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Playtime with your feline friend is pleasurable for you both and is also very beneficial to their general health and well-being, whether they are wide-eyed kittens or sage old cats. A cat needs to be kept amused and physically and psychologically active throughout its lifetime. This is crucial if you have an indoor-only or solitary cat who doesn’t receive a lot of natural stimulation.
In order to maintain a cat’s keen senses, cat toys are created with this in mind. A cat toy can give your cat hours of entertainment, depending on their age and what they find intriguing. By encouraging your cat to pounce, jump, kick, and claw at something they believe to be prey, it can even assist your cat in maintaining a healthy weight.
Cats may be extremely choosy about what interests them and what bores them, as any human who has ever lived with a cat knows. Finding the proper toy or toys can also help you and your cat develop a closer relationship, which should ideally result in lots of purring and cuddles after playtime. We’ve compiled the top cat toys for your feline companion to aid you in your search.
Best Overall Cat Toy: BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy
Pros
- can keep your cat amused while you’re away
- Ability to attach various accessories to keep things interesting for your cat
- Integrated censor to prevent getting stuck
- battery life is prolonged when fully charged
Cons
- may terrify more cautious cats
- Cats with greater aggression may catch and swiftly consume the replaceable accessories.
The motorized, robotic BENTOPAL Automatic cat toy has several methods to enchant your cat. It contains two sizable wheels that revolve, turn, and rotate, propelling a dangling feather toy about the room in an irregular manner. Your cat will prowl, pursue, and pounce with this toy. There are two speeds (quick and slow), so you may change it to suit the disposition and activity level of your cat. Large wheels on it allow it to move across most types of flooring, including carpet.
Additionally, it includes an automated mode that will run for 10 minutes continuously, shut off for 90 minutes, and then come back on for another 10 minutes for a total of eight hours, so if you have to leave the house for the entire day, you can rest easy knowing your cat will be amused.
Price at time of publish: $30
Type: Automatic| Weight: 11.53 ounces| Material: Plastic | Lifestage: All ages
Best Laser: Cyahvtl Laser Pointer
Pros
- USB-rechargeable battery
- tiny and convenient to store
- Four different settings, including UV to highlight pet stains and white light to act as a flashlight.
- Having an on/off switch eliminates the need to continuously press the button.
Cons
- Over time, a battery’s capacity to store a charge starts to deteriorate.
Cats are renowned for enjoying laser toys, but many of them are frail or require little watch batteries, which are difficult for most people to repair. The Cyahvtl Laser Pointer, our top pick for the best laser, improves the laser experience for both people and cats thanks to its four modes—off, on, white light, and UV light—and ability to recharge the internal battery via USB.
The UV light may be used to check for undetectable pet stains on carpet, furniture, bedding, and clothing, and the flashlight mode can help you find misplaced toys under the couch. This little laser has a stainless steel finish and an on/off setting; you don’t need to hold down a button to play. It can endure a few drops, according to customers, but eventually the interior parts may start to obscure the bulb, causing the light to diffuse.
You should be aware that certain cats can become irritated with an object they can never catch, as is the case with all laser pointers. We advise pairing this game with treats or other interactive toys that your cat can actually snag a hold of.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Interactive| Weight: 1.60 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Lifestage: Adult
Best Interactive: PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser Cat Toy Bolt Interactive Laser Cat Toy
Pros
- Mirrors and a laser work together to move light around the area.
- In a home, a small device doesn’t take up much room.
- Battery-powered, thus no cord or charging is required
- setting automatically for solo play
Cons
- Batteries are not included (requires 4 AA)
We advise the PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser toy if you have an energetic cat or simply wish to pique your cat’s interest. This battery-operated, compact (3 x 3 x 9 inches) gadget with a rotating mirror that bounces light around and a laser provides hours of enjoyment. It’s perfect for solo play when you’re busy or away from home as well as gaming with you. You may move the laser light around by setting it to manual mode and holding it in your hand, or you can place it on a surface and activate the automation feature to move the laser light in different directions.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Interactive| Weight: 7.84 ounces| Material: Plastic | Lifestage: Adult
Best Wand: MeoHui Interactive Cat Toy Wand
Pros
- comes with 2 wands
- comes with 9 refills for end of wand
- different color and texture wand ends
Cons
- Cats with greater aggression might swiftly tear through fabric.
The MeoHui Interactive Cat Toy Wand will keep your cat amused while you are home and away. Our top pick for the best wand includes 9 refills of different color and shape in addition to its seductive appearance that sways in front of your cat.
The ribbons, rope, and fluffy ends will urge your cat to scratch them. With a simple hook and loop closure, it detaches so your cat may completely attack their prey. When you’re in the mood to play, you can reattach it to the wand. This toy was created to be safe for both children and pets, so there are no sharp edges, protruding cords, or other potential concerns.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Interactive| Weight: 0.16 ounces | Material: Polypropylene, Polyester, Synthetic Fabric, Plastic | Lifestage: Adult
Best for Indoor Cats: SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Cat Toys
Pros
- brings together enticing catnip with a mouse form.
- Pack contains ten toys.
- Lightweight and convenient for slinging
- All of the fiberfill stuffing is created from recycled plastic.
- No battery or charging is necessary since paw power
Cons
- Cats may lose interest if the catnip dries up.
The safest option is to keep your cat inside, but because cats are natural hunters, they can easily become bored if they don’t have enough stimulus. The SmartyKat Skitter Critters, however, can be useful. The catnip inside of these affordable ($6 for a pack of 10) mouse-shaped toys satisfies your cat’s natural hunting urge while also stimulating play and eventually lowering stress levels and promoting relaxation. The toys’ plush body and easy-to-carry shape allow your cat to play with them on his own or you can throw them and watch him follow them around.
These toys come in a pack of 10, so you’ll have more instantly available if your cat unintentionally swats one under the couch or eats out the filling.
Price at time of publish: $6 for a pack of 10
Type: Automatic| Weight: 1.13 ounces | Material: Recycled plastic | Lifestage: All ages
Best Kicker: West Coast Pet Products 15 Inch Denim Refillable Catnip Kicker
Pros
- Catnip pocket with refills
- Dark denim or light denim are the two colors offered.
- 15 inches for cats who are fully grown.
- Made by hand in the USA
Some cats adore nothing more than to roll around on their backs and bunny-kick when the mood strikes. The best item to satiate this instinct is a long, narrow kicker toy. Our best pick is a handcrafted kicker from West Coast Pet Products on Etsy. It measures 15 inches in length, contains a refillable catnip compartment, and is coated in denim to withstand frequent gnawing and clawing. The toy comes in two color choices—light or dark—and is flexible and velvety since the center is packed with soft polyester. If you have an adult cat, you should seek for a toy that is at least 12 inches long because there are many toys promoted as “kickers.”
Price at time of publish: $16
Type: Interactive| Weight: Not listed | Material: Denim and polyester | Lifestage: Adult
Best for Food-Motivated Cats: Trixie 5-in-1 Cat Activity Center
Pros
- Safe for dishwasher
- No battery or charging is necessary since paw power
- Things’s simple to change it up by adding a treat to a new location or a new flavor.
Cons
- Some cats may get dissatisfied with the harder-to-reach locations and meow for assistance.
By luring your cat into a fun game with the aroma of goodies, you can pique their curiosity and awaken their senses. The reward or the hunt—which is more satisfying? Let your cat investigate! One reviewer of the Trixie 5-in-1 wrote, “The bottom has rubber, non-slip feet to keep it in place, so it won’t budge even if our cat begins playing too rough.” We discovered that the board stayed in place better on hard surfaces than on carpet.
A food-motivated cat will be intrigued by the Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center. It has several nooks. You can bury your cat’s favorite treats and foods in crannies, pegs, lanes, tunnels, and bowls. This toy is composed of dishwasher-safe plastic, so don’t worry about crumbs or unwashed food particles. When cats apply their intelligence and hunting prowess and are successful, they are gratefully rewarded with a tasty treat.
Price at time of publish: $34
Type: Interactive| Weight: 3.2 pounds | Material: Plastic | Lifestage: Adult
Best for Lazy Cats: OurPets Catnip 24 Karat Cat Toy
Pros
- filled entirely with catnip
- made of canvas to resist stains.
- Customers claim that this toy’s appeal from the catnip lasts for months or even years.
- No battery or charging is necessary since paw power
Cons
- Cats may lose interest if the catnip dries up.
- Very small (5.25 X 2.25 inches) and can easily get lost in the cushions or under furniture and appliances
- Feathers frequently disappear quickly.
The OurPets Catnip 24 Karat Cat Toy is our top recommendation if your cat doesn’t get excited about the chance to run around or chase after a different animal. 100% catnip is used to fill the claw-able canvas carrot, making it stimulating and calming for individuals who prefer to express themselves through meows and purrs.
Imagine your cat happily nibbling on the ginger-colored canvas, happily swatting at its feathers, and happily lying on its back to engage in some pawing action while their paws are wrapped around the fake root vegetable. Dangling the carrot in front of your cat will fulfill their innate urge to hunt, so you can join in on the fun. According to how much your cat enjoys chewing things, the feathers may come off quite rapidly, but the canvas is meant to last endless hours of play.
Price at time of publish: $4
Type: Plush toy| Weight: 1.6 ounces | Material: Plush | Lifestage: All ages
Best for Older Cats: Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy
Pros
- While moving along tracks, colorful balls won’t roll off and get lost.
- No battery or charging is necessary since paw power
- Suitable for cat families with many cats and autonomous play
- Tower’s base is non-slip to help keep it in position.
Cons
- Cats with greater aggression may be able to knock a ball loose.
- Customers complain that the tower comes with either 3 or 6 balls, which is inconsistent.
The Petstages Tower of Tracks is the perfect remedy if your elderly cat pal appears a little less energetic these days. Each level of this toy’s three tiers has vibrant spinning balls. The balls spin and roll as your cat bats at them, yet they stay on the intended course. The hunter instinct is satisfied, but because the balls stay in the tower, your older cat won’t have to chase them around the room or look for them beneath the couch (and neither will you!)
For cat parents who are also working, this toy is a fantastic option. Even if you aren’t home, your cat can amuse themselves.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Interactive| Weight: 0.6 pounds | Material: Plastic | Lifestage: Adult
Best Ribbon Toy: Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Toy
Pros
- engages both youngsters and cats of all ages
- Stick is constructed from durable cloth to withstand tugs and pulls.
- The fabric is non-toxic and colorfast.
- No battery or charging is necessary since paw power
Cons
- Cats may quickly gnaw through fabric.
A cherished cat favorite that has delighted cats for ages is the ribbon toy. Our favorite variation on the traditional is the Cat Dancer Charmer because of its almost indestructible handle and the vibrant, upbeat strands of color. With ribbons that are four feet long, this interactive toy will have your cat jumping and pouncing around the room. It’s a terrific way to keep your pet active and occupied. It is safe to use with both cats and kittens during fun, and several pleased customers have discovered that their kids really like its timeless style!
Price at time of publish: $7
Type: Interactive| Weight: 0.8 ounces | Material: Polycarbonate wand, fabric | Lifestage: All ages
What to Look for in a Cat Toy
Benefits
The majority of toys are made simply to provide enjoyment, but several also offer advantages for your cat. For instance, some toys feature built-in scratchers to keep cats’ claws in good condition, while others have chewable parts to promote good oral hygiene. Your cat can move around and use their muscles with a variety of toys. As you shop, keep these wellness advantages in mind.
Solo Play
Are you seeking for a toy that you can provide for your cats to play with when they are home alone, or something else? Think on whether solitary play is important to your child because this will determine the kind of toy you should acquire.
Engagement
You are the best person to judge if a cat would use a particular toy frequently since you know them better than anybody else. Cats can be picky, and they frequently play with a toy once before putting it away forever. It’s advisable to choose a toy you know they’ll enjoy playing with if you’re unsure of whether they’ll appreciate it. You might also think about letting your cat play with a toy only periodically if they get bored with it rapidly. This will keep the toy fresh and interesting.
FAQ
Why do cats put toys in water?
Although there isn’t a clear reason why many cats regularly drop their toys in their water bowls, researchers who study feline behavior have a few possibilities. The most plausible explanation, according to specialists consulted by pet store Chewy, is that cats bring their toys, or “prey,” back to the location they regard to be their territory, which is most likely where they feed and drink.
Your cat may have found the pastime fascinating after you accidently dropped a toy into their water dish the first time. Or they might think of their bowl as a convenient spot to keep their prey till later. The reason cats submerge toys in water is ultimately unknown, but it does appear to be a natural outgrowth of a cat’s hunting and territorial instincts.
Why does my cat carry around a toy?
Another cat behavior for which there is no clear solution is this one. By keeping their “prey” toy close by and away from other predators, your cat may be feeding a hunting and territorial urge. However, a different theory would suggest an almost opposing connection, with your cat acting like a parent toward the toy by moving it around like a kitten. We currently only have best-guess explanations for this behavior.
Do cats need chew toys?
Some animals, particularly rodent pets like hamsters, have incisor teeth that grow continuously and must be kept in check through gnawing, so they need chew toys for their health. Cats are not like this, and they don’t need chew toys for physiological reasons. Instead, some cats love the recreational activity of chewing more than others.
