led pointer cat toy = good idea?

[eric twinge]

Edit: The title is meant to have a question mark at the end. Can this be changed?

I picked up one of these at the weekend for Denzo:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_toys/laser_...

He seemed to like it I thought and followed it around the house.
However after watching his behaviour afterwards and thinking about it, I'm not too sure I think it is a good idea. He is a very active cat, when you let him into the back garden he is chasing flies, bits of fluff floating on the air and making all sorts of noises at any bird that flies within a certain radius of the house. He has already killed a wood pigeon and had a go at a chicken in a coop a few doors down. That is what cats do the kids love watching him stalk around the garden as if he is in the serengeti.
However the led pointer is now striking me as rather cruel as it goes against all cat instincts to me, no noise, no real end to the play, he does seem really confused when the light goes off.
What do others think?

Edited by eric twinge on Wednesday 23 April 10:31