# How to Exercise Your Cat Using a Laser Pointer

> A 1995 patent describing the method of using a handheld laser pointer to create a moving light target that encourages cats to run and play.

- **Patent:** US 5443036
- **Original title:** Method of exercising a cat
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1995
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 35
- **Field:** consumer_electronics

## What it does

The patent outlines a specific technique for feline exercise. It involves using a handheld laser to project a small, highly-focused, and intense beam of light onto a surface like a wall or floor. The user then moves the laser so the light spot travels in an irregular pattern, which triggers a cat's natural predatory chase instinct. By keeping the light just out of the cat's reach, the user forces the animal to run and jump, providing aerobic exercise.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover the manufacturing of the laser device itself.
- Does not cover using non-laser light sources, such as flashlights or LED pens.
- Does not cover automated systems that move the laser without human intervention.
- Does not cover exercise methods that involve physical toys or physical contact.

## The clever bit

The patent identifies the specific speed required to maintain a cat's interest, claiming a range of five to twenty-five feet per second for the light spot's movement.

## Real-world examples

1. Standard handheld red laser pointers
2. Pet-specific laser toys
3. Automated laser cat toys

## Why it matters

This patent is a famous example of a simple, everyday activity being codified into intellectual property. While it highlights the intersection of consumer technology and pet care, it is often cited in discussions about the limits of what should be patentable, as it describes a common behavior rather than a complex technological innovation.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How to Exercise Your Cat Using a Laser Pointer cover?

A 1995 patent describing the method of using a handheld laser pointer to create a moving light target that encourages cats to run and play.

### Who owns patent US 5443036?

Individual owns this patent, granted in 1995.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What is patent US 5443036 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 35 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent is a famous example of a simple, everyday activity being codified into intellectual property. While it highlights the intersection of consumer technology and pet care, it is often cited in discussions about the limits of what should be patentable, as it describes a common behavior rather than a complex technological innovation.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover the manufacturing of the laser device itself.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5443036/laser-pointer-cat-exercise

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US5443036

---

_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the Slinky Toy Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy) — The original 1947 patent for the Slinky, a helical spring toy designed to walk down stairs through the transfer of energy.
- [How the Game Twister Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3454279/twister-game) — A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.
- [How Laser Printers Use Rotating Mirrors to Write Information](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3867571/laser-printer-starkweather) — A 1972 Xerox patent describing how to use a spinning mirror to scan a laser beam across a page, adjusting the speed of the data to keep the image sharp.
- [Early Device for Tracking Objects with a Pen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3055113/etch-a-sketch) — This 1962 patent describes an early system for tracing the path of an object using a pen-like stylus that records its movement on a surface.
- [Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7782297/wii-remote) — Sony's 2010 patent on using motion and image data to detect when a gamer stops playing, allowing the game console to pause or save energy.