I have a laser pointer in the shape of a mouse.

[StarryNite]

1. From my experience with dogs, it depends on the animal.

One of my dogs reacted much like your cat. The first time taking it outside at night and shining it across the yard she looked at the dot then right up at my hand. Never bothered to chase it no matter how much I encouraged her. Then I took our other dog outside and she went nuts over it. I only did it for a short time because something didn't seem right to me the way she was going after it. For the next couple of days, even during the day she would go out in the yard looking for the dot. She fixated on it. So I never did it with her again. When our son came over with his dog, she was right in the middle behavior wise. She would have a ball chasing it and when they came in she forgot about it. Anytime after that if our son picked it up to go outside his dog got all excited and happy to play. She knew what where the red dot was coming from and had fun.