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The Spruce Pets / Amelia Manley Pet Toys Factory
As most people who live with them have discovered, cats either go crazy for a cat toy or couldn’t care less. But interactive cat toys that respond in some way when played with can get even the laziest kitty moving for a more active and healthy lifestyle.
“The benefits of interactive toys for cats, especially indoor ones, are enrichment when they otherwise may not have an enriching environment," explains Dr. Crista Coppola, certified applied animal behaviorist at the University of Arizona. "Indoor life can be a bit mundane for a cat that is a natural-born hunter that would normally spend its day in the wild stalking and catching prey,” she says. “Interactive toys specifically satisfy the categories of mental, physical, and social enrichment.”
Interactive cat toys are particularly valuable in households with just one cat. “While cats are not socially obligate like our dogs, they most definitely enjoy social interactions with social partners,” adds Dr. Coppola. “Interactive toys help strengthen the human-animal bond and can also help relieve stress for a cat that is experiencing stress in its environment.” In addition to making sure interactive toys engage your cat's mind and body, you'll also want to choose toys that are safe and made from durable materials.
No batteries or charging needed
Too easy for some cats
The Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Toy designed by Nina Ottosson for Outward Hound is made to stimulate a cat's natural curiosity and foraging instincts.The puzzle is shaped like a leaf and is equipped with eight small cups to hide treats and/or a taste of your cat's favorite dry food.
To unlock a tasty treat, a cat must paw at the moveable, but not removable, coverings which resemble ladybugs. In total the interactive toy can hold up to 1/4 of a cup, so you might want to portion that out from your cat's daily intake to avoid unintentional weight gain. The Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Toy stimulates the parts of a cat’s brain dedicated to hunting and catching, and the difficultly can be adjusted to keep the game exciting for your cat.
The cat toy is made of food-safe plastic that is free of BPA, PVC and phthalates, but it can be a little tricky to thoroughly clean out all of the crumbs, and some cats figure how the puzzle very quickly.
Dimensions: 13 x 9.5 x 1.26 inches | Weight: 15.87 ounces
A toy mouse may be the most common and popular cat toy, but that also helps make it the most affordable. Although there are tons to choose from, the Pet Zone Play N’ Squeak Mouse Hunter Cat Toy with Catnip takes “toy mouse” to the next level. This fuzzy, catnip-filled mouse makes mouse-like electronic squeak noises that stimulate your cat’s hunting instincts.
Your cat will enjoy stalking and pouncing on this plush mouse that’s realistic in size, shape, and color. They’re widely available and, depending on where you buy them, can be had very inexpensively. This cat toy also encourages exercise, keeping cats agile, healthy, and alert. Owners report that their cats love this mouse. You may want to buy one for every room of the house.
Class 1 laser is low power enough that there are no safety concerns
Can be hung from a doorknob or hook
Needs to be raised off the ground to work properly
The PetSafe Dancing Dot Laser Pointer Cat Toy is compact, safe, and can be set to play with your cat even when you're not at home. Simply set it up on an elevated surface, or hang it from a doorknob, and the Dancing Dot projects a laser point that travels in random patterns across the floor. Your cat won't be able to resist.
You can activate the Dancing Dot for a 15-minute play session, or set it to a mode that activates a 15-minute play session once every two hours (up to a maximum of three play sessions in six hours), so your cat is entertained when you're out of the house for the day.
The main downside to the PetSafe Dancing Dot Laser toy is that it isn't rechargeable, so you better have plenty of AAA batteries on hand.
Dimensions: 3 x 2.25 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 6.4 ounces
Safe to use while you’re away
A little more expensive than some competitors
Cats evolved as hunters, meant to spend their days outdoors on the search for prey. Domestication means they no longer need to hunt for survival, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hunt for fun and mental stimulation. Food puzzles have become very popular ways to give them indoor activities to keep their minds and reflexes sharp.
The Trixie 5-in-1 Cat Activity Center is a food and toy puzzle that incorporates five different types of entertainment and challenge for your cat. Sprinkle their dry food meal, treats, or small toys over the activity center and watch your cat get sucked into trying to figure out how to catch, eat and play. Their digging instinct is awakened by the clear globes while the pegs, alleyways, and indents encourage your cat to seek out the treats or small toys you sprinkle around.
The non-slip rubber feet help keep it in place, so it should stay upright even when your cat gets really excited. The simple white design should blend inconspicuously into your home. This activity center has value every day if you vary the food, treats, and toys you use. Our tester also found it safe and easy to clean.
Dimensions: 1.75 x 15.75 x 2 inches | Weight: 3 pounds
The Spruce Pets / Joline Buscemi
"We like that you can set it and forget it—add treats when your cat isn’t paying attention, and let him or her discover it later on her own," —Joline Buscemi, Product Tester
Battery needs to be charged
Chasing may be a cat’s favorite natural activity—after sleep, of course. The BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy features a hanging feather attached to two large wheels that swivel, turn, and rotate so the toy will move in unpredictable ways that delightfully trigger your cat’s natural predatory instincts including stalking, chasing, and pouncing.
Two operating modes (fast and slow) allow you to adjust play to match your cat’s mood and activity level while also keeping it fresh and unpredictable. The wheels are large and sturdy enough to run on any type of floor, including most carpets.
There’s also a convenient automatic mode that can be used when you’re away for the day. The toy will run for 10 minutes, then turn off for 90 minutes, and then turn back on for another 10 minutes, and so on for eight total hours. The built-in rechargeable battery will recharge via USB in less than three hours and should last up to eight hours in default mode. You may notice this same toy or a very similar toy sold under multiple brand names including BurgeonNest, Sefon, and CSHope, but the BENTOPAL brand has the highest customer satisfaction ratings of the bunch.
Dimensions: 6.5 inches x 3.8 inches x 3 inches | Weight: 11.5 ounces
Even the laziest of cats love it
Some cats need time to adjust to the noise of the motor
Some cats may become so obsessed that you need to put it away between uses
We have all likely witnessed how excited cats can get when playing with a simple piece of yarn or string. Moody Pet’s Fling-Ama-String Cat Toy’s clever design has a proven track record of making cats happily berserk.
Designed to hook on any household door knob, this automatic string toy will get even the laziest of cats moving. One end of a long, brightly colored, silky string is sewn onto a flat, elastic conveyor belt that rotates. When switched on, the string flings in and out enthralling your cat who will want to bite, paw, claw, and hopefully stop the string. But as soon as they let go, the string automatically starts to rotate again, enticing them to play for long periods of time.
Made in the United States, Fling-Ama-String has two speeds to offer variety and prevent boredom. Appropriate for any age, this toy requires three AA batteries that can be standard or rechargeable. This toy has been around since at least 2009 and has a long track record of satisfied kitty customers. For safety, the manufacturers recommend wrapping the string around the doorknob when not in use to prevent your cat from unsupervised play that could get the string wrapped around a paw or their neck.
Dimensions: 29.5 x 5 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 9.5 ounces
When you have multiple cats at home, you need a sturdy toy that more than one cat can play with at once. If you’re lucky, two cats will enjoy playing with the toy together for even more entertainment. One excellent option: track ball cat toys. There are a wide variety of track ball cat toys on the market to choose from.
Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy is an affordable option, and widely available and well-liked by our editors. The Spruce Pets has also tested a similar—but less widely available—product, Easyology’s Amazing Roller Cat Toy. These two options, and many others, are made from plastic. For a more eco-friendly option, consider a track ball cat toy made from wood (view on Cute Cat Store) or the more sustainably sourced bamboo (view on TheseCool).
Petstages Tower of Tracks is irresistible to cats because even though your cat will want to pull the three brightly colored balls from their tracks, their efforts only make the balls roll out of sight in their tracks. When cats are really excited, they may have all three balls spinning and rolling at once. Safe to play with even when you’re not at home, this stacked play station is built to last. You’ll appreciate that it includes non-skid pads on the bottom so it won’t move around or tip too easily.
Dimensions: 10 x 5.5 x 10 inches | Weight: 9.6 ounces
Durable, yet soft plush fish body
Makes a mild banging and mechanical noise that scares some timid cats at first
The Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish is soft yet durable and closely resembles the look and movements of a real fish. The kicker toy is available in five fish forms: Clownfish, Curian Carp, Grass Carp, Red Carp, and Salmon.
The toy comes with a USB cord to quickly and easily recharge via a plug hidden inside the toy in a zippered pouch. Within the pouch, you can also place refillable catnip for added engagement that keeps many cats playing with the toy even in the off position. While powered on and flopping around, the toy makes mild mechanical sounds which more timid cats might find intimidating at first. In between playtime sessions, the electronic components can be fully removed and the plush cover can be hand-washed.
Dimensions: 11.3 x 4.3 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 3.5 ounces
Small, fast, difficult to catch
Rechargeable with 160 minutes of runtime
Cycles through periods of rest and activity on its own
A sensor inside helps the toy avoid collisions
Does not work well on pile carpet floors
The Libro Pixie Mouse Interactive Toy is fast and difficult to catch, inspiring your cat to run around inside your home.
The battery-powered mouse-shaped toy on wheels has a little tail that lights up. With a full charge via a USB power cord, the small toy provides up to 160 minutes of playtime. To keep your cat stimulated—and for water breaks—the toy cycles through periods of hibernation, powering itself back into fast-moving action every 30 minutes. An internal sensor helps the toy avoid collisions and it's able to roll over itself to reset its direction.
The electronic mouse is under three inches long and is sold individually or in a pack of two, which might come in handy if you have a multi-cat home. It's suitable for use on a variety of floor surfaces, including wood, tile, and marble, but it is not recommended for use on pile carpeting.
Dimensions: 2.4 x 2 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 0.2 pounds
We like the Catstages Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Interactive Toy because it’s portable and stimulates your cat’s natural curiosity and hunting instinct. If you are looking for a toy that will encourage your cat to run around, the Libro Pixie Mouse Interactive Toy is small, fast, and has a light-up tail and an internal sensor to help it avoid collisions and keep on moving. It also enters self-programmed periods of rest to keep your cat engaged.
“The best interactive toys for cats allow them to engage in their natural hunting behaviors—simulated of course. These include toys that allow for the stalk-chase-pounce-catch and shake hunting sequence,” says Dr. Crista Coppola, certified applied animal behaviorist at the University of Arizona. “The toys that should be avoided are those that encourage and inadvertently reinforce the cat pouncing and catching human hands (or other body parts). This type of toy can teach a cat to grab, bite, and shake at humans which is not only painful but can cause physical injury.” You might need to try more than one interactive toy to determine which types excite your cats most.
Interactive cat toys should ideally get your kitty moving while also being unpredictable. Enticing them to jump, pounce, roll, and bat will provide mild aerobic exercise that they might have obtained while they were hunting for prey in the wild. But it also provides mental challenge and excitement that will keep them from boredom and the potentially negative behaviors that accompany it.
The right interactive toys can help your cat still feel like a kitten long into their later years, keeping their mood light, healthy, and happy.
Your cat will likely bite, chew, kick, and lick their toys, so you want to be sure they’re made durably from materials that are safe and non-toxic. Because the health and safety standards for pet products are generally higher in the United States and the United Kingdom, when possible look for toys manufactured in these countries rather than other places.
When you can, opt for toys made from plant-based materials like hemp, wood, bamboo, and cotton. You might also consider certified organic materials where available and if you can afford any premium on the price.
A product can be offered very cheaply and on a global scale, but that convenience sometimes comes at the expense and/or exploitation of a company’s workers. Whenever possible, spend your hard-earned dollars with companies that pay their workers a living wage, provide a safe working environment, and give back to the communities that help them grow and succeed. The term “fair trade” often encompasses these ideals.
Some third-party organizations independently verify and certify fair trade practices so look for mention and/or seals on company packaging and websites, such as Fair for Life. However, be aware that some organizations have limitations while others simply issue certifications in exchange for membership fees so it’s important to do your research if you really want to shop fair trade.
Check out the “About” section of a company’s website for clues to their environmental and social responsibility. That’s where they’ll often list fair trade practices and any third-party certifications as well as charitable programs in which they participate such as 1% for the Planet. Many pet supply manufacturers donate some of their products or financial support to animal shelters and hospitals. Whenever possible, choose companies and manufacturers that mirror your own environmental and social ethics.
“The best toys are ones that are mentally engaging and unpredictable,” explains Dr. Coppola. “The unpredictability variable helps maintain your cat's attention. I especially like suncatchers that throw prisms of light for the cat to 'pounce and catch.' Bird watching is also great for mental stimulation.”
Be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for potential safety hazards and related warnings. “A toy should not be left with a cat unsupervised if there are any potential hazards like ingestion, choking, or strangulation,” adds Dr. Coppola.
Dr. Coppola believes rotation and toy novelty are key to preventing boredom. “Cats will get bored with the same toys day in and day out. Limit their access so that the toy maintains its high value for the cat. When you only have access to something some of the time, its rewarding value is maintained (like dessert for humans).”
Try alternating toys on a daily or weekly basis to keep their interest and excitement fresh and exhilarating.
This piece was written by Lorraine Wilde, who has had at least two cat companions in her home for the past 35 years, including some special needs kitties. Two of her cats lived happily and healthily into their early 20s.
When researching each product and brand, Wilde evaluated the type and quality of each product, customer satisfaction, the company’s research, and its business ethics.
Wilde also holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental science. She is a firm believer that consumers can make healthy, informed, and environmentally conscious choices to protect their pets and our planet.
Dr. Crista Coppola is a Ph.D. Board Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) who specializes in the treatment of behavior problems in dogs and cats. Dr. Coppola graduated with a Ph.D. in animal sciences from Colorado State University with a concentration in applied animal behavior and welfare. She is currently an assistant professor of practice at the University of Arizona, teaching courses on companion animal behavior, and a writer for SeniorTailWaggers.com. Dr. Coppola has a dog (Guster), three cats (Tia, Jack, and Olive), and a horse (Two Socks).
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