The Cattaneo hyperbolic and classical parabolic models of heat conduction in the laser irradiated materials are compared. Laser heating is modelled as an internal heat source, whose capacity is given by g(x,t)= I(t)(1−R)μexp(−μx). Analytical solution for the one-dimensional, semi-infinite body with the insulated boundary is obtained using Laplace transforms and the discussion of solutions for different time characteristics of the heat source capacity (constant, instantaneous, exponential, pulsed and periodic) is presented.