I have a “turn off the laser pointer” routine with my cat - nothing crazy, I just bring the pointer up right next to her and cover the dot, turn it off, and then pick it up and let her smell the end. The specifics don’t matter, but she knows that that routine means the laser pointer goes away, and a physical toy comes out next to give her something to actually catch.
This can actually mess with cats. Gotta let them catch it sometimes.
I have a “turn off the laser pointer” routine with my cat - nothing crazy, I just bring the pointer up right next to her and cover the dot, turn it off, and then pick it up and let her smell the end. The specifics don’t matter, but she knows that that routine means the laser pointer goes away, and a physical toy comes out next to give her something to actually catch.