Regarding the Cat Fan movie, I think they just wanted to watch the cat staring at the toy as it went round and round. They never could have expected in a million years that he would snag it and go for a ride!
Besides, I'm sure he was fine after he shook off that wall collision.
LOL! Pinky's handler is definitely asking for trouble throughout the video. And the fan cat - no doubt you're right, the cat's owners didn't expect his flight, and man, that thud. Yikes.