These Are the 17 Very Best Cat Toys, Tested by Our Picky Cats – ryan

Best Teaser Toy: Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy

At a Glance

• Every cat we’ve introduced to this toy has instantly loved it
• Relatively inexpensive compared to others on the market
• Comes in a pack of 2
• Paper tubes began to unravel after a month

Our cats were instantly mesmerized with this simple toy, and every cat that we’ve presented with the Cat Dancer toy has preferred it over any other fancy toy we’ve given them. Whenever we break out this toy, our cats jump for joy (literally) and start to do a little cat dance that’s just as cute as you’d imagine. 

At its core, the Cat Dancer toy is a piece of wire with paper tubes strung on the end. But, when you pick the toy up and dangle it in front of your feline friend, the toy moves in an enticing way that captivates cats’ attention more than other wand toys. After a month or two, the paper tubes began to rip off the wire. But you get two toys for less than $10, so we don’t mind having to replace them — especially considering how much our cats enjoy this. 

Type: Wand | Materials: Wire, paper tubes | Cleaning Instructions: None listed 

Best for Kittens: Cat Dancer Cat Charmer

At a Glance

• Cats of all ages enjoyed it
• Can hold up to 30 pounds
• Wand feels sturdy and high quality
• Rip-resistant ribbon
• May not capture some cats’ attention as well as a prey-like lure toy

Wand toys are a favorite amongst cats of all ages, and our tester kittens especially loved the Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer. The colorful ribbon that dangles off the handheld stick is less intimidating than some other wire wand toys, making it a great choice for cats and kittens who may be more nervous around prey-like lures. 

The wand toy’s handle is rated to hold up to 30 pounds, so it can stand up to rough play without snapping. Thanks to a thick, stretchy fleece ribbon that allows our cats to claw into it without ripping, it feels more durable than most other wand toys we’ve tried. The rainbow ribbon might not be as engaging long-term as a wand toy with prey-like feather lures, but if you’re looking for a sturdy wand toy that works for cats of all ages, we recommend the Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer.

Type: Wand | Materials: Polycarbonate, fleece | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed 

Best Scratcher Toy: Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cardboard Scratcher

At a Glance

• Multi-use toy includes a cat perch and ball toy
• Lighter weight and smaller than most other models
• Multiple cats can play with it at the same time
• So lightweight that it can tip over when cats sit on top

Cat scratcher toys can help minimize furniture scratching, and of all the cat scratching toys we’ve tried, this one from Best Pet Supplies is our (and our kitty’s) favorite. It’s more than a basic scratching board; there’s an inner compartment that holds whiffle balls your cat can bat around and a ledge on top where our tester kitties liked to perch. In our two-cat testing household, we found that both cats liked to play with the toy together, thanks to the multiple play options.

The toy was strong enough to hold our 20-pound cat when he sat on top of it, though he did once tip it over while perching. This scratcher toy is smaller and lighter than most of the standard scratching posts we’ve tried, which makes it a great option for smaller spaces or for anyone who wants to move the toy from room to room.

Type: Scratcher | Materials: Cardboard | Cleaning Instructions: None listed

Best for Multiple Cats: Catit Super Roller Circuit Toy

At a Glance

• Encourages independent play
• Sturdy track pieces click together easily
• Option to order more track pieces online
• Not as intuitive as some simpler toys

For any cat that likes to bat objects off of countertops, this circuit roller toy gives them the same sensation without the mess. It’s easy to set up: The pieces click together like toy train tracks. Once assembled, the tracks were locked in and sturdy enough for us to move the toy from room to room in one piece. 

After we showed the cats how the toy worked by pushing the light-up ball around the track ourselves, both cats were intrigued and began to play with it together and by themselves. The cats grew to like the toy more throughout the testing period, and we’d often find them playing with it independently without prompting. We’d recommend this toy to anyone trying to introduce their cats to independent play. And, if your cat loves it as much as ours did, you can order more track pieces to create a custom track. 

Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Wash with soap and water

Best Circuit Toy: Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy

At a Glance

• Multi-functional device also has a massager and a batting toy
• More durable than similar toys we’ve had in the past
• Cats love rubbing against the massaging nubs
• Ball rolling around the track makes a little bit of noise

The Catit Play Massager is more than just a durable circuit toy — it’s also a massager, batting toy, and catnip toy all in one. The setup took us less than 30 seconds, and our cat immediately began to bat the ball around the circuit, rub against the massaging nubs, and chew on the spring-mounted bee (and he didn’t stop playing with the toy for two hours straight!). 

One of our kitties figured out how to remove the ball from the circuit track, but we located the ball easily on our apartment floor. This has become our cat’s favorite toy, and we can hear him rolling the ball around the track during all hours (day and night) — if you’re looking for a silent toy, this isn’t it. But we enjoyed hearing the sound of the ball whirling around its track because we knew that our cat was playing and happy. 

Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Wash with soap and water

Best Dental Toy: Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Toy

At a Glance

• Encourages positive chewing behavior
• Crinkles and jingles
• Some of the feathers fell out during testing

Engage your kitty in play while polishing their teeth with the Catstages Straw-Babies dental toy. The toy comes with adorable catnip-filled strawberry plushies with feathery tops to attract your pet’s attention. The strawberries also make crinkle noises when chewed on, which makes our test cats go crazy with excitement.

Soft fabric toys help remove plaque from cats’ teeth while they chew, which is good for their oral health. Chewing toys can also help to promote positive chewing behavior in cats because they encourage them to gnaw on toys rather than household objects. We were shocked at how inexpensive this toy is compared to similar ones. We did notice that the feathers began to fall out after a few play sessions, but for the price, a few shedding feathers didn’t change our high opinion of the toy. 

Type: Plushy | Materials: Mesh, synthetic fabric, catnip | Cleaning instructions: Not listed 

Best Toy for Self-Play: Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy

At a Glance

• Sturdy construction looked as good as new, even after weeks of play
• Ready to use right out of the package
• Color is very bright

Since we can’t always be around to engage with our feline friends, toys that encourage alone-time play, like the Catstages Tower of Tracks, are game changers for preventing kitty boredom. This engaging toy has three levels with six brightly hued balls that cats can bat around for hours. The toy is ready to use right out of the package with no assembly required, and every cat that we presented it to was instantly interested. 

After weeks of play, the toy showed no signs of wear. None of the balls came out of the sturdy structure, and our cats enjoyed the toy throughout the whole testing process. There wasn’t much that we didn’t love about this toy, but if we had to get nit-picky, we’d say that the neon orange exterior isn’t the most appealing to the human eye. But hey, if our cats love it, so do we. 

Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic, polypropylene | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed 

Best Mouse Toy: Ethical Spot Rainbow Mice Toy with Catnip

At a Glance

• Engages cats’ animal instincts with a rattling noise
• Bright colors ensure you don’t mistake toy mice for the real thing
• Held up through chewing, clawing, and being dunked in water
• Exterior fabric will eventually start to wear away

We all know the classic trope: cats love to chase mice. That’s why we love these catnip-packed toy rodents that engage cats’ animal instincts without hurting any living animals in the process. The brightly colored mouse toys make a rattling noise and come in packs of 12, which feels like a great deal for how well each toy held up during testing. We also love that nine of the toys are so colorful that they can’t be mistaken for real creatures.

Our tester kitten was instantly enamored with the catnip-filled toy and enjoyed carrying it around, playing catch with it, and dunking it in her water bowl. Even through all that roughhousing, the toy looked as good as new at the end of the testing period. Though we suspect the outer fabric will eventually wear down after extended play, we still think the quality and price make this toy a great deal. 

Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, plastic, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed

Best Wand Toy: Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip

At a Glance

• Durable, looked as good as new after hours of play
• Even senior cats loved this toy
• Crinkly feathered bird lure
• Not appropriate for independent play

The Frisco Bird wand toy was a hit with our tester cats of all ages, from a three-year-old cat to a 15-year-old senior. Our cats loved this toy so much that they’d drag it around the house and meow for us to play with them — and, even through all the hours of dragging and playing by multiple cats, the toy proved durable. At the end of our testing period, this wand toy looked as good as new. The plush bird at the end of the string is stuffed with catnip and crinkly material to entice your furry friend. 

We loved how sturdy this wand toy felt and were impressed that no piece fell off the end of the toy after hours of rough play, which is what we’ve often experienced with other wand toys. It’s also less expensive than most other wand toys we’ve seen.

Type: Wand | Materials: Polyester, plastic, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed

Best Catnip Toy: Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Catnip at Chewy

At a Glance

• Comes with refills
• Tester kitty loved cuddling with this toy
• Toy felt a bit crusty by the end of the testing period from the licking

If your cat goes crazy over catnip, then a toy filled with the natural cat stimulant is the ultimate treat. This plushy squirrel toy can be filled and refilled with catnip to keep your feline entertained. It’s easy to set up and comes with instructions on how to put the catnip inside the toy.

The exterior is soft and furry, and our tester kitty loved to cuddle up to the toy whenever we brought it out. Because our cat cuddled and licked at the catnip toy, the fuzzy exterior did feel a little crusty by the time our testing period was complete, but none of the toy’s fur appeared to come off in the process. 

Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Remove catnip and machine wash

Best Bird Toy: Leo’s Paw Bird Simulation Cat Toy Set

At a Glance

• Suction-mounted, which allows for independent play
• Includes replacement stickies
• Comes with five realistic options
• Mount on floors or windows
• One of the more expensive toys on our list

This bird toy is a more innovative take on the classic wand toy. It comes with a base that suctions onto floors and windows and five realistic bird lures that attach to the end of a flexible pole and bounce around enticingly when swatted at. We tested the toy on both our windows and the floor and found it to be sturdy and well-liked by our cats when mounted on any surface.

After our testing, the Bird Simulation Cat Toy still looked as good as it did right out of the package. And, though this set is a little more expensive than some of the other toys on our list, it also comes with five different bird toy options and multiple replacement stickies for the suction cups, which we think makes it feel like a good value for the price. 

Type: Wand | Materials: Not listed | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed

Best Puzzle Toy: Nina Ottosson Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game

At a Glance

• Encourages mental stimulation
• Made from sturdy, food-safe materials
• Can help slow down fast eaters
• Some cats may need something more advanced

Petstages Buggin’ Out is our favorite puzzle toy to engage our cats mentally while they eat. We introduced it to our two cats with no prior puzzle experience and were surprised at how quickly they became delighted with it. Once they figured it out, they batted at the toy throughout the day for us to fill it with treats for them to discover. It took our cats 10 minutes to retrieve all of the treats, which slowed down their eating and created sustained play sessions. 

This puzzle toy is made from food-safe materials, so we washed it by hand weekly and found that it stayed in perfect condition through multiple play sessions and washings. Because our tester cats caught on quickly, we’ll soon need to provide them with a more advanced puzzle to keep them entertained. This is a great option for cats who enjoy puzzle toys or are new to them.

Type: Puzzle | Materials: Wood | Cleaning Instructions: Wash by hand with warm water and mild soap

Best Electronic Toy: SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy

At a Glance

• Does the hard work for you
• Auto shut-off feature is reassuring
• Engages cats’ feline instincts by allowing them to pounce and track the lure
• Batteries will need to be replaced after prolonged use
• Wand came unscrewed a few times during our testing

The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit toy allows your cat to engage in healthy play without the need for you to wave it around. The electronic toy does the work for you, with an internal motor that spins a wand around in circles to activate the feline hunting instinct. It offers two different speeds that can be controlled by the button on the base and an auto shut-off at 12 minutes, so you can walk away from the toy without worrying about running the battery out. 

We found the setup to be easy: screw on the wand, put three AA batteries in the base, and drape the round blue mat over top. Our cat loved pouncing on the spinning feather lure so much that he began standing over the toy and meowing for us to turn it on when he was in the mood to play. Our only qualm was that the wand came unscrewed a few times during testing, probably due to the toy’s spinning motion combined with our cat’s pouncing, but it was simple enough to screw the wand back in and continue play.

Type: Electronic | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed 

Best Value: SmartyKat Skitter Slices Plush Cat Toy with Catnip

At a Glance

• Simple design kept its shape through hours of play
• Cats enjoyed batting at the toys, rolling around with them, and carrying them in their mouths
• Fabric colors faded a little after our cats licked at them often over two weeks

These cute little catnip toys are a great value, coming out to about $1 per mouse, especially considering how much enjoyment our tester cats got from them. Our cats loved to roll around with the Skitter Slices plush toys, and even picked them up in their mouths and carried the mice around with them.

The toys seem to be pretty durable, maintaining their shape after hours of play, although the fabric’s colors did fade a little due to our cats’ excessive licking. Overall, Skitter Slices mice is a simple and well-priced pack of toys that is great for alone play. 

Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Spot clean with warm water

Best Activity Center: Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center

At a Glance

• Multiple options hold food and treats
• Engages the brain
• Great for cats who overeat
• Made of durable plastic
• Plain gray color isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing

We didn’t expect our three tester cats to enjoy the Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center as much as they did — these cats generally prefer wrestling with each other over playing with a toy — but they all went gaga over this puzzle toy. This puzzle-style toy is excellent for food-motivated cats and forces cats to slow down and think as they eat, which can be good for felines who usually eat too much or too quickly. 

The activity center is large enough for all three of our cats to play with simultaneously. It is made from a sturdy plastic that looked as good as new after two weeks of testing and some heavy play. The only thing we’d change is the color — we’d love some more options than the basic gray, but that’s not as important to us as our cats’ enjoyment, so we’ll overlook it. 

Type: Puzzle | Materials: BPA-free plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Dishwasher-safe

Best Laser Toy: Valonii Motion Activated Laser Toy

At a Glance

• Activates the feline instinct to hunt
• USB-rechargeable for convenience
• Gives our cat a great workout
• Three different speed modes
• Can be a little frustrating for some cats because they can never actually catch the prey

Our tester cats went wild for the Valonii laser toy. No setup was required, much to our cat’s delight, and the toy instantly engaged our feline bestie’s predatory instincts as he pounced after the laser. He did seem to tire of the game after about 10 minutes, and it’s possible that he felt frustrated that he could never “catch” the laser as he could a physical wand toy, though this toy did inspire much more movement and exercise than a wand toy would. 

The toy seems very sturdy — we knocked it off the table a few times to test its durability, and it didn’t scratch or dent. We also love that it’s rechargeable and includes a USB charging cord. There are a variety of modes that move the laser at different speeds, and a motion-activated sensor to engage your pet in play when they walk by the toy. 

Type: Laser | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed

Best Kicker Toy: Yeowww Catnip Banana

At a Glance

• Great for tossing and cuddling
  
• Filled with enticing catnip
• Canvas fabric showed some bite marks after two weeks of rough play, but no rips or tears

Does your cat ever get into kickboxing mode? If your feline friend has a habit of grabbing your feet and speed-kicking at them like they’re trying to take down an opponent, gently nudging them towards this catnip toy can be a big pain relief.

Our cat instantly fawned over the Yeowww banana toy and began bunny-kicking away at it to his heart’s content. He also enjoyed throwing the toy in the air and catching it, which did leave a few bite marks in the canvas, but otherwise, it seemed to be pretty sturdy with no rips or tears at the end of our two-week testing period. 

Type: Plushy | Materials: Cotton, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed

What to Know About Cat Toys

Activity Type and Engagement 

There are many different ways that your cat can engage with toys, whether it’s through puzzles that stimulate their minds or chase-type toys that trigger their hunting instincts. “For cats, play is generally predatory behavior,” says Stephen Quandt, a certified feline training and behavior specialist. Engaging in that kind of play can be great exercise. To spark up the hunt-and-chase kind of play, feather toys that mimic the movement of real animals, like the Leo’s Paw Interactive Bird Toy, are a great option.

Mental stimulation is also important for a cat’s happiness and health, and puzzle feeders like the Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play have the added benefit of engaging your cat’s problem-solving skills while forcing them to slow down while they eat. 

Materials and Safety

Whether a toy is made from plastic, fabric, catnip, or any other commonly used material, the most important thing to consider is your cat’s safety. Ensure that there are no external parts that your cat can chew off and swallow and for toys that have cords or strings, Quandt says “you might not even want to leave them unattended with the cat because it could become a hazard.” 

Some materials might engage your cat’s natural instincts more than others. “Feathers are a good source of material because they are the real thing,” Quandt says. He also recommends trying toys with a fuzzy texture that mimics the feeling of a mouse, which can excite cats. We like the Ethical Pet Spot Rainbow Plush Rattling Mice Cat Toys because they feel like real mice without looking like them and potentially frightening unassuming humans. 

Cleaning and Care

Think about how your cat tends to play with its existing toys and the level of wear and tear that they go through. If your cat tends to bring their toys outside or into the litter box rather than leaving them in their cat bed or cat tree, then you may want to consider opting for a toy that’s machine-washable or easy to toss in the dishwasher. Some toys are not able to be thoroughly cleaned, so they may be a better choice for cats that engage in cleaner, more gentle play. 

Behind the Scenes

To find out which cat toys will capture your feline pal’s heart, we tested 30 of the most popular cat toys on the market over two weeks. We sent out the cat toys for our PEOPLE Testing team to try with their own cats of all ages and provided them with a methodology to follow to get real-world results on the following factors: 

• Setup: We started by taking each toy out of its package and following any included instructions for setting up. Some toys required batteries, while others were ready to go right out of the package. We took careful note of how easy each toy was to get started with and how long the entire process took from set up to playtime.
• Enjoyment: The most important (and adorable) part of our testing was introducing our cats to the toys and engaging them in play. We took note of how long our cats appeared interested in each toy and whether that differed from their usual reaction to toys. We noticed when our cats signaled that they wanted us to use the toy with them again, and after repeated use of each toy over two weeks, we could see how much enjoyment our cats got from each toy and whether they lost interest in it over time. 
• Durability: The final thing we looked at was how well the toys stood up after two weeks of use. Did the toys fray or tear? Did any batteries die, or did plastic components fall off? We took careful note of how the toys looked straight out of the box and how they looked after our testing period was complete. 

Using our testers’ insights, we scored each product on a scale of one to five in all the different areas. We compiled the data, and two of the top scoring products are the Cat Dancer Cat Toy and the Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best toy for cats?

  “In many respects,” Quandt says, “the best toy for a cat is the toy that a cat likes, and it’s not always easy to predict.” Depending on what excites your cat, they might prefer a toy that involves chasing, like a laser pointer or wand toy, or they might prefer a toy that allows for biting and pouncing, like a plush catnip-filled mouse. 

• Should I leave toys out for my cat to play with?

  Playtime doesn’t have to stop when you leave the room — but make sure that any toy you leave out for your cat to play with when you’re not around is safe for them to use on their own. Toys that involve an electric component are generally safest to use with a human companion supervising. Quandt says you should also watch out for toys that have wire or string components because if left unattended, cats can get wrapped up in the strings and get stuck. 

• How do I keep my cat entertained?

  If your cat becomes easily bored by toys, consider switching out the toys that you use periodically, and re-introducing them to the toy after some time spent away. Another option to get your cat excited about play is to introduce a toy that has a treat component, like a puzzle activity.

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