Finding the best toy for your cat can be a daunting task, especially with the vast array of options available.
Whether you're shopping for a playful kitten or a more mature cat, the perfect toy can provide endless entertainment and help keep your furry friend active and healthy.
In this comprehensive guide, we've laid out everything you need to know about choosing the right toy for your feline companion, along with some top recommendations.
Say goodbye to the frustration of bringing home a toy your cat rejects. Let us guide you to an informed decision that will leave both you and your kitty ecstatic!
Choosing The Right Toys For Your Cat
Choosing the right toy for your cat is crucial. Not every toy delights every cat. Young, active cats need toys that match their energy levels, ensuring they live active and healthy lives.
Kittens and young cats can become destructive without proper outlets for their abundant energy.
The right toy can make the difference between a content cat and one that destroys everything in sight.
To choose a good toy, offer a variety of options. Try out simple, affordable toys first and observe if your cat enjoys pouncing, chasing, jumping, or stalking.
Interact with your cat to discover their unique preferences, and soon you'll identify the perfect toy genre for them.
Criteria For Choosing Cat Toys
Even when making that initial selection, you need to pay attention to a few things.
Unfortunately, not all cat toys are made with the highest quality materials and methods. This means that you must be careful in selecting at the pet store.
First, and most importantly, let’s talk about choosing the safest toy for your cat.
1. Cat Toy Safety
Cat toy safety is paramount, much like when buying toys for small children. Avoid toys that pose choking, tangling, or injury risks.
Beware of toys with parts that can become dislodged and swallowed.
For instance, cute mouse toys, beloved by many cats, can have glued-on components that pose a choking hazard if they come off during play.
Choose toys made of a single piece, without added threads, bells, or elements that could be torn or chewed off. Opt for toys free of stuffing to minimize risks.
If you have small toys with potentially dangerous parts, like glued-on eyes or noses, remove those elements to make them safer.
Rest assured, there are plenty of safe playtime options on the market.
As cat owners become more discerning, the quality of available toys has improved. You'll find an abundance of sturdy, safe toys free of small parts.
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2. Choosing A Type Of Cat Toy
Choose from a wide variety of cat toys, from simple mice and rodent lookalikes to complex electronic gadgets.
Some toys require owner interaction, while others operate independently with batteries or other mechanisms.
Don't rely on just one type of toy. Cats need variety, including toys that promote physical fitness through owner interaction.
Teasers
Teasers are toys that stimulate your cat's predatory instincts. They often involve objects that move in ways that mimic the behavior of small prey.
These toys can provide high-energy fun and are great for interactive play between you and your cat. Two examples are:
Teaser Wand
These toys typically consist of a long wand with a dangling object, often resembling a small animal, at the end.
Click here to see this teaser wand on Amazon.
They are perfect for simulating prey, allowing your cat to chase, pounce, and "capture" the object.
Automatic Rotating Laser Pointer
These toys project a laser dot that moves in unpredictable ways, stimulating your cat's hunting instincts.
Click here to see this automatic rotating laser pointer on Amazon.
They can be especially useful for providing playtime when you're not around.
Small Toys of Prey
These toys are designed to simulate prey for your cat, triggering their natural hunting instincts.
They typically resemble small animals like mice or birds and are lightweight enough for your cat to carry, bat, or throw around.
They're perfect for cats who enjoy pouncing, tackling, and "hunting" their toys. Just like this:
Play-N-Squeak Mouse Hunter Cat Toy
This realistic mouse toy squeaks like a real rodent, providing a satisfying hunting experience for your cat.
Click here to see this play-n-squeak mouse hunter cat toy on Amazon.
Automatic And Interactive Toys
These toys are perfect for busy households where cats may be left alone for extended periods of time.
They provide stimulation and entertainment, helping to prevent boredom and mischief.
Some of these toys are electronic, while others rely on your cat's natural instincts and curiosity. For examples:
Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy
This toy features a concealed motion that triggers your cat's hunting instincts, making it perfect for active cats.
Click here to see this electronic concealed motion cat toy on Amazon.
Scratcher Cat Toy
This toy caters to your cat's natural impulses to play and scratch, saving your furniture while providing an outlet for their energy.
Click here to see this scratcher cat toy on Amazon.
Tower of Tracks
This toy requires nothing more than your cat's interest and a nudge of their paw to get the balls rolling on the tracks, providing hours of entertainment.
Click here to see this tower of tracks on Amazon.
Food-Dispensing Toys
Food-dispensing toys are a great way to combine playtime with mealtime, offering both entertainment and portion control for your cat.
These toys release kibble or treats as your cat plays with them, encouraging physical activity and rewarding your feline friend at the same time.
They're especially useful for kitties that need to slow down their eating or shed a few extra pounds. Here are two popular examples:
SlimCat Meal-Dispensing Cat Toy
This ball toy gradually dispenses food as your cat bats it around, providing exercise and controlled portions. You can adjust the difficulty level to suit your cat's needs.
Click here to see this SlimCat meal-dispensing cat toy on Amazon.
Digger Interactive Cat Toy
This toy stimulates your cat's natural hunting instincts, as they paw around for their treats or dinner. It combines portion control, fun, exercise, and reward all into one item.
Click here to see this digger interactive cat toy on Amazon.
Let's Talk About Catnip
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a mint relative with white flowers and a strong aroma that some cats find irresistible.
When eaten, it acts as a sedative, but when smelled, it induces playful behavior. Many cat toys contain catnip, either in pouches or rolled onto the toy's surface.
The chemical compound nepetalactone, found in catnip leaves and stems, triggers these reactions in cats with a genetic sensitivity to it.
They'll often roll, flop, and act hyperactive. However, not all cats, including kittens under a few months old, respond to catnip. Only about 50% of cats show interest.
If your cat enjoys catnip, it can greatly enhance playtime.
There are many catnip-infused toys available, including scratching toys, which can help deter unwanted scratching on walls or furniture.
Click here to see this catnip-infused scratching board on Amazon.
Cat Toys That Use Catnip
Catnip toys often come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are infused with or filled with catnip to attract your feline friend. Here are some examples:
Catnip-Infused Banana Toy
This banana-shaped toy is infused with catnip to entice your cat to play, pounce, and have fun.
Click here to see this catnip-infused banana toy on Amazon.
Realistic Fish Catnip Toys
Designed to look like real fish, these catnip toys are perfect for cats that love to pounce and play.
Click here to see this fish catnip toy on Amazon.
Catnip Pillows
These soft pillows are filled with catnip, providing a comfy and enticing toy for your feline friend to snuggle and play with.
Click here to see these catnip pillows on Amazon.
Refillable Catnip Toys
You also have the option of purchasing refillable catnip toys.
Many cat owners who like to give their cats catnip every now and then prefer refillable toys so that they don’t have to replace damaged catnip pillows and toys consistently.
This refillable beaver toy by KONG is one such toy, allowing you to add catnip to the toy whenever you please.
Click here to see this refillable beaver toy on Amazon.
Catnip can be purchased in several forms. To refill toys, the Catnip by Cat Crack is ideal.
Click here to see this catnip on Amazon.
This catnip is entirely natural and safe for your kitty—and you can use it anywhere!
Fill a toy with it, sprinkle a little on the ground, or add a pinch to their scratching post and watch the power of catnip take over!
If you’re not so fond of having loose flakes of catnip plants around your house, you can also purchase catnip in the form of a spray.
KONG Naturals produces this well-loved catnip spray that can be used in the same ways as Cat Crack.
Click here to see this catnip spray on Amazon.
A Warning About Catnip Overconsumption
While catnip is a wonderful additive to your feline friend’s playtime, it should not be used excessively.
Most people recommend only using it once every couple of weeks to keep the cat from becoming used to it. If they are exposed to catnip very often, they will likely lose their love for it.
Catnip isn’t dangerous in any amount to cats when smelled, as they will refuse it once they’ve had enough.
You should avoid putting catnip into their food bowl, however, as this can eventually lead to digestive troubles if done too often.
So, Which Toy Should I Get My Cat?
Deciding which toy to get for your cat can be overwhelming, but don't overthink it.
Buy a variety of toys to keep playtime interesting for both you and your cat. Make sure the toy is safe for solo play.
For high-energy play, consider teaser toys, but store them out of reach when not in use to prevent tangling or chewing hazards.
Think about introducing catnip to your cat.
Start with a single catnip-infused toy to see if they like it. If they do, store loose catnip out of reach and use it sparingly to maintain its appeal.
Explore the world of cat toys with safety in mind, and you're sure to find your cat's next favorite.
Playtime can be fun and safe as long as your cat expends energy in a healthy way.
Over to you now! Leave a comment to tell us about your cat's favorite toys and why you chose them for her or him!
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