The best cat toys to keep your cat active

We've found the best cat toys to keep your kitty entertained for hours.

Cat chasing toy - the best cat toys

by Caitlin Casey |
Updated on

Cats have the ability to make anything a cat toy - a simple cardboard box, for instance, can be the perfect present for cats and provides days of entertainment. However, if you're looking to invest in cat toys for your bundle of fluff rather than have torn cardboard lying all around, there are loads of cute and interactive toys out there for your furry friend. Plus, with Christmas coming up, there is no better to spoil your cats with a new toy from Santa paws.

Not only are cat toys super fun for you and your kitty, but they're great for their health, too. Vets suggest that playing with a cat twice a day for 15-20 minutes will help them burn energy and keep them healthy. Playtime is great for cats as it mimics their natural hunting and prowling instincts which is why you might also want to invest in a cat scratching post to help protect your furniture.

Best cat toys at a glance

• Best top-rated toy on Amazon: Vealind Pet Interactive Fun Roller Exerciser - View now on Amazon UK
• Best automatic laser cat toy: YVE LIFE Laser Toy for Indoor Cats - View now on Amazon UK
• Best natural cat toy set: Pawfect Family® Natural Cat Toy Set - View now on Amazon UK

There's nothing worse than your cat having zoomies for hours for no reason, so keep them content with these best cat toys. We can't promise that they will stop running around your house forever, but they will be enjoying more playtime. So, with that being said - what really are the best toys to choose?

The best cat toys UK

Best top-rated toy on Amazon

Description

Your kitty will have hours of fun with this three-level roller that your cat can bat around for hours. It's small, so won't take up too much space, but has lots to play with - and, even better, it's super affordable.

Review: "Got delivered today and my kitten has been playing with it for 2 hours nonstop, he loves it!!! Great for naughty kittens who need to be kept busy. Definitely recommend."

Pros

  • Provides a lot of enrichment
  • Great for kittens
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • Tricky to put together

Best cat toy and bed

Cat Tunnel Bed with Cushion Matamazon
Price: $37.99

Description

Want a cat bed that doubles up as a toy? This cat tunnel bed from Amazon will keep your kitty having hours of fun - and snoozes - with a cute running tunnel and little cushion to cosy up on.

Review: "Lovely product. Wasn't sure what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. Well made, nice material, lovely colour. Three very naughty, very lively kittens took to it immediately, running through it and then hiding in it."

Pros

  • Great size
  • Easily stored if not in use

Cons

  • One review mentioned it's tricky to clean if your cat malts a lot

Best cat pointer laser toy

Description

It can be as simple as a little laser to send your cat wild with entertainment. This pointer laser is easily grabbed from Amazon if you want something simple, small and won't take up space.

Review: "I really like this laser pen. I found it so much better than the cheap ones I've been buying. The best thing is it has a real on-off switch and not just a button you need to hold down. My cats absolutely love chasing the laser light around the room. Plus it's chargeable with any USB plug which is so much better than batteries. Very pleased with this purchase."

Pros

  • USB rechargeable
  • Hours of entertainment

Cons

  • Batteries don't last very long

Best automatic laser cat toy

YVE LIFE Cat Automatic Laser Toyamazon

Description

Okay, this laser toy takes it up a slight notch - it's automatic, so you won't even have to do anything. For one of our more techy options, this is really affordable and will keep going until your cat's had enough.

Review: "This laser toy works great for our two cats who are active during the night. I can just turn this on and they will play with it until they get tired. The battery lasts a couple of nights and recharges quickly. The height adjustment mechanism is great for setting a good play zone and away from the furniture. Highly recommend."

Pros

  • Automatic
  • Don't have to do anything
  • Good value

Cons

  • Some reviews mentioned about laser moving too fast

Best cat toy collection

Pets at Home Kitten Blue Multi Pack Cat Toyspets at home

Description

Pets at Home is a go-to for high-quality pet products, and their kitten multi-pack of toys is everything you could want for your kitty. With catnip toys, balls, teasers and more, you'll get loads of use out of this.

Review: "Bought to keep my new kitten entertained and the toys certainly do the job. The catnip bag and scrunchie balls are a definite favourite for Ralph."

Pros

  • Last a long time
  • Balls a good size

Cons

  • Catnip bag may wear off over time

Best robotic cat toy

Description

We do love our cats, but sometimes we don't always have the capacity to play with them. If you want something easier you can just let them have fun with it, this robotic cat toy will do all the work for you. Just let it flick the feathers around, and watch your kitty enjoy.

Review: "Brilliant... keeps cat occupied with metal curiosity and stalking behaviours together with basic direct physical interactive behaviours. Strong construction allows this to withstand usual tassels and able to withstand falls."

Pros

  • Durable
  • Endless entertainment

Cons

  • One review said their cat was afraid of it

Best natural cat toy set

Description

This would be a perfect present for any cat lover or as a little gift for your kitty on a special occasion. Made out of natural materials such as wood and feathers, it's good quality and will last long for extra playtime. Just under £10 for five different fishing rod toys.

Review: "Beautifully packaged in full recycled materials. Gorgeously crafted toys and the jingle of the bells got the attention of the kitties instantly. Each toy had an elastic loop on them which means I could clip them onto some of their fishing rods toys for some extra fun. Amazing toys, hard wearing and fun fun fun with the bells and the feathers. Recommended to friends already!"

Pros

  • Beautifully packaged
  • Hard wearing

Cons

  • May fall apart if your cat loves to scratch

Best cat toy with feeder

Catit Senses Digger Cat FeederArgos

Rrp: $19.99

Price: $17.50
Alternative retailers
Walmart$24.00View offer

Description

A cat toy with food? What better way to play? This Catit Senses Digger is technically a feeder and works to slow down any cat who eats its biscuits a little too quickly. By pawing out or hooking the cups out of the base, it works as a little game too.

Review: "Prevents my greedy cat from eating all my other cat's biscuits. The skinny one has worked out how to scoop the biscuits out so she can graze on the biscuits in her own time. Works great!"

Pros

  • Great for focus and determination
  • Sturdy and well-made

Cons

  • Some reviews mentioned it may be too easy for some cats

Best cat toy tunnel

Willow's Scratch and Hide Cat Tunnel Toypets at home

Description

Sometimes, all cats need is a little tunnel to run in and out of. This super smooth and stylish cat toy from Pets at Home does what it says on the tin - you just need to let your cat enjoy it.

Review: "My two cats get so much use out of this. We have three in a row, and when the top part gets worn we cut it in half and it makes another bed for them to sit in. Well worth the money for the use they get from it."

Pros

  • Help to protect your furniture and carpets from scratch attacks
  • Allows cats to carry out natural instincts

Cons

  • Doesn't last long

Best catnip cat toy

House Mouse With Catnip Cat ToyViovet

Rrp: $7.21

Price: $6.85
Alternative retailers
Walmart$7.85View offer

Description

If your cat is one who loves to chase mice around, then this house mouse toy will be great for your cat to play with. It also contains catnip to entice your cat even more. A set of three for lots of choices.

Review: "Kitten adores this mouse toy. Super realistic too and can see her beginning to be better with how to attack it and carry it around as she gets bigger. The tail is her favourite part. It's standing up well to the constant playing and is light enough the kitten can shove it around and play well with it."

Pros

  • Irresistible to some cats
  • Good for anxious cats
  • Great value

Cons

  • Catnip doesn't work on all cats

Best teaser cat toy

KONG Connects Window TeaserZooplus
Price: $13.99
Alternative retailers
Blain Farm & Fleet$7.19View offer
Tractor Supply$9.49View offer

Description

Every cat needs a teaser toy to play with. This KONG teaser can be handheld or attached to a window, as well as being stuffed with catnip. All you need to do is attach it to any window - low or high - and your kitty can bat at it.

Review: "My cats love it so much that I’m buying a second one. Highly recommended, my cats love it."

Pros

  • Strong and sturdy
  • Hours of fun

Cons

  • May have trouble with the sucker sticking

Best cat toy for variety

Description

If you want an all-in-one bundle of effective cat toys, this Petface cat toy bundle is perfect for every and any cat. With a laser chaser, mouse teaser and catnip mouse, you've got all of the classic toys in one for less than £15. Bargain.

Review: "Our cat loved pretty much everything in the pack. The squeaking mouse and the mouse on the stick have become favourites. The laser pointer was also a hit. Alright quality and good value."

Pros

  • Great quality
  • Good variety of different toys

Cons

  • Some cats may lose interest

Best all-round set

Description

With twenty-one pieces in this one set, this is surely to be the ultimate set - what more could you want? Including a large tunnel for cats to play around in, it also has a variety of classic chasers and teasers so that you'll never run out of things to play with.

Review: "Bought for our little kitten Odie. Good value for money. The tunnel is a lot longer than expected and has two other exits along it for the kitten to jump in or out as he likes. The number of toys is fantastic, loads to choose from and not all the same things. Our Odie seems to like the spring and trying to kill the mice."

Pros

  • Plenty of variety
  • Great value for money
  • Toys suitable for both kittens and adult cats

Cons

  • Some reviews said their kittens only played with a few things

Best electric cat toy

Description

This motion-activated ball toy is great for any kittens learning to hunt or any adult cat that wants to be stimulated. The extra push of the tilting plate keeps the ball moving.

Review: "Arrived fast and in good condition. Goods themselves are as described and kittens love them."

Pros

  • Great for all cats
  • Encourages stimulation

Cons

  • Large in size for a cat toy

Best cat toys FAQs:

What cat toys should I be buying?

There are hundreds of cat toys out there - some cheaper, some more expensive. When you start buying toys for your cats, you'll want toys with lots of variety. Sometimes, they'll want a ball to play with, and sometimes they'll want some string. Here are some of the toys you should be considering:

Balls: A toy for your cat to throw, hit and catch around. You can get balls with rattles or catnip in if you're looking for something more interesting.

Catnip toys: As mentioned above, many toys now come with catnip included. Catnip has an essential oil that stimulates cats naturally, making it extra fun.

Mice: A classic cat toy, grab a toy mouse for your cat's natural instinct. You can place different mice around the house for your cat to find and play with.

Teasers: Usually a mouse or other toy attached to a long piece of string, these are great for your cat to jump about and chase to catch something. Simple but effective. Teasers are often incorporated into cat towers, that are great for your cat to enjoy watching the world from different heights.

Scratchers: You might find your cat scratching at your sofas – this is just classic cat behaviour to roughen down their claws. Now you can get toys with scratchers to encourage them to avoid your nice furniture.

Do cats need to play?

Just like us humans and children, exercise and play are really good for a variety of reasons. Cats don't necessarily need to play, but it is really good for their health and everyday stimulation.

If cats get too bored, it's likely they're going to take it out naturally - jumping around everywhere or acting out. Relieving this boredom through toys is a great way to keep your cat entertained and keep behavioural problems at bay.

If you have a house or indoor cat, it's quite important for them to get the exercise that they would be if they were outside. This is where toys come in handy and can help burn any energy that they might be storing up.

Caitlin Casey is a Senior Writer for Take a Break, heat, Closer, and Grazia. She covers shopping, women’s lifestyle, popular culture as well as all things trending.

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