There are few other animals that are as fiercely independent as our cats. You will never be in doubt as to what they truly value, because they wear their heart on their sleeve and are not in the business of protecting feelings.
All cat owners have been in that position where they use some of that hard-earned cash to get the perfect cat toy for their best friend, only for it to be ignored and relegated to the abyss of ‘not fun enough’. For this reason, we’ve scoured the reviews, done the research and have identified the best cat toys out there, the cream of the crop – so you never have to be in that position. Instead, you can be the hero you deserve to be.
But in addition to the fun, playtime with toys is crucial to keeping your cats fit, healthy and happy. Having evolved from their predatory ancestors, they haven’t lost that natural hunting instinct and require lots of stimulation to keep themselves sane and satiated. So, it’s really worth taking the time to get the right sort of cat toy in order to give kitty all the mental and physical benefits that they need. And don’t worry – we’re here to help with that.
We did the research so you don’t have to. No matter whether you’re looking for ways to entertain your indoor cat (or multiple cats) while you’re at work or at home, here are the best cat toys for 2021 broken down into 6 distinct categories:
Best Overall: Trixie 5-in-1 Cat Activity Center
Out of the thousands of toys available, it’s going to take something special to snag the number one spot overall and the Trixie 5-in-1 Cat Activity Center does that with aplomb. You won’t find another cat toy with this much versatility and mental stimulation – it’s a game changer. As the name suggests, the cat toy has five different sections which each ask for a different skill from the cat in order to win some food. Whether its digging, pawing, noodling, or biting – this cat toy can keep kitty entertained for hours.
The other aspect that makes this cat toy such a winner is its durability. The hard plastic shell and rubber feet ensures that it won’t go sliding away as kitty gets excited, and it will be robust enough to handle whatever energy comes its way.
This cat toy is slightly more expensive than the average, but you truly get what you pay for. Quite frankly, it’s a masterpiece of kitty entertainment.
Amazon Product Reviews: 94 (4.1 stars)
Best for Indoor Cats: SmartCat Peek-a-Prize Toy Box
Many of us have turned to puzzles for respite during these lengthy lockdown periods and now you can share that delight with your feline friend. The SmartCat Peek-a-Prize Puzzle Toy Box is an exceptional indoor game that cats can play which stimulates their desire to hunt and play. There are few other games that can keep your cats as fit as this one – something that’s very important these days with nearly 60% of American cats suffering from obesity according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
The robust wooden box becomes the playground as you can place most reasonable sized toys inside it for kitty to chase around. If your cat is strongly motivated by food (aren’t we all…) then you can also use the catnip toy to encourage activity. In essence, it’s the most exciting version of cat whack-a-mole ever conceived, and your cat’s predatory instincts will be primed in no time.
Amazon Product Reviews: 715 (4.2 stars)
Best Interactive Toy: Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Toy
When it comes to directly interacting with your cat, you won’t go wrong with this Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Toy which brings color, vibrancy, and joy to the world of wand toys. It’s probably the simplest cat toy of the lot but there’s a reason it’s become a classic. This teaser wand is fantastic aerobic exercise for your cat, but also for you as you’re chased around the room while you wave the colorful fabric.
This particular version of the classic charmer places a lot of importance on safety – being made out of strong polycarbonate and robust fleece fabric. As a result, you can bring the beauty of rhythmic gymnastics to your kitty without a care in the world. You will immediately grab your cat’s attention when you pick up this wand toy – you won’t regret this one.
Amazon Product Reviews: 7,055 (4.7 stars)
Best Catnip Toy: SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Cat Toys
Catnip is one of those substances that can seem confounding to those who don’t own cats, but for us lucky ones – we know exactly how crazy our feline friends go for it. There is a wide range of catnip toys out there, but our favorite by far is the SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Cat Toys. When you buy the toy mouse, you’ll get a couple of light plush mouse toys that are filled with the very best catnip that money can buy.
You won’t find better value for money and these catnip toys are guaranteed to keep your kitty occupied for hours. The mice are made out of recycled materials and the catnip is made without any chemicals or pesticides – rounding out the most sustainable cat chew toy that you could imagine. It’s a no-brainer. What are you waiting for?
Amazon Product Reviews: 32,775 (4.7 stars)
Best Laser Toy: Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser Original 2-in-1 Cat Toy
There are few things more endearing than watching a kitten’s obsession with a laser toy – but it’s vitally important that you get the right one if it’s something that you’re looking into. The Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser Original 2-in-1 Cat Toy is our pick for the very best because it gets the important things right without any unnecessary fluff.
The laser exerciser can be used indoors or outdoors and allows your kitten to chase an ever-elusive prey which exercises both the mind and the body. Most importantly though, the LED light used is safe for both kittens and humans – unlike some of the other laser pointers that some people use which can be very dangerous. It’s an inexpensive, but extremely effective interactive cat toy that’s sure to drain your kitten’s energy delivering it into a mellow, satisfied state of bliss before you know it.
Chewy Product Reviews: 1,543 (4 stars)
Best Battery Operated Toy: Petlinks Mystery Motion Concealed Electronic Motion Cat Toy
Think of this as the equivalent of your cat discovering virtual reality. The Petlinks Mystery Motion Concealed Electronic Motion Cat Toy brings sheer electronic immersion to the chase game by creating unpredictable motions and speeds to get your kitty to jump, chase and paw at the toy with unbridled enthusiasm.
The cat toy itself is eco-friendly and made entirely out of recycled plastic, giving you the peace of mind to know that as your kitty has more fun than it’s ever had, you’re also doing your part for the sustainability of our planet. It’s robust and can handle whatever your kitty throws at it – leading to hours and hours of fun. As far as battery-operated cat toys go, you won’t find anything more enthralling than this.
Amazon Product Reviews: 1,911 (4.3 stars)
Well, there you have it! In the midst of all the thousands of pet toys out there on the market, we hope that this breakdown gives you all the information that you need to find the very best cat toys of 2021. Stick with these and your kitty is sure to have the best year of its life. Just don’t come running back to us when your feline friends want playtime all day long. We warned you!
Are there other catnip toys not mentioned here?
There are a lot of other awesome categories of cat toys you should check out too, such as:
- feather toy, feather wand, wand toy (or dangling toy)
- teaser toy
- plush toy
- ball toy
- soft toy
- …and many more!
Are catnip toys good for cats ?
Catnip toys are great for an adult cat, and your kitty will love them. When you give your cat a toy that smells like organic catnip, such as a catnip mouse, they will get excited and want to play with the toy. Cats’ sense of smell is the most powerful sense in the world, and catnip is a strong stimulant to that sense.
Are cat spring toys safe ?
If you have a pet cat, then it’s not a bad idea to get them a spring toy to engage their cat’s instinct. From one cat lover to another, just ensure you are monitoring your furry friend during playtime to keep them safe.
