These Are the 17 Very Best Cat Toys of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

A cat using the Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center indoors — Photo:
People / Elizabeth Theriot

I’ll do just about anything to get my sweet, stubborn rescue cat to play with me. Usually, after five minutes of waving around a feather toy like a matador, my cat looks downright bored. Finding the right toys to keep my feline friend engaged, curious, and playful was more challenging than I thought it’d be.

While I was writing this story, based on the meticulous testing results from our PEOPLE-tested labs, I decided to try out some of the top-performing toys with my own cat. And oh boy, did they perform. The best toys from our testing lab were a hit with my own cat, and I’ve never seen her play more excitedly (she goes especially wild over the Cat Dancer toy), proving, in my own micro test, that the type of toy really does affect the way they play.

We consulted cat behavior specialists and veterinarians to make a comprehensive guide to the very best toys for our best friends. These are the best cat toys, feeder puzzles, scratchers, and lasers that are PEOPLE-cat-approved.

Our Top Picks

Best Teaser Toy:

Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy at Amazon $9

Jump to Review

Best for Kittens:

SALE

Cat Dancer Cat Charmer at Amazon ~~$12~~ $10

Jump to Review

Best Scratcher Toy:

Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cardboard Scratcher at Amazon $26

Jump to Review

Best for Multiple Cats:

Catit Super Roller Circuit Toy at Amazon $39

Jump to Review

Best Circuit Toy:

Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy at Chewy $22

Jump to Review

Best Dental Toy:

Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Toy at Chewy $5

Jump to Review

Best Toy for Self-Play:

SALE

Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy at Amazon ~~$11~~ $9

Jump to Review

Best Mouse Toy:

Ethical Spot Rainbow Mice Toy with Catnip at Chewy $11

Jump to Review

Best Wand Toy:

Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip at Chewy $5

Jump to Review

Best Catnip Toy:

Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Catnip at Chewy $6

Jump to Review

Best Teaser Toy

Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy

PHOTO: Petco

$8 at Amazon View on PETCO View on Catdancer.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

4.5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

Every cat we’ve introduced to this simple wand toy has instantly loved it more than any other wand toy we’ve given them, which leads to hours of engagement and play.
This is a relatively inexpensive toy compared to others on the market and comes in packs of two for under $10.

Cons

The paper tubes began to unravel after a month or two of play, so you may have to replace the toy more often than others.

Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. Why do cats seem to be instantly obsessed over this basic toy? We can’t say for sure — all we know is that 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 — nay, cuter than you can imagine.

At its core, the Cat Dancer toy is just a piece of wire with a few 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 seems to captivate our cats’ attention more than other wand toys. The design is basic, and after a month or two, the paper tubes begin to rip off the wire. But you get two of the toys for just $10, so we don’t mind having to replace the toy more often — especially considering how crazy our cats go for it.

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

People / Melanie Fincher
People / Melanie Fincher

Best for Kittens

Cat Dancer Cat Charmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$10 at Amazon $14 at Target $13 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

Cats of all ages enjoyed the rainbow ribbon toy during our testing, including younger kittens and cats who are intimidated by traditional lure wand toys.
The sturdy wand and rip-resistant ribbon feel durable and high quality, so we’d expect them to last through years of play.

Cons

The rainbow 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. It feels more durable than most other wand toys we’ve tried, thanks to a thickly woven fleece ribbon that has a stretchy weave that allows our cats to claw into it without any ripping. The rainbow ribbon might not be as long-term engaging as a wand toy with prey-like feather lures on the end, 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

People / Andrew Whalen
People / Andrew Whalen

Best Scratcher Toy

Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cardboard Scratcher

Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cat-Shaped Cardboard Scratcher

PHOTO: Amazon

$26 at Amazon

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

4.5/5

Pros

This multi-use toy is a scratcher, cat perch, and ball toy all in one, so our two cats loved playing with it at the same time.
It’s lighter weight and smaller than most other scratching post toys we’ve tried, so it’s great for smaller spaces or for anyone who wants to move the toy around.

Cons

Because it’s so lightweight, the toy can tip over when cats sit on top (but it’s pretty low to the ground, so our cats didn’t seem to mind).

Cat scratcher toys can help minimize furniture scratching, and of all the cat scratching toys we’ve tried, this one from Best Pet Supplies Stores is our (and our kitty’s) favorite. It offers more than the basic scratching board, with an inner compartment that holds small whiffle balls that your cat can bat around and a ledge on top that our tester kitties liked to perch on. In our two-cat testing household, we found that both cats liked to play with the toy together, thanks to the multiple play options it allows. The cat-shaped scratcher toy is made from 100 percent recyclable materials, so although it won’t last forever, we love that we can recycle it when we’re done with it.

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 during one of his perching sessions. This scratcher toy is smaller and lighter in weight 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. For its mobility and versatility, we think the cat-shaped scratcher toy is well worth its price.

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

People / Johanna Neeson
People / Johanna Neeson
People / Johanna Neeson

Best for Multiple Cats

Catit Super Roller Circuit Toy

Catit Design Senses Super Roller Circuit Toy

PHOTO: Chewy

$34 at Amazon $33 at Chewy $23 at PetSmart

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

This circuit toy encourages independent play with a rollable light-up ball that cats can bat around the track on their own.
The sturdy track pieces click together easily, with the option to order more track pieces online to create a larger custom track.

Cons

We had to demonstrate how the toy worked for the first few times for our kitties to understand how it worked, so it isn’t necessarily 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 strewing your things on the ground). The toy is easy to set up, and the pieces click together similarly to a toy train’s tracks. Once assembled, the tracks are locked in and sturdy enough for us to move the toy from room to room in one piece.

We introduced the Circuit Super Roller toy in our two-cat household. 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 both together and by themselves. In fact, it seemed like the cats only grew to like the toy more and more as they played with it through the testing period, and we’d often find them playing with it by themselves without any prompting.

We’d recommend this toy for 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 that’s as long as you want.

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

People / Elise Wang
People / Elise Wang
People / Elise Wang

Best Circuit Toy

Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy

PHOTO: Chewy

$22 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

The multi-functional device is a circuit toy, massager, and batting toy all in one, with included catnip to encourage your kitty to rub up against the massing nubs.
It feels much more durable than other circuit toys we’ve had in the past, and the bright orange ball is easy to find when removed from the track.

Cons

The ball rolling around the track does make a little bit of noise.

The Catit Play Massager is more than just a circuit toy — it’s also a massager, batting toy, and catnip toy all in one. The setup process took us less than 30 seconds, and one of our tester cats immediately began to bat the ball around the circuit, rub up 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 tester kitties figured out how to remove the ball from the circuit track, but we were able to locate the ball easily on our apartment floor, thanks to its bright orange coloring. The Catit Play Massager has immediately become our cat’s favorite toy, and we can hear him rolling the ball around the track during all hours of the day and night — which is to say, if you’re looking for a silent toy, this one isn’t it. But we found that 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

People / John Somerall
People / John Somerall

Best Dental Toy

Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Toy

Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Dental Cat Toy

PHOTO: Chewy

$5 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

These adorable plushy toys clean your cat’s teeth while they chew and play, with an internal mesh that helps to remove plaque when they bite into the toy.
The multi-sensory toy crinkles and jingles and keeps cats engaged with a catnip filling that our cat loved.
It’s one of the least expensive toys on our list, priced at under $5 for a pack of three plushies.

Cons

Some of the feathers on top of the plushy fell out during our testing process.

Engage your kitty in play while polishing their teeth with the Catstages Straw-Babies dental toy. The toy comes with three 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.

The soft fabric toys help to remove plaque from cat’s 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 down on toys rather than household objects. And, while these little toys are relatively simple, we were shocked at how inexpensive a pack of three runs compared to other similar plushy toys. We did notice that the feathers began to fall out after a few play sessions, but since it comes in a pack of three for less than $5, a few shedding feathers didn’t change our high opinion of the toy.

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

People / Jordan Provost
People / Jordan Provost
People / Jordan Provost

Best Toy for Self-Play

Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy

PHOTO: Amazon

$9 at Amazon $23 at Walmart $12 at Farmandfleet.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

Three levels of circuits and six brightly colored rolling balls made for hours of play for our cats on their own or together without the need for human supervision.
The sturdy construction looked as good as new, even after weeks of play with four different cats.

Cons

It only comes in a bright orange color that may not be the most visually appealing.

We can’t always be around to engage with our feline friends, so toys that encourage alone-time play, like the Catstages Tower of Tracks, are game changers for keeping your kitty from getting bored. The bright and engaging toy has three levels with six brightly-hued balls that they can bat around the tracks for hours on end. The toy is ready to use right out of the package with no assembly acquired, and we found that every cat that we presented with the Tower of Tracks toy was instantly interested in it.

After weeks of play, the toy showed no signs of wear and looked exactly like it did when we first removed it from the box. None of the balls came out of the sturdy structure, and our cats seemed to enjoy the toy throughout our whole testing process. There wasn’t much that we didn’t love about the Tower of Tracks 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, then so do we.

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

People / Cassidy Walter
People / Cassidy Walter

Best Mouse Toy

Ethical Spot Rainbow Mice Toy with Catnip

Ethical Spot Rainbow Plush Rattling Mice Cat Toy with Catnip

PHOTO: Chewy

$11 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

It engages your cat’s animal instincts with a rattling noise and catnip stuffing.
Brightly colored options help ensure you don’t mistake one of the toy mice for the real thing.
The durable toys held up through chewing, clawing, and being dunked in water.

Cons

The exterior fabric will eventually start to wear away, so these toys won’t last forever.

We all know the classic trope: cats love to chase mice. That’s why we love these catnip-packed toy rodents that engage their animal instincts without hurting any other living animals in the process. The brightly colored mouse toys make a rattling noise and come with 12 in a pack, which feels like a great deal for how well each mouse toy held up during our testing. We also love that nine of the included toys are brightly colored, which means we won’t mistake them 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 rough-housing, the mouse toy looked as good as new at the end of the testing period. And, though we suspect the outer fabric will eventually wear down after extended play, we still think the quality and price make it a great deal.

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

People / Heddy Hunt
People / Heddy Hunt
People / Heddy Hunt

Best Wand Toy

Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip

PHOTO: Chewy

$5 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

The sturdy toy proved to be impressively durable and looked as good as new, even after hours of play with three different cats.
Cats of all ages loved this toy, thanks to the crinkly feathered bird lure that’s stuffed with enticing catnip.

Cons

A stuffed bird lure doesn't look like a real bird, so it may not inspire the hunting instinct as much as more life-like bird lures.

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 cat nip 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. But the colorful lure at the end of the toy doesn’t look as realistic as some other feathered lures, so it’s possible that it won’t engage your feline’s animal instinct as well as some other toys (but in our experience, every cat we introduced to this toy couldn’t get enough of it!).

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

People / Chrissy Tassin
People / Chrissy Tassin

Best Catnip Toy

Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Catnip

Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Refillable Catnip

PHOTO: Chewy

$6 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

The soft, cozy plush toy can be filled with catnip to entice cats to play and comes with enough catnip for refills.

Cons

Because it’s filled with catnip, the toy inspired a lot of licking, which made it feel a bit crusty by the end of the testing period.

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

People / Danielle Yersin
People / Danielle Yersin

Best Bird Toy

Leo’s Paw Bird Simulation Cat Toy Set

Leoâs Paw Interactive Bird Simulation Cat Toy Set

PHOTO: Leoâs Paw

View on Leospaw.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

This suction-mounted wand toy allows cats to play with the dangling bird lure for hours, even when their human is not home.
The set comes with five realistic bird options to hand from the bendy wire and a suction replacement.

Cons

This is one of the more expensive toys on our list, but it also comes with multiple bird lures and feels very sturdy, so it feels like a fair price to us.

This bird toy is a more innovative take on the classic wand toy. It comes with a self-holding 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 most 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

People / Heddy Hunt
People / Heddy Hunt

Best Puzzle Toy

Nina Ottosson Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game

PHOTO: Chewy

$14 at Amazon $19 at PETCO $16 at Kohls.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

Small divots hold treats and food and encourage cats to solve puzzles which stimulates their mind and can help slow down fast eaters.
This puzzle is made from sturdy food-safe materials that held up well to multiple play sessions and was easy to wash by hand once a week.

Cons

This is a simpler puzzle, and you may need something more advanced to keep your cat engaged if they’re already used to playing with puzzles.

Puzzle toys are a great way to engage your cat’s mind while you feed them, and the Petstages Buggin’ Out toy is our favorite puzzle toy that we’ve tried. We introduced this toy to two cats who didn’t have much prior experience with puzzle toys and were surprised at how quickly they became obsessed with this leaf-shaped toy. Once they got the hang of it, our cats would bat at the toy throughout the day for us to fill it with treats for them to discover. It took about 10 minutes for our cats to get all of the treats out, which also helped to slow down their eating time and create sustained play sessions.

The Petstages Buggin’ Out 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 to how the toy worked pretty quickly, we think we’ll soon need to provide them with a more advanced puzzle to keep them entertained. But, especially for cats who aren’t used to puzzle toys, we think this is a great starter option.

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

People / Alexandra Domrongchai
People / Alexandra Domrongchai

Best Electronic Toy

SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy

PHOTO: Chewy

$16 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

4/5
Value

5/5

Pros

The electronic toy spins a feathered wand around a battery-operated base and does the hard work for you, engaging the cat’s feline instincts by allowing them to pounce and track the lure while you sit back and relax.
Two different speed options allow for a more customizable experience, depending on your cat’s desired level of play.
An auto-shutoff feature ensures the toy doesn’t waste battery when you’re not there to shut it off.

Cons

It takes 3 AA batteries, which will need to be replaced after prolonged use.
The wand came unscrewed a few times during our testing, which we then had to manually screw back in.

The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit toy allows your cat to engage in healthy play without the need for you to it wave 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: just screw on the wand, put three AA batteries in the base, and drape the round blue mat over top. Our tester 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

People / Bridget Annear
People / Bridget Annear

Best Value

SmartyKat Skitter Slices Plush Cat Toy with Catnip

PHOTO: Chewy

$5 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

The catnip-filled toys were enticing for our two tester cats, who enjoyed batting at the mice, rolling around with them, and carrying them in their mouths.
The simple design kept its shape through hours of play, and the price is the best value for a set of toys that we’ve come across.

Cons

The 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 plus 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, the Skitter Slices mice are a simple and well-priced pack of toys that are great for alone play.

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

People / Joe McGinn
People / Joe McGinn

Best Activity Center

Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center

PHOTO: Amazon

$25 at Amazon $25 at Chewy $25 at PetSmart

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

Multiple puzzle options hold food and treats, enticing our cats who usually don’t like toys to play with this activity center.
The puzzle forces cats to slow down while they eat, which engages their brain and is great for cats who overeat or eat too quickly.

Cons

The 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 quickly.

The activity center is large enough for all three of our cats to play with at the same time and 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 about the board is the color — we’d love some more options than the basic grey, 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

People / Elizabeth Theriot
People / Elizabeth Theriot

Best Laser Toy

Valonii Motion Activated Laser Toy

Valonii Rechargeable Motion Activated Cat Laser Toy

PHOTO: Amazon

$25 at Amazon

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

5/5
Value

5/5

Pros

This laser toy activates the feline instant to hunt and gives our tester cat a great workout with random movement that’s fun for cats to track.
The motion-activated toy is USB-rechargeable, which means no fumbling to find batteries, and it has three different speed modes.

Cons

Laser toys can be a little frustrating for some cats because they can never actually “catch” the laser.

Our tester cats went wild for this laser toy from Amazon, and watching our kitty pounce around the room chasing the red dot was almost too cute for words. The toy was ready to use right out of the package, much to our cat’s delight, and instantly engaged our feline bestie’s predatory instincts as he pounced after the laser for ten minutes straight. He did seem to tire of the game after about 10 minutes, and it’s possible that he felt frustrated that he could never actually “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 Valonii toy also seems very sturdy — we knocked it off the table a few times to test its durability, and it didn’t scratch or dent at all. We also love that the toy is rechargeable and comes with a USB charging cord. It also has a variety of modes that move the laser at varying speeds and has a motion-activated sensor to engage your pet in play even when you’re not around to turn it on for them.

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

People / Jeanne Geer
People / Jeanne Geer
People / Jeanne Geer

Best Kicker Toy

Yeowww Catnip Banana

PHOTO: Amazon

$8 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $8 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5
Engagement

5/5
Durability

4.8/5
Value

5/5

Pros

This catnip-filled toy instantly grabbed our cat’s attention and became his favorite toy for bunny-kicking, tossing, and cuddling.

Cons

The canvas fabric showed some bite marks after two weeks of rough play, though it didn’t rip at all.

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 through 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

People / Cara Milhaven
People / Cara Milhaven

Things to Consider When Buying 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 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 Toy 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, 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.

A person filling the Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with catnip — People / Danielle Yersin

How We Tested

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.

A cat playing with the Yeowww Catnip Banana — People / Cara Milhaven

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. “I’m a big fan of work-to-eat toys,” says Dr. Jennifer Chu, the medical director at Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group in New York City. “Cats need mental stimulation and exercise, so work-to-eat toys allow them to exercise while using their brains.”

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com who writes about the best and buzziest new products across the home, beauty, and lifestyle spaces. Cai loves to write about pet products and uses her rescue cat, Miso, as a test subject to discover the best litter boxes, cat toys, cat beds, cat carriers, and more. For this story, Cai consulted insights from the PEOPLE Tested lab, which tested 30 of the most popular cat toys on cats of all ages. Cai also spoke with a veterinarian and used insights from cat experts.

Meet Our Experts

Stephen Quandt is a certified feline training and behavior specialist and founder of Cat Behavior Help.
Dr. Jennifer Chu is the medical director at Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group in New York City.

What Is People Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.