Cat toy quick picks
Catnip cat toy: Mad Cat Shark Biter Catnip and Silvervine Cat Toy
Budget cat toy: Frisco Dangly Avocado Buddy Plush Cat Toy
Interactive cat toy: P.L.A.Y. Peek-A-Boo Mouse Interactive Cat Toy
If you’ve ever bought a cat toy for your feline friend only to have them turn up their nose at it, you’re not alone. Finding the best cat toys can be challenging, as some animals are picky about what they like to play with. However, it’s important to find items that engage your pet, as toys provide stimulation for your cat, help them get exercise and (hopefully) keep them from causing mischief around the house.
To help you pick toys your cat will actually use, CNN Underscored researched some of the most popular options out there today and put them to the test. With the assistance of my cat, Piper — and a few guest judges, my outdoor cats, on some toys — I tested more than two dozen cat toys, ranging from inexpensive catnip mice to automatic laser pointers. As you might expect, she had strong opinions on the different items. There were some toys she couldn’t get enough of and played with daily, while others didn’t interest her at all.
Based on Piper’s assessment, these are some of the best cat-approved toys to help keep your pet entertained all day.
Best catnip toys
Catnip toys are arguably the most popular type of cat toys. They’re generally small plushies filled with catnip, which makes them appealing to your cat. Some even have special features designed to encourage kicking or hunting behaviors.
Multipet Lamb Chop is an iconic dog toy, but did you know there’s a version for cats too? This mini Lamb Chop is the perfect size for felines, and it’s filled with catnip to encourage playtime. Piper carried it around for days after I gave it to her. There’s also a birthday version of the toy that would be a cute gift for your pet.
I initially thought this burrito-shaped kicker, which is over 10 inches long, would be too large for Piper, but it's the perfect size for her to hold and kick with her back feet. She used it more than other kicker toys, as it gave her plenty of room to grip and scratch. The bottom of the toy crinkles for added engagement, and there’s a catnip-filled shrimp that can be pulled out of the burrito.
This pickle-shaped cat toy is a staple in our household. Its catnip must be especially potent, as Piper and even my outdoor cats are always drawn to it. I love that it’s more durable than other plush toys too. The cats take turns chewing on and kicking it, and they seem to like that the mesh exterior is easy to grip. Sometimes my dogs even play with it, and unlike other catnip toys, it doesn’t rip easily. My first one lasted nearly a year before it started leaking catnip and I had to replace it.
This top-rated cat toy is popular for good reason. Not only is it adorable but it’s packed with potent catnip that will attract your cat right away. Piper was drawn to it like a magnet. However, this toy isn’t very durable for cats that like to play rough. The stitching can come undone if your cat scratches too hard, resulting in a deluge of catnip leaking all over the floor (I learned this the hard way).
The Play-N-Squeak MouseHunter encourages your cat’s hunting instincts, making them feel like they’re chasing a real mouse. It has a realistic fuzzy design that you might mistake for the real thing at a glance, and the toy makes a high-pitched squeaking noise whenever you touch it. Both my cats and dogs liked throwing the “mouse” around our living room, and I think it’s a good option if your pet likes toys that are a bit more interactive.
If your cat prefers silvervine — another botanical that produces a euphoric feeling in cats — this shark toy will catch their interest. It’s filled with a blend of catnip and silvervine, and its fins are small enough that Piper was able to carry it around in her mouth.
These food-shaped catnip toys are simple but fun. We tried out the sushi pack, which included three cute crinkle toys, and Piper happily chased them across the floor. If you’re not a sushi fan, the toys come in other shapes, such as fruit and donuts.
The scent of catnip toys wears off eventually, but if that happens to this dynamite stick, you can roll it between your hands to crush up the filling and release a fresh wave of scent. Piper and my outdoor cats liked kicking at this toy with their back feet, but one of the seams did rip open after a few weeks of play.
Best budget cat toys
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on cat toys. Many cats are happy to play with random household items like bottle caps or Ping-Pong balls, but if you’re looking for inexpensive toys for your cat, there are plenty of options that cost less than $5 and are lots of fun.
Cats go crazy for these colorful plastic springs, and you can get a pack of 20 for less than $5. I give Piper a few at a time, and she loves batting them with her paws and then chasing them around the floor as they often bounce in unpredictable ways. However, they tend to get lost under furniture and will break if you step on them.
If your cat likes chasing balls, this three-pack is a great value. The toys are made from thick, durable plastic that can stand up to rough play and running into walls, and they have bells inside that make them more engaging for your cat. My only recommendation is to keep them away from your bedroom. Otherwise, you’ll likely be woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of jingling.
This cute catnip-filled avocado is another one of Piper’s favorites, and it’s less than $5. She particularly likes that it has string arms, which make it easy for her to carry around the house. The brand also has a similar Egg Buddy that’s equally cute.
This pack of mouse-shaped toys is another inexpensive option for your cat. They’re filled with catnip, and their string tails make them easy for cats to drag around. Piper loves batting them around the floor and fishing them out from under furniture, and I often kick or throw them around for her to chase. They might be simple, but they’re entertaining.
Best interactive cat toys
If your cat isn’t the best at playing independently, there are interactive toys that can help keep them engaged. These toys often have moving parts or electronic components, and they’re a great choice for high-energy cats.
The PetSafe Bolt will be a hit for cats that love chasing around light spots. All you have to do is place it on an elevated surface like a side table and it will automatically move a laser dot around the floor. The laser travels in a large circular motion but often pauses and reverses its path to keep things unpredictable. Piper always has a blast chasing the dot around our living room, and I like that the toy turns off automatically after 15 minutes, which is generally around the time she starts to get bored.
This unique toy ended up being a favorite not just for Piper but for my two dogs. When you turn it on, a little fuzzy mouse travels along the toy’s track, popping up above the surface before ducking back under again. The mouse moves randomly, changing directions and pausing occasionally, and all three of my pets found it fascinating. They would often spend 15 minutes or more watching the mouse go round and round, and I was impressed the toy always righted itself and kept going if the cat clawed it or the dog bit it.
There are many variations of this toy — including the popular Catstages Tower of Tracks — but they all have a similar design with lightweight plastic balls that roll around an enclosed track. I wasn’t sure if Piper would use it, but she took to it quickly and often lays beside the toy, pushing the balls around the tracks with her paws. Even my older outdoor cat is entertained by it, and he rarely shows interest in toys. However, neither was interested in the catnip toy that dangled from the top, which seems more of a decorative element than anything else.