If your cat spends their time causing chaos around the house, they might need new toys. The best cat toys provide entertainment and stimulation, keeping them active and out of mischief. There are lots of great cat toys out there, but our favorite option is the Hartz Just For Cats Toy Variety Pack, an affordable option with several type of toys for cats of all ages.
The best cat toys are affordable and provide entertainment and stimulation to keep your feline … [+] friend engaged.
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Fun toys are a must-have for any cat owner, and there are various types to suit different play styles.“All cats need toys and various types of enrichment to keep them both physically and mentally active,” says Dr. Mikel Delgado, PhD, cat behavior expert with Rover and author of Play With Your Cat! “There are many different types of toys, including ones that you use with your cat, toys your cat can play with alone or food puzzle toys.” We’ve rounded up the best cat toys in every category, and you’re sure to find a fun and engaging option to keep your kitty entertained.
Type: Variety pack | Material(s): Plastic, polyester, catnip | Dimensions: Varies by toy | Weight: 2.4 ounces
What you’ll love:
Inexpensive price
Includes a variety of popular toys
Keep in mind:
The cat wand is very short
Why buy your cat one toy when you can get a variety pack for such a low price? This inexpensive set of cat toys includes 13 different items for your pet, including six balls, two fuzzy pom poms, three catnip toys and a small play wand. The balls have small bells inside to make them more engaging for your cat, and all the toys are lightweight enough for cats of all ages to carry around. Plus, because there are so many toys in this variety pack, you can give a few to your pet at a time and swap them out periodically to keep playtime fresh and exciting.
Type: Springs | Material(s): Plastic | Dimensions: 5.12 x 2.56 x 1.38 inches | Weight: 0.96 ounces
What you’ll love:
Multi-pack is available for low price
Erratic spring movement keeps cats engaged
Keep in mind:
Springs can break if stepped on
You don’t have to spend a lot to keep your cat entertained—in fact, this inexpensive set of plastic springs is a fan favorite, and it only costs a few dollars! The popular toy comes in packs of 10, 20 or 40, and the colorful plastic springs are bouncy and move erratically around the floor, providing lots of fun for cats of all ages. Your cat can play alone with the toys, batting them around, or you can join in on the fun, sending the springs zooming across the floor for your pet to chase.
Amazon
Yeowww! Catnip Banana
Type: Catnip | Material(s): Cotton, catnip | Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 3 inches | Weight: Not listed
What you’ll love:
Durable exterior fabric
Filled with organic catnip
Keep in mind:
It can rip if your cat plays rough
Your cat will go bananas for this adorable catnip toy. Shaped like a banana, this toy is made from durable cotton twill and stuffed full of organic catnip. It has a strong aroma that will appeal to most cats, and it doesn’t contain any filler or plastic pieces. Plus, the toy is big enough that your cat can kick it with their back feet for more engaging play.
Type: Catnip | Material(s): Polyester, catnip | Dimensions: 8.5 x 2.25 x 1.25 inches | Weight: 0.4 ounces
What you’ll love:
Designed with kittens in mind
Filled with catnip and crinkle paper
Keep in mind:
Toy comes in random colors
You can keep your rambunctious kitten busy during the day with the Kong Kickeroo Toy, which is specifically designed for younger animals. This toy has it all—it’s filled with catnip, as well as a crinkle material that makes fun sounds when your cat bites it, and it also has a fuzzy tail for grabbing. The shape and size of the toy are designed to promote wrestling and hind paw kicking in kittens, and it’s durable enough to withstand even the roughest play styles.
Type: Scratcher | Material(s): Recycled cardboard | Dimensions: 10 x 1.5 x 18 inches | Weight: 1 pound
What you’ll love:
Comes in multi-pack
Reversible design
Keep in mind:
You can help stop cats from clawing the furniture with these budget-friendly cat scratchers. The panels come in a pack of three, each of which is 10 x 18 inches, and they’re made from recycled cardboard and non-toxic glue. The surface provides a satisfying place for cats to sharpen their claws, and the best part is that each panel is reversible, providing twice the amount of surface area for your cat to scratch.
Amazon
PetSafe Dancing Dot Laser Toy
Type: Laser | Material(s): Plastic | Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 6 inches | Weight: 8.47 ounces
What you’ll love:
All-day mode turns on periodically
Randomized laser movement
Keep in mind:
Somewhat noisy during use
You can keep your cats busy throughout the day with the Dancing Dot automatic laser toy. The battery-powered device can be hung from a doorknob or placed on an elevated surface like a counter, and it will dart a laser around the floor in a random movement, stimulating your cat’s hunting drive and encouraging them to chase the dot. The toy automatically shuts off after 15 minutes, and there’s an “all-day” mode that will turn on the laser for a short play session every two hours. Plus, the Certified Class 1 laser is safe for pets (and people) to play with.
This cat wand will provide endless fun for you and your pet thanks to its interchangeable attachments. The telescoping wands, which come in a set of two, extend out to a maximum length of 39 inches, and the toy includes nine different attachments that you can clip on the end, including four “squiggly worms” and five feather bunches. You’ll also get two replacement strings to extend the toy’s lifespan. Your cat will have a blast chasing the toys around the floor, but keep in mind that this toy should be put away when you’re not supervising.
Type: Exercise wheel | Material(s): Plastic, steel | Dimensions: 48 x 12 x 50 inches | Weight: 28 pounds
What you’ll love:
Helps cat burn off energy
Suitable for cats of all sizes
Keep in mind:
Large footprint
Requires training
The One Fast Cat Exercise Wheel is a great way for high-energy cats to get some much-needed exercise. The wheel has a 48-inch diameter and can support cats up to 22 pounds, and it’s designed for stability and traction as your cat runs. By encouraging cats to burn off excess energy on the wheel, the brand claims you can reduce destructive behaviors and reduce your cat’s stress. However, it will take some training to get your cat used to their new toy—the brand recommends working with your cat for five to 10 minutes a day to teach them how to use the exercise wheel.
Type: Ball track | Material(s): Plastic | Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 6.5 inches | Weight: 0.55 pounds
What you’ll love:
Inexpensive price point
Balls stay contained on track
Suitable for one or more cats
Keep in mind:
May move around during play
There are lots of great cat toys available on Amazon, but the Catstages Tower of Tracks is a bestseller, with more than 60,000 reviews from cat owners. The three-tier toy has plastic balls on each level, and your cat can bat them around the track without any risk of them falling off. It’s an engaging activity for one or more cats, and the toy has a non-slip base to help keep it in place while your cat plays.
Type: Play mat | Material(s): Polyethylene | Dimensions: 22.8 x 3 inches | Weight: 1.28 pounds
What you’ll love:
Multiple features to keep cats interested
Rechargeable battery lasts for several days
Replacement parts available
Keep in mind:
Motion sensor isn’t the most responsive
This 3-in-1 cat play mat is an engaging activity to prevent boredom during the day. It features a spinning feather wand hidden under the cover, as well as a rotating butterfly on top, and you can also remove the cover to use the spinning toy on its own. It uses irregular movements to keep cats on their toes, and there are multiple play modes that operate the features separately or simultaneously. The rechargeable battery delivers multiple days of fun for your pet, and it automatically shuts off after five minutes if your cat stops playing with it.
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The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team have years of experience researching and testing a wide range of pet products, including everything from dog beds to cat litter.
How We Chose The Best Cat Toys
To find the best cat toys for felines of all ages, we researched best-selling models, compared features and asked an industry expert for product recommendations and insights on what to look for.
We searched for popular cat toys on websites like Amazon and Chewy, reading dozens of reviews from pet owners to get an idea for each item’s appeal and durability.
We looked for toys that are made from durable, high-quality materials that can stand up to rough play, and when applicable, we prioritized products that offer replacement parts.
We sought to include a wide range of cat toy styles, including options for solo play and toys that you can use with your cat.
Author of this piece Camryn Rabideau has used several of the toys listed with her own cats, including the Hartz Just For Cats Toy Variety Pack, Frisco Colorful Springs and Yeowww! Catnip Banana.
What To Look For In The Best Cat Toys
Here are a few factors worth keeping in mind as you shop.
Type
There are many different styles of cat toys to choose from, including options for solo play, as well as toys that you use with your cat. “Ping pong balls, fuzzy mice and pom poms are examples of solo toys that are safe for most cats,” says Delgado. “You can also use household items like wine corks and toilet paper rolls! Many cats will like to bat these around.”
If you want to engage with your cat, Delgado recommends a wand-style product like the MeoHui Wand Toy. Cats love the interactive nature of these toys, and it’s a great way to bond with your pet.
There are also electronic toys like the Potaroma Hide and Seek Mat, but she cautions that some cats might be scared by them: “I would be most cautious about ‘robotic’ toys. Many of them are just too loud and move too awkwardly to be lifelike to most cats. In fact, many of them can be downright scary to cats.”
Engagement
When selecting toys for your cat, you’ll want to make sure that it offers some type of engagement to keep your pet interested. This could be a crinkly texture, catnip filling, a built-in bell or even just unpredictable movement.
Delgado also recommends having a collection of different toys available to keep things fresh for your cat: “Cats do get bored of the same toy over and over again, so also be prepared to have a collection that you rotate through,” she says.
Safety
It’s important to select toys that are safe for your cat, especially if they’re designed for solo play. “Any toys that you plan to leave out for your cat to play with on their own must be safe,” says Delgado. “This means not so small they could present a choking hazard, and without any small pieces or parts that your cat could chew off.”
Toys like wands should always be put away when your cat is unattended, and any broken toys should be disposed of immediately.
What Toys Do Cats Enjoy The Most?
Every cat will have different preferences when it comes to toys, but Delgado says that products like the MeoHui Wand Toy are often a favorite: “For most cat toys, interactive wand toys are going to have more appeal, because when we use them, we can move them like prey,” she explains. “Cats are still hunters at heart, and interactive play is the best way we can engage that hunting instinct!”
If you’re not sure what kind of toys your cat will like, you can give them options with a set like the Hartz Just For Cats Toy Variety Pack, which includes several popular toy styles, including balls, pom poms and catnip toys.
