My cat, Bubba Lee Kinsey, can hear the jingling of the laser pointer two rooms away. He might have been in the middle of a pretty serious nap, but there is nothing he won’t put aside in pursuit of the glowing red dot that has heretofore eluded him. The laser pointer is Bubba’s jaguar shark or white whale. It looms large in his mind, the one foe he is unable to conquer — and no matter how many times he fails, he’s always certain that next time he’ll lift his paw and find that red dot lying dead beneath it.

Bubba Lee Kinsey has something in common with the cats in these videos, who go after the laser pointer with intensity and focus that is, well, laser-like. Don’t give up the dream, Bubba Lee Kinsey. Don’t give up the dream.

1. He’s gonna be a basketball player

Demonstrating speed, persistence, agility, and the ability to jump really, really high, this cat would probably play in the NBA if he were a human.

2. Big cats like lasers, too

Just like the furry fellow curled up on the corner of your bed at home, big cats share an affinity for catnip and boxes — so why shouldn’t they want to catch the laser pointer, too? This video from Big Cat Rescue catches your cat’s majestic jumbo cousins trying to smack down that elusive glowing red dot.

3. Mastering the technique

This pretty white kitty is perfecting her predatory shuffle across the slick hardwood floor in her home — and she’s looking like a feline-crab hybrid in the process. Perhaps this fascinating new creature will have more luck catching the laser than a mere feline.

4. Party time with Lil BUB

Lil BUB, everyone’s favorite bug-eyed space alien, could totally catch the laser pointer — if she wanted to, that is. Instead, she chooses to completely ignore her human’s vain attempts to amuse her.

5. Everyone loves a laser

Here’s videographic evidence that the love of lasers is an interspecies phenomenon — even among terrifying creatures like spiders! We still think cats are among the most persistent in the bunch.

Bonus video!

Remember that time Catster’s Sarah Donner wrote a song about whether laser pointers are good for cats? She covers the basics here, such as not shining the laser directly in your cat’s eyes and giving kitty something tangible (like a feather or catnip mouse) after a laser play session so she can get the satisfaction of actually catching her prey.

What about you? Has your cat caught the laser yet? Share in the comments!

Watch more cat videos:

• 5 Videos That Prove Big Cats are Just Like Little Cats
• The 7 Deadly Sins, as Demonstrated by Cat Videos
• Is Your Cat a Jerk? Take This Quiz to Find Out!
• 5 Important Life Lessons You Can Learn From Cat Videos
• Everything We Know About Confidence We Learned From These Siamese Cats
• This Cat Is Better at Jenga Than You Are, and Other Harsh Truths
• 5 Actionable Steps to Improve Your Bottom Line (Just Kidding! Here’s a Music Video About Kittens in Space!)
• Tips for Professional Development: Stop Working and Look at These Cats!

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• I’m Willing to Bet That Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box — Here’s Why
• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• Our Best Tips for Getting Your Cat to Let You Sleep

About Angela: This not-crazy-at-all cat lady loves to lint-roll her favorite dress and go out dancing. She also frequents the gym, the vegan coffee joint, and the warm patch of sunlight on the living room floor. She enjoys a good cat rescue story about kindness and decency overcoming the odds, and she’s an enthusiastic recipient of headbutts and purrs from her two cats, Bubba Lee Kinsey and Phoenix.