We Found the Best Cat Toys After Testing More Than 50

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

A cat on a tile floor playing with BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy

The Spruce Pets / Candace Madonna

There is no perfect cat toy. Cats are notorious for their fleeting interest and often rotate between a few favorite items. They are intelligent, apex predators, and have individual preferences. Great cat toys should provide variety, reward effort, and deepen your connection with your cat.

That's why we tested more than 50 bestselling and well-reviewed cat toys, across a wide range of categories. We looked at lasers, puzzle, toys, wands, kickers, and got messy with the catnip. While there's no way to declare one cat toy the very best, we think most cats will respond to the Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand.

Our Top Picks

Start Here

Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip

Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip

Chewy

What We Like
  • Comes in two colors

  • Multiple cat-loved components

  • Filled with catnip

  • Sturdy but bouncy line

  • Flexible wand

What We Don't Like
  • Cord easily knots

  • Feathers fall off with heavy play

  • Catnip isn't refillable

When it comes to fun, this wand toy with a bright stuffed bird delivers. The plastic-coated flexible wand holds up to some serious hanging and pulling and the stretchy cord gives the right amount of tug resistance when your cat has captured it and is holding on with a strong bite. The outer material of the bird has soft shaggy fur and the stitched eyes and mouth mean no worrying about glued plastic pieces popping off during play. 

Bright but not garishly loud colors easily grab your cat’s attention, and the realistic feathered arms and dangly collection of satin ribbons seal the deal. There’s also a very faint crinkle to the body of the bird. The catnip in the toy is not refillable. The Frisco Bird toy can be danced in the air, dragged across the floor, and dangled in front of hiding places. The bird is small, but shaped well for bunny kicking.

We sent the Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand to a house with a young cat and two older cats—both teenagers. The older two fought for the bird like kittens, according to our tester, and the younger cat would play with it after the elders tired out. For all three cats, the Frisco Bird inspired "immediate interest."

Normally, we try to stay away from toys that have thin satin ribbons, but over the years, the dangling ribbons on this toy haven’t raised any red flags. Fair warning, though, the feathers are dainty and start to shorten from breakage over time. Overall, this bird toy can easily become a favorite in the rotation, so we’re happy to see that it doesn’t cost much to replace.

Type: Wand and teaser, catnip | Dimensions: 2 x 9 x 22 inches | Weight: n/a | Material: Polyester, elastic, plastic | Lifestage: Adult, senior

Best Spot Laser

Cowjag Cat Toys Laser Pointer

Cowjag Cat Toys Laser Pointer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Four fun laser patterns

  • USB charger

  • LED white, UV, and red laser functions

  • Wrist strap and pocket clip

  • Slide button design

What We Don’t Like
  • USB 2.0-only charging plug

Along with the standard single red dot, the Cowjag Laser Pointer Cat Toy with Five Adjustable Patterns provides four fun red laser patterns—a mouse, butterfly, smile, and star—to help keep your cat’s interest. Rotating through the options just requires a one-finger touch of the built-in wheel towards the tip of the laser pointer. In addition to these five red laser options, this lightweight, pocket-sized pointer also includes a handy LED white light flashlight and UV light setting. 

The best lasers for use with your cat are low-power to best protect their eyes, and so laser pointers for cats are most often relatively inexpensive, which means you'll see lots of similar models to the Cowjag. We recommend you look for two features in particular. Most importantly: a slide switch so that you don't have to hold down a button the entire time you're playing with your cat. Also, a rechargeable battery so you don't have to ever worry about replacing those little canister watch batteries.

In addition to its fun extras, the Cowjag has those key features. Its Lithium polymer battery recharges through a built-in USB 2.0 plug at the base of the pointer. The plug is covered with a pop-off cap, just be sure to keep your eye on it when removed since it’s small and easy to misplace. You’ll get about three hours of total use out of a 1.5-hour full charge.

Type: Hunting, interactive | Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 1.05 ounces | Material: Aluminum alloy | Lifestage: Adult

Laser Safety

Red laser pointers for cats are generally low-power—under 5 Milli-Watts—and safe for play. Still, you should never shine a laser directly into any pet or person's eyes, because exposure can result in vision damage.

Best Wand

Pet Fit for Life Cat Wand Teaser and Exerciser with 2 Feathers

Pet Fit for Life Cat Wand Teaser and Exerciser with 2 Feathers

Amazon

What We Like
  • Flexible nylon wand with grip handle

  • Comes with two feather lures

  • Easy-to-use lobster claw clasp


What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for small spaces

  • Two-part wand sometimes separates during play

The Pet Fit for Life Cat Wand is our favorite wand toy, with a two-part wand and a line that can be maneuvered fast enough for young, fit, and acrobatic cats. It comes with two colorful, fluffy, and fuzzy feather lures that attach to the wand via a no-hassle lobster claw clasp. There’s a good chance the wand will outlast the lures, so we like that you can replace the lure with any lure on a loop, giving this wand toy extended life and value. We also like the padded grip, making it comfortable to hold onto for extended play sessions. However, the lengthy 33-inch pole and 33-inch string make this cat toy best in large, open spaces.

We also found that our cat was sometimes able to pull the two parts of the wand apart by tugging on the lure. It would be easy to glue the two parts together permanently, but it never happened enough to bother us, and it was sometimes better than relinquishing the entire wand when our tester cat wanted to drag the lure under a table for a more in-depth investigation.

Type: Wand and teaser | Dimensions: 30 inches | Weight: 0.6 pounds | Material: Nylon, feather, ribbon | Lifestage: All

Best Interactive Laser

YVE LIFE Automatic Cat Laser Toy

YVE LIFE Automatic Cat Laser Toy with cat playing in the laser's light

Amazon

What We Like
  • Motion sensor activated

  • Rechargeable battery

  • Multiple laser speed options

What We Don't Like
  • Wall plug isn’t included

  • We wish the slowest mode was slower

The YVE LIFE 4th Generation Cat Laser Toy uses dual motors to randomize its laser patterns up, down, and side to side. Plus you can adjust the head position yourself. Projecting a laser dot from a height of 8 to 35 inches, the YVE LIFE toy has a motion detector that initiates a 15-minute play session when your cat approaches the toy. The motion detector will pick up your cat if they get within 13-feet of the laser toy, and will only activate once every two hours, so that your cat doesn’t get overstimulated or bored with it. You can set it to fast, slow, or a variable speed setting.

Some interactive laser toys use regular batteries, but the YVE LIFE version includes a 1000Amh battery that can keep it charged over two days of use. It fully recharges in 2.5 hours, and can be used while plugged in too, though we wish its USB cable came with a wall socket adapter. It also would be nice if the slowest setting was a little slower. But those are just nitpicks—this is an engaging automatic laser toy, with the best combination of features we've seen in the category.

Type: Interactive, laser | Dimensions: 3.4 x 3.4 x 6.3 inches | Power Source: 1000Amh rechargeable battery, USB | Laser Color: Red | Lifestage: Adult

Best Scratch Toy

LMUGOOS Cat Scratcher

LMUGOOS Cat Scratcher

Amazon

What We Like
  • Made from natural sisal fiber and pinewood

  • Longer lifespan than cardboard

  • Includes springer puff and trackball

  • Less mess than cardboard

  • Stylish, modern design

  • Simple to assemble

What We Don’t Like
  • Bell components can be noisy

This natural pinewood scratcher toy is a 3-in-1 entertainment center for your cat. It’s a satisfying sisal scratcher, a three-ball (and bell) circular trackball, and a spring-mounted batting ball in one. We fell in love with this scratcher for its beautiful, modern natural design and natural wood and fiber materials. It’s likely to be the most stylish cat toy in the house—but that all comes at a price. Whereas a hefty majority of toys that incorporate a scratcher element are bargain-priced, they’re also made from flimsy, short-lived corrugated cardboard that shreds into a mess after a few good scratch sessions or has a brightly-colored plastic base that doubles as an eyesore. In the end, the clean design and durability of this scratcher are worth their weight in catnip. If your cat ends up playing with this toy a little too often, never fear; you can save your sanity by removing the jingly bell components. Keep the toy from sliding on hard floors by sticking on the included slip-stop pads. 

Type: Interactive, hunting | Dimensions: 16 x 13.4 x 1.85 inches | Weight: 2.87 pounds | Material: Sisal, pinewood, metal, | Lifestage: All

Best Big Toy

Vetreska Cat Billiards Toy

Vetreska Cat Billiards Toy with cat sitting on top of the pool table

Amazon

What We Like
  • Several toy options in one

  • Durable and portable

  • Easy one-tool setup and assembly

  • Good for multicat households

  • Incredibly cute

What We Don’t Like
  • Green felt top is hard to keep hair-free

  • Expensive

The cuteness outweighs the kitsch for us when it comes to mini pool tables for cats. If you’ve got the space for a bigger toy and want to cover several cat toy bases with one purchase, this realistic cat pool table racks up big points. It’s pricey, but the value is in the quality and well-executed details. We’re talking sisal-wrapped scratching post legs, netted pockets, numbered felt pool balls, and two wand toy pool cues.  It’s a one-stop shop for your cat’s batting, swatting, lounging, and scratching needs—there’s even enough space for most cats to hide out under the table. Just be sure to keep your pet hair-removing device handy because keeping the classic green felt top hair-free is a commitment. We like that this toy allows for interactive play with your cat, but it is also interesting enough to entertain your cat with self-play. Bonus: it’s also big enough to be a shared toy in multi-cat households. 

Type: Interactive, wand | Dimensions: 29.5 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Material: Wood, jute, felt, density board | Lifestage: Kittens, adult

Best Catnip

OurPets Catnip 24 Karat Cat Toy

OurPets Catnip 24 Karat Cat Toy

Chewy

What We Like
  • Filled with 100 percent catnip

  • Made of canvas to withstand scratches

  • Customers report the appeal of catnip in this toy lasting for months, even years

  • Paw-powered, no charging or battery required

What We Don't Like
  • Feathers tend to fall off quickly

The OurPets Catnip 24 Karat Cat Toy is a claw-able canvas carrot is filled with 100 percent catnip. It's a lot like other plush catnip toys out there, except just a little bit better. It's a little bit bigger—big enough for your cat to nuzzle and kick it, but not so big they can't carry it easily from place to place. The fabric is more durable, with a feel closer to denim. And it comes with feathers, which may fall off after a few days of play, but help stoke your cat's initial interest enough for them to develop an attachment.

Cats don't always pick the more premium toys as their favorites—just ask the nearest cardboard box—but our two test cats continue to drag out their cosmic carrot months after initial purchase, while other chew toys gather dust.

There's also a banana, fish, chili pepper, and cactus version.

Type: Kicker, catnip | Dimensions: 5.25 x 2.25 inches | Weight: 1.6 ounces | Material: Cloth and catnip | Lifestage: All

Best Puzzle Toy

Nina Ottosson Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game

Nina Ottosson Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game

Chewy

What We Like
  • Requires two different types of interaction

  • Medium difficulty

  • Easy to clean

  • Large enough to fit entire meals

  • BPA-free

What We Don’t Like
  • Can get a little noisy during play

Puzzle game like the Nina Ottosson Puzzle & Play require your cat to manipulate the toy in order to reveal treats. We like the Buggin' Out puzzle game so much because of its high-quality construction, moderate difficulty, and how it requires two separate actions. In order to reveal a treat, your cat will have to both slide a peg and swivel a leaf out of the way. This creates an additional layer of challenge compared to most similar toys, while still being solvable for most cats.

The Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play is an all-around high quality toy. It's BPA free and made of food safe materials—a wood and plastic composite—with no removable parts to lose. It's durable and you can dunk the whole thing in soapy water for cleaning. Plus, it's large enough that you could use it to deliver entire meals.

Nina Ottoson offers a range of similar cat puzzle toys, ranted by difficulty, with "Level 4" as the hardest. The Buggin' Out toy is a Level 2.

Type: Puzzle, interactive | Dimensions: 13 x 9.5 x 1.26 inches | Weight: 16 ounces | Material: Plastic | Lifestage: All ages

Best Kicker

Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish

Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish

Amazon

What We Like
  • Multiple fish species options

  • USB rechargeable

  • Activated by your pet

  • Catnip and silvervine packet included

  • Three modes to maintain cat interest

  • Washable outer covering

  • Refillable

What We Don’t Like
  • Doesn’t come with wall plug adapter

A refillable catnip toy that looks like a fish and flops like a fish? This motorized kicker toy has wiggled to the top of our list. We love how surprisingly realistic it is from its fish shape to the outer-printed fish print, and the cat-activated flopping. A hidden zipper on the belly gives you access to the USB-chargeable motor, on/off switch, and refillable catnip pocket (it comes with one packet of catnip and silverline packet to start you off). The fish lays dormant until you or your cat activates it and then flops intermittently to keep your cat interested and in hunting mode. Choose between six different fish, including koi and clownfish. Did we mention these slightly padded covers can also be removed and tossed in the wash when dirty?

When it comes down to it, there’s not much we don’t like about this flippity-floppity fish toy, but we do wish the USB 2.0 charging cable came with a wall plug adapter. 

Type: Interactive, kicker, hunting | Dimensions: 10.5 x x 1.5 inches | Weight: | Material: | Lifestage:

Best Trackball

Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy

Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy with different levels of saucers and balls

Amazon

What We Like
  • Brightly colored balls are moveable along tracks but won't roll out and get lost

  • Paw-powered, no charging or battery required

  • Suitable for multiple-cat households and independent play

  • Tower has a non-slip base to help keep it in place

What We Don't Like
  • More aggressive cats might be able to knock a ball loose

  • Customers report inconsistencies in the number of balls included (3 or 6) with the tower


If your senior feline friend seems a little less active these days, the Petstages Tower of Tracks is the ideal solution. This three-tiered toy features colorful spinning balls contained on each level. When your cat bats at the balls, they spin and roll, but don’t leave the designated track. This satisfies your cat’s hunting instinct but since the balls don’t leave the tower, your elder cat won’t have to chase them around the room or go looking for them under the couch (and neither will you!)

This toy is a great solution for the working cat parent, too. Your kitty can entertain themself even when you’re not at home.

Type: Interactive | Dimensions: 5.25 x 10 inches | Weight: 8.8 ounces | Material: Plastic | Lifestage: All

Best Tunnel

PAWZ Road Cat Tunnel

PAWZ Collapsible Road Cat Tunnel

Amazon

What We Like
  • Collapses nearly flat

  • Ability to connect multiple tunnels

  • Has a hanging ball toy

  • Available in two lengths

  • Soft edges for extra safety

  • Has a peekaboo hole

What We Don’t Like
  • Available only in gray

  • Higher-than-average price

This collapsible toy tunnel brings the crinkle. Available in two sizes, we like that there’s an option for smaller spaces—and that it doesn’t omit one of the most important cat tunnel features: the peekaboo hole. It’s the perfect place for your cat to pop its head up in a game of hide-and-seek, or to use as a hole to tempt your cat with a wand toy lure.

Cheaply made cat tunnels can be dangerous since the inner mechanism is metal wiring that can easily break through thin material. Double-layered fabric—a crinkly inner layer and soft microfiber outer layer—make this tunnel extra tough. Even better, the edges are rimmed with an extra sturdy and soft terry cloth-like material and the interior wiring is thicker than value tunnels. Unfortunately, it’s only available in a drab gray color. 

Type: Interactive, hunting | Dimensions: 26.4 or 51.2  inches | Weight: 3.98 ounces | Material: | Lifestage: All

Best for Hunting

Hexbug nano Robotic Cat Toy

Hexbug nano Robotic Cat Toy

Amazon

What We Like
  • Multiple color options available

  • Robotic movement paired with vibrations and feathers for engagement

  • Engages a cat's natural instinct to hunt

  • Battery powered

What We Don't Like
  • Requires inconvenient button cell batteries

  • Small (6 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches) and easy to lose

If you’ve ever witnessed your cat's hunting instincts activate at the sight of a moth or beetle then you will definitely see the appeal of the HEXBUG nano Robotic Cat Toy. These things skitter just like a real cockroach. Available in an array of colorful options, this robotic cat toy uses vibration technology to move around your home, enticing your cat to chase, pounce, and swat. It changes direction when it meets obstacles and can flip back onto its feet when your cat inevitably knocks it over on its back. It also has a brightly-colored feather tail to entice your cat into giving chase.

Type: Hunting, interactive | Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches | Weight:  0.02 ounces | Material: Plastic, electronics | Lifestage: Adult

Best for Active Cats

BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy

BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy and box

Amazon

What We Like
  • Can entertain cat while you are away from home

  • Ability to attach various accessories to keep things interesting for your cat

  • Built-in censor to avoid getting stuck

  • Long battery life when fully charged

What We Don't Like
  • May frighten more timid cats

The Bentopal Automatic cat toy is a motorized, robotic toy with various ways to charm your cat. It has a hanging feather toy attached to two large wheels that swivel, turn, and rotate, moving the toy around the room in an erratic pattern. This toy entices your cat to stalk, chase, and pounce. There are two modes (fast and slow), so you can adjust it according to your cat’s mood and activity level. It has large wheels which can run on most types of flooring, including carpet.

Plus, it has an automatic mode—it will run for 10 straight minutes, turn off for 90 minutes, and then turn back on for another 10 minutes for eight total hours—so if you have to leave the house all day, you can feel better knowing your cat will be entertained.

We tested the Bentopal Automatic Cat Toy in a household with four cats, and the more timid cats would watch with interest, but were too scared to interact with the Bentopal when it was rolling around. However, all of the cats were interested in the toy when it was set to stand still and swipe its lure back and forth like a windshield wiper. If you know your cats are a little skittish, then you might want to seek out a less aggressive toy.

Type: Interactive, hunting | Dimensions: | Weight: 11.83 ounces | Material: Plastic | Lifestage: All

Best Mice Toys

SmartyKat Skitter Critters Cat Toys

SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Cat Toys

Amazon

What We Like
  • Pairs irresistible catnip with an alluring mouse shape

  • Pack includes 10 toys

  • Lightweight and easy to toss around

  • Fiberfill stuffing is made of 100% recycled plastic

What We Don't Like
  • Once the catnip dries out, cats might lose interest

SmartyKat Skitter Critters are inexpensive ($6 for a pack of 10) mouse-shaped toys loaded with catnip. They're on the small side for chew toys, making them perfect for carrying around. They are easy to grip, with string tails and little felt ears. Our tester cats especially loved to dunk the mice in their water bowl. They seemed to be having fun, but it did get a little aggravating.

There may be bigger and fancier mice toys out there, but they probably won't excite your cat as much as this bulk pack of tiny mice, which they'll carry, kick, and chase all over your house.

Type: Hunting, wand and teaser, kicker | Dimensions: 2 x 1 x 1 inches | Weight: 1.45 ounces | Material: Felt | Lifestage: All

Best Ribbon

Cat Dancer Cat Charmer

Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Toy

Amazon

What We Like
  • Soft cloth ribbon

  • Non-toxic dye and colorfast fabric

  • Flexible but extremely sturdy wand

What We Don’t Like
  • Less engaging for athletic cats who prefer lures

Cats go wild for this extra-long and extra-colorful rainbow ribbon toy. This ribbon wand toy goes the distance with its four-foot long, super soft cloth ribbon and impressive durability. The 16-inch polycarbonate wand handle can withstand weight from the strongest of kitty pulls—it can be bent into a “U” shape without breaking. The long soft ribbon is gentle against claws, paws, and gums, and uses non-toxic, color safe dye. We also appreciate that this product is made in the United States in a solar-powered facility.

The lengthy ribbon is great for pulling on the floor for hunt-and-chase play and easily flutters through the air, enticing your cat into record jumps. Our only gripes are that the long ribbon can wear out your arm after a few minutes. Since the fleecy ribbon creates a lot of air resistance, it's hard to whip this around too fast—more athletic cats used to playing with a lure are likely to be less interested in this less challenging alternative.

Type: Wand and teaser | Dimensions: 48 x 0.25 x 16 inches | Weight: 0.96 ounces | Material: Cloth, polycarbonate | Lifestage: All

Best for Kittens

SmartyKat Silly Swinger Wand

SmartyKat Silly Swinger 2-in-1 Wand Cat Toy

Amazon

What We Like
  • Intimate play experience

  • Detachable catnip fluff toy

  • Cute design with soft colors

  • Soft, feathery puff lure

What We Don’t Like
  • Rough velcro component

  • Thin ribbon component

The SmartyKat Silly Swinger 2-in-1 Wand is a kitten-sized wand toy that allows for more intimate playtime with your young furbaby. There’s no extra rubbery grip coating on the wand that your kitten might accidentally nibble off when chewing and the ribbon component is made from natural materials like cotton and twine. It’s a cute toy sporting stripes and soft colors like lime green, cream, and pink. The end of the lure is a fuzzy puff great for tickling your kitty’s face to entice play.

Though we appreciate the detachable (mild) catnip toy since it’s like getting two toys in one, we suggest cutting the two thin ribbons off so your cat doesn’t accidentally chew them off and ingest any portion. Also, when the toy is detached, be sure to mind kitty’s soft tongue against the rough patch of velcro. 

Type: Wand and teaser | Dimensions: 0.16 ounces | Weight: 0.16 ounces | Material: Plastic, polyester, twine, synthetic feather, faux fur|  Lifestage: All

Best Variety Pack

MIBOTE 28 Pcs Cat Toys Assorted

MIBOTE 28 Pcs Cat Toys Assorted

Amazon

What We Like
  • Convenient way to try out several toy types

  • Surprisingly good quality for value products

  • Includes a collapsible tunnel and stuffed fish

  • Non-toxic dyes

  • Great for multi-cat households

What We Don’t Like
  • Items vary with each order

  • Some components can break and be dangerous

Not sure what kind of toys are your cat’s bag? This 28-piece variety pack of cat toys is a bargain bag of 13 different types of toys. Even though the exact toys vary with each purchase, we like that this bundle is likely to include basics like a wand toy, tunnel toy with hanging balls, and several smaller hunting and chase toys. This is a great pack for new cat owners who aren't quite sure what type of toys their kitty will respond to best, and it works well for multi-cat households on a budget. The quality is better than expected (and when compared to other similar variety packs), though these are still value items so you’ll want to keep an eye on for smaller pieces to break off, like feathers.

Type: Hunting, interactive | Dimensions: Various | Weight: 12.6 ounces | Material: Various | Lifestage: All

Best Chirping Toy

Potaroma Cat Toys Flapping Bird

Potaroma Cat Toys Flapping Bird

Amazon

What We Like
  • Touch activated

  • Realistic bird chirping sound

  • Can be used as a wand toy lure

  • Washable soft plush outer shell

  • Three wing flapping speeds

  • USB rechargeable

What We Don’t Like
  • Wall plug adapter no included

This bird chirping toy wins big in our books because of its adorable look, soft plush feel, and convenient USB charging. Battery life is solid and our sanity is grateful that this touch-activated toy will stop chirping and flapping in a minute or so if it’s not actively being played with. The bird chirps are realistic but shrill and may scare off timid cats, but luckily this toy works well as a kicker toy in the off mode, too. A hidden velcro pouch in the bird’s backside holds the battery and motor mechanism and is roomy enough to stuff in a packet of catnip for extra allure. It turns on with a simple on-off switch. Three flapping speeds (vigorous, intermittent, and slow) keep things varied for cat attention spans, and the outer plush cover can be removed for handwashing which helps to keep the toy sanity over time. You’re also able to hook the bird onto a wand toy—a great way to make it even more lively and lifelike for your cat. The USB 2.0 charger doesn’t come with an AC adapter. 

Type: Hunting, kicker, interactive, catnip | Dimensions: 4 x 8 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 4.16 ounces | Material: n/a | Lifestage: All

Final Verdict

The Frisco Feather Wand Teaser Cat Toy came in as our best overall pick since it combines the playful power of a bouncy and plush catnip-filled lure with feather and ribbons. The price comes in low for a product made with good materials. It’s just a good old fashioned stuffed wand toy that is almost a guaranteed hit. We were also smitten with the LMUGOOS Cat Scratcher, a natural materials (wood and sisal) cat scratcher with staying power, plus it’s got a built-in trackball element.

How We Tested Cat Toys

We've tested dozens of cat toys, including in our most recent wave of testing, where we assembled 51 popular and well-reviewed cat toys, then sent them out our pool of volunteer testers for multi-week trials with real cats. Dozens of cats have participated in our testing, and their guardians provide detailed responses after following a methodology created by our research team. Our writers and editors are also pet owners themselves, and have contributed first-hand accounts of other beloved products that have made our list of the very best cat toys.

What to Know About Cat Toys

Play teaches your cat important life skills, like how to hunt and how to socialize. Cats can—and should—indulge in self-play, interactive play with humans, and play with other cats, if possible. Cats may not always be social, but still require regular exercise for physical health and mental stimulation. Bored cats can become depressed or anxious, develop eating or other behavioral disorders.

Types of Cat Toys

  • Hunting: These toys simulate the thrill of the hunt, giving the cat something to chase, pounce on, and attack. 
  • Kicker: A classic toy that replicates what a cat would do with prey after it’s been caught. A good kicker toy is large enough for a cat to bite and bunny kick at the same time. 
  • Wands and teasers: Exercise toys that help to increase paw-eye coordination and dangle a lure or ribbon from a wand or rod. These often require a human to wave the wand for play. 
  • Brain game: Anything that works to exercise your cat’s mind, such as puzzles, trackballs, or hide-and-seek toys. Most mental stimulation toys are designed for cats to play with on their own. 
  • Catnip: Items that can be filled or come pre-filled with catnip or silvervine as the primary means to engage your cat. These can be used for solo play or with a human. 
  • Interactive: Interactive cat toys are integral for the mental, physical, and social stimulation of indoor cats, particularly solo cats. These are toys that “play back” with your cat and have an offensive or defensive element and don’t require another cat or a human to keep the play party going. Think motorized toys, crinkly tunnels, and puzzle toys

Life Stage

Most cat toys are suitable for cats of all ages, but some toys may only be suitable for adult cats or explicitly designed for kittens or senior cats. Young kittens and older cats have special considerations that should be taken into account when selecting an appropriate toy. Kittens are small, clumsy, building coordination, and don’t have a lot of experience. Toys for kittens should be soft, simple, and free from hazardous components like large feathers, long strings, or loose parts that may accidentally be swallowed. 

Senior cats may have mobility issues, achy joints, trouble seeing, or less interested in toys. Pick out toys that keep any physical limitations your senior cat may have top of mind. This may mean a toy that requires less heavy lifting, has less complicated components, and doesn’t require high jumps or repetitive batting. Treat-dispensing puzzles, straightforward wand toys, and catnip filled toys often fare well with senior cats since they dish out a little reward right off the bat and have varying activity level needs. 

How to Encourage Play

Encourage play by inviting your cat to play during several short play sessions each day. Play is a learned behavior for cats, meaning they learn how to play and appropriate etiquette for play from play interactions with other cats. Rescued cats that didn’t grow up well socialized will have hunting instincts but may need help from their humans to sharpen these skills through play. If your cat is new to playing, it can be good to introduce different types of toys into their routine until you (and your cat) find some favorites. It can also help to demonstrate how to play with a toy so your cat can watch and imitate. 

If your cat won’t play, don’t force it. Forcing your cat to play when it’s not interested will only give your cat a negative association with playtime or a particular toy, so keep your eyes peeled for signs of disinterest or annoyance from your cat. One golden rule that encourages your cat to play and to continue to play is to always let your cat get its target. Give your cat the time and opportunity to stalk, pounce, kick, and bite its prey several times during playtime and one last time at the end of the session. As your cat becomes more skilled at playing with a certain toy, further encourage play by upping the challenge, if you can.

FAQ
  • Why do cats put toys in water?

    While there's no definitive explanation for why many cats habitually drop their toys in their water bowls, feline behavior researchers have a few theories. According to experts consulted by pet retailer Chewy, the most likely explanation is that cats bring their toys, or "prey," back to the place they consider their territory, which is most likely to be where they eat and drink. After the first time accidentally dropping a toy into their water bowl, your cat may have found the activity stimulating. Or they could see their bowl as a good place to store their prey for later. Ultimately, we don't know for sure why cats put toys in water, but it does seem to be a natural extension of a cat's hunting and territorial behaviors.

  • Why does my cat carry around a toy?

    This is another cat behavior without a definitive answer. Your cat may be satisfying a hunting and territorial instinct, by keeping their "prey" toy close by and away from competing predators. But another possible explanation suggests nearly the opposite relationship, with your cat expressing parental instincts in relation to the toy—moving it from spot to spot like it's a kitten. For now, we have only best-guess interpretations of this behavior.

  • Do cats need chew toys?

    Some pets require chew toys for their health—rodent pets like hamsters, for example, have incisor teeth that grow continuously, and must be kept in check through chewing. Cats are not like this, and have no physiological need for chew toys. Instead, chewing is a recreational behavior some cats enjoy more than others.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

Roundup writer K. Alex Beaven is lucky to have been a proud pet parent to 13 feisty felines over several decades. Through the years, she has used everything from a spare sock filled with catnip and simple wand toys to intricate puzzle toys and hundreds of different styles of cat mice to get her cats up, moving, thinking, and hunting. Alex has also written stories for The Spruce Pets on The Best Kitten Foods, Best Bone Broth for Cats, and Best Lickable Cat Treats.

A previous version of this roundup was written by Lindsay Boyers, a cat mom of three, who’s been told more than once that she’s too obsessed with her cats (as if that’s even a thing).

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement