Interactive cat toys are designed for you and your cat to use together. They help you to play with your cat in a way that’s fun for you both. They stimulate your kitty physically and mentally, and encourage them to play and . They encourage play, and present problems for your cat to solve.
The best interactive cat toys promote exercise, reduce boredom, and will help your cat to be happier and healthier, in body and in mind.
But with so much choice out there, choosing the right toys for your cat can feel overwhelming. So we’ve gathered together a variety of the best interactive toys for cats. With tips and information to help you decide what’s right for the furry feline in your family.
Let’s take a look at the Happy Cat team’s favorite interactive toys.
All of these products were carefully and independently selected by the Happy Cat Site team. If you decide to make a purchase from one of the links marked by an asterisk, we may earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.
Interactive Cat Toy Benefits
Today, professional veterinary associations state that offering toys is considered one of the “five pillars” of providing a healthy environment for a pet cat.
The best interactive toys for cats can provide these six benefits and many more:
- Stimulate your cat’s natural instincts for hunting and exploring.
- Awaken all five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing.
- Provide the satisfaction of foraging for food independently of “being fed.”
- Offer the opportunity for interaction with other household cats and with YOU.
- Generate an interest and enthusiasm for physical activity, play and exercise.
- Bring out and enhance new aspects of your cat’s intelligence, agility, and creativity.
Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats
Indoor cats love to nap and relax. But in order for your kitty to have the most healthy and happy life, you have to get him up and moving.
And these interactive cat toys for indoor cats can be a great way to accomplish that mission!
Petstages Tower of Tracks
Petstages Tower of Tracks* has three levels of interactive spinning balls.
Each one brightly colored with different patterns, this is the perfect interactive cat toy for multi-cat families.
An economical and well-designed toy, it is a huge hit among cat owners who rate the toy highly.
Bergan Turbo Scratcher
This super-famous and beloved cat toy* features a round disc with scratching material in the center.
Around the exterior is a small channel with a revolving ball.
The manufacturer also sells replacements for the center material as it wears out, making this an economical and long-lasting interactive cat toy choice.
Catit Design Senses Play Circuit
This interactive cat toy* is yet another affordable, creative, and popular addition to your selection of interactive pet toys for your kitties.
The original toy set features a track with a set of brightly colored balls, and you can purchase add-on tracks to change up the layout to keep this toy fresh and entertaining for your cat.
Creaker 3 Way Cat Tunnel
This is another popular toy* that is great if you have a multi-cat household.
The three-way tunnel is made of a soft and flexible crinkly material that is still quite durable.
There is a soft ball hanging from one exit.
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As a bonus, this toy folds easily and compactly for travel or storage.
Interactive Laser Cat Toys
The interactive laser pet toy is just one of those toys that all cat owners should keep on hand.
Laser toys are so good for getting cats to exercise, since they can’t seem to resist investigating where that mysterious colorful dot is coming from!
We think you and your feline baby will love these highly rated interactive laser cat toy options.
Eveready LED Pen
This simple laser pen* is of the same style teachers, lecturers and public speakers use.
It’s straightforward, battery powered, and does exactly what it claims with no bells or whistles.
Point it at the wall or floor, twitch it a bit to get the dot moving, and watch your cat go for it!
Felix & Fido Play Dot
Laser pointers are just about the easiest interactive game to play with your cat, but if you need both hands free for something else, why not let this clever gadget* do all the work for you?
It is battery operated and compact, so it can easily be stashed in a cupboard while out of use.
It’s even small enough to double up as a handheld laser pointer.
Yvelife Cat Laser Toy
The Yvelife laser toy* is a well-deserved cult classic in cat homes.
It has a handy USB charger, and you can set it to turn on and off automatically while you’re out.
Perfect for interactive games while you’re at work.
BlackHole Laser Robot Fish
Finally in the laser toy category, we think these laser fish* which actually swim are a simply fabulous toy!
The Cheese Interactive Peek a Boo Cat Toy
The Petsafe cheese interactive peek a boo cat toy* is truly in a category by itself.
There is no other interactive cat toy on the market like it, and cats LOVE this toy!
The toy itself is shaped like a block of Swiss cheese (which is where it gets its name). The block itself has rubber feet to keep it stationary.
Inside the block are two cute yellow toy mice. During a play session, the mice will pop out of holes located on either side of the block.
Some Cool Features
One of the best features of this cheese interactive peek a boo cat toy is the “Play While You Are Away” timer.
Interactive cat toys with timers are a relatively new invention in the interactive cat toy market.
And this one has hit a home run with both how it operates and the length of time it operates (on just three AAA batteries!).
Once you activate the timer button, the toy will offer one session of play. Then it will shut off for 15 minutes to conserve battery life.
The toy offers a total of three play sessions (45 minutes of play time) over a six-hour period, with shut-offs in between, making it a great toy choice for “home alone” felines.
The manufacturer also offers live customer care support (chat, email or phone) six days a a week to ensure you and your pet cat are getting the best use from your cheese peek a boo cat toy.
Interactive Kitten Toys
Kittens are not kittens for very long, which means that every day really counts in a kitten’s growing-up months.
We love the Petstages Purring Cuddle Pillow* for new kittens.
If your kitten is new to your household and is having trouble adapting to sleeping on her own, this is just the toy to help her.
The purr is activated by your kitten’s touch, and, once activated, it lasts two full minutes. You can also remove the interior mechanism to wash the pillow.
Cat Interactive Food Toys
Our cats love earning their snacks by playing with these interactive food toys!
KONG Refillable Catnip Cat Toy
The KONG* company has been a trusted name in dog toys for years, and they do not disappoint when it comes to interactive cat toys either.
This refillable catnip cat toy comes in all kinds of shapes, from a soft and floppy squirrel to a bright green sea turtle to a fluffy little hedgehog and an adorable pink and grey mouse.
Each toy has an interior pouch to hold the catnip.
Cat Treat Maze & Puzzle Box
This really cool and unique cat maze toy* uses treats (both edible and crinkly) to inspire your cat to forage, hunt, search, find and retrieve.
Veterinarians also recommend it for cats who need encouragement to eat more slowly. Both cat owners and cats rave about it.
Hagen Catit Treat Ball
This neat and innovative cat treat ball* comes in two colors, blue and pink. It is very economical and highly rated.
You can use it for treats or as a slow feeder (or both).
Your cat has to figure out how to move the ball to get the treats or the food out, which also provides lots of opportunity for movement and exercise, both mental and physical.
Best Interactive Cat Toys
We sure hope that you loved this curated selection of some of the best interactive cat toys out there today!
But even more, we hope your fur baby loves them too, and we would love to hear which toys your kitty enjoys the most!
Please feel welcome to share your experiences in the comments section here, and if your kitten or cat is head-over-heels for a toy that we haven’t mentioned, please drop us a line!
Who knows, we just might feature your suggestion in an upcoming post!
Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.
Resources and Further Reading
- Todd, Z., PhD, “Most Owners Say Cats are Part of the Family,” Companion Animal Psychology, 2016.
- Coren, S., PhD, FASC, “The Truth about Cats and Dogs—by the Numbers,” Psychology Today, 2013.
- Sashin, D., “A Healthy Weight for Your Cat,” Pet MD, 2017.
- Ellis, S., BSc (Hons) Dip CABC PhD, “AAFP and ISFM Feline
Environmental Needs Guidelines,” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013. - Curtis, T.M., DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVB, “On Your Best Behavior: The 10 Commandments of Cat Management,” Today’s Veterinary Practice Journal, 2013.
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