If I recall correctly, it was an MIT student prank. This looks to be an early copy:
https://public.websites.umich.edu/~rsc/Humour/www.bonsaikitt...
Regardless, my approach has been to start by putting together one of those 3V lithium battery LED assemblies, wrapping it up in clear tape, and hiding it under the dog bed. This takes about 30 seconds of preparation.
Then I run the cats around with the laser pointer for a few minutes, and finally let them watch the dot "hide" under the dog bed, so that they reach in and pull out their prize.
Which they then attack for a few seconds, but lose interest in pretty quickly, because it doesn't run away or smell edible. But their predator success desire is met, I think.
This chase-catch-abandon cycle is their MO for flying bugs and mice as well, FWIW. They seem to enjoy it, although I am not sure it's any easier to measure feline pleasure than feline frustration.
In his particular case, his hunting instinct doesn’t help, I’m sure. He’s a pit bull, but that speckled neck and feet tells me that there’s some Spaniel in there somewhere.
I wonder how they arrived at that. Do I have to expect my cat to start talking, “Cut the BS and give me the fish already”?
Still, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a catquarium to be something like https://anycrap.shop/product/cat-aquarium