 different symbol tips. I really dont want to be self centered on my opinion but its a win win to me to buy these $1 reds for its price and saftey to use with our pets:)

I remember those and I regret never buying one. My first laser is just one of those keychain type with the red laser and LED light, not made of plastic like some are now. I got it many years ago I am surprised it still works, I think I paid $5.95 or $4.95 at the time. The high quality one I was talking about is Quartet brand, you can buy them online on their site but they are also sold in many stores and at a lower price. Mine looks like a pen that you write with, in fact it is a pen and laser and LED light.

About the 635nm I am not sure that is safe for pets, I have a 635nm that runs on 2 AAA batteries and is 4.9-5mW and I feel like it wouldn't be eye safe for pets, so be careful if playing with a cat or buy one less powerful.

Alan
 
I remember seeing a laser pointer for sale in the Walmart checkout isle before, was a key chain with a red laser pointer on one end, and a LED flashlight on the other end for $2.00 operated by 2 push buttons, one for the laser, one for the LED. Looks like it used 2 watch battery type cells.
 
I remember seeing a laser pointer for sale in the Walmart checkout isle before, was a key chain with a red laser pointer on one end, and a LED flashlight on the other end for $2.00 operated by 2 push buttons, one for the laser, one for the LED. Looks like it used 2 watch battery type cells.

I used to have a few of those! They were fun for as long as they lasted.
 
I got my Taurus in the mail today, and I (we) have been enjoying it quite a bit. The host and form factor are very nice-- with an quality, hefty feel. The laser itself seems to be about 2-3x brighter than this generic pet pointer (and I assume most of that has to deal with the wavelength.) The biggest difference between the two is that the Taurus stays laser-focused at distances 50 feet or more, while the generic one is already diffused at such distances. Of course, the best feature is the clicky UI with constant on. Now I don't have to view holding the laser in hand as a task anymore.

The Taurus has gotten me really interested in the Green Galileo, but I will hold off on that purchase until I can confirm with LaserGlow that their hosts can take higher voltage RCR123s-- because only 2 hours for one CR123 is not cost effective as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks to everyone.
 
I got my Taurus in the mail today, and I (we) have been enjoying it quite a bit. The host and form factor are very nice-- with an quality, hefty feel. The laser itself seems to be about 2-3x brighter than this generic pet pointer (and I assume most of that has to deal with the wavelength.) The biggest difference between the two is that the Taurus stays laser-focused at distances 50 feet or more, while the generic one is already diffused at such distances. Of course, the best feature is the clicky UI with constant on. Now I don't have to view holding the laser in hand as a task anymore.

The Taurus has gotten me really interested in the Green Galileo, but I will hold off on that purchase until I can confirm with LaserGlow that their hosts can take higher voltage RCR123s-- because only 2 hours for one CR123 is not cost effective as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks to everyone.
Good to hear you're enjoying it. The brightness increase is indeed due to the wavelength and the fact that your laser is probably a little more powerful than the cheapo pet pointers. Can't help you with the battery question though.
 


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