Your cat can make a toy out of just about anything it finds in your home. Cardboard boxes, Q-tips, bottle caps, paper towel rolls, scrunched-up paper from your waste basket—you name it, a cat somewhere has played with it. The problem with everyday items becoming makeshift cat toys is that they’re not designed to be toys. They’re unsafe and can cause choking or blockages, resulting in expensive vet bills.
That’s why it’s important to have a stash of toys at home so your cat always has options when it comes to burning off some energy during playtime. We’ve found the 10 best cat toys in Canada that will get your cat excited about playing with real toys and not objects it finds in your home.
Find our reviews of the best toys below, as well as things to keep in mind as you shop for your pet.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to cat toys. Even something as simple as a stuffed mouse can provide endless entertainment for your cat. This is especially true when the stuffed mice in question are also infused with catnip.
This ten-pack from SmartyKat Skitter Critters is the best overall cat toy in Canada not only for its high-quality construction but the hours of playtime they will afford your kitty. This toy gives your cat the thrill of the chase and allows them to tap into their natural inclination to hunt. Each mouse is stuffed with potent catnip for a little extra boost of excitement and is designed to be the perfect size for your cats to carry around the house.
Pros
High-quality polyester construction
Encourages physical activity
Satisfies the need to hunt
Small enough to carry around
Cons
Pricy
2. Ethical Wide Colorful Springs Cat Toy – Best Value
Continuing our list with another seemingly simple toy design, these bright and colorful springs from Ethical Pet are sure to be a hit with your playful kitty. The springs measure just over three inches long and come ten to a pack. They’re the best cat toy in Canada for the money as they’re priced super affordably and provide hours of entertainment for your pet. Your cat can pounce on them, toss them around, or carry them to you for a game of fetch.
The springs are made of a durable plastic material that is not only pet-safe but able to withstand some chewing. The ends aren’t sharp when you take them out of the package, but they can be made that way through time. Be sure to keep an eye on your pet during playtime and inspect the springs occasionally to check for any sharp edges.
The SmartyKat Race ‘N Chase Mouse is an electronic cat toy that mimics the motion and texture of prey to appeal to your cat’s natural hunting instincts. This toy comes with a remote control so you can be in the driver’s seat of the mouse, providing you and your cat with a fun and interactive way to bond with one another. The remote allows you to move the mouse backward or forwards for a fun game of chase and should work with a max range of 12 feet.
Not only does this toy satisfy your cat’s hunting instincts, but it also promotes physical activity to keep your pet healthy and strong.
The Petstages Tower of Tracks is a mentally engaging toy that’s designed to grab your cat’s attention. It comes with six colorful balls that they can bat and swat at as they satisfy their natural urge to hunt. This toy is great as multiple cats can play with it at once because of its durable plastic design. The top of the toy has a safety bar across the opening that will prevent your curious and mischievous kitty from getting stuck in the toy while playing with it. The base is non-slip to prevent the tracks from moving across your house when your cat inevitably goes crazy for the balls. Not only is this toy fantastic for kittens, but it’s a great pick for seniors and adults, too.
This cat wand from Cat Dancer Rainbow Charmer is a bright and colorful toy that is designed to cater to your cat’s hunting instincts. The polycarbonate wand is flexible and very heavy-duty. It can withstand 13 kilograms of force so even the most aggressive cats shouldn’t be able to destroy it. This toy is great for spending some quality time playing and bonding with your cats as they’ll love chasing you (and the wand) around the house. This toy doesn’t have any small pieces or metal bits like bells that could present a safety hazard, so it’s one of the safest toys on the market.
Sometimes it’s best to keep toys as basic as possible. These colorful balls from Hartz Just for Cats Midnight Crazies Balls come in a seven-pack and are great for batting around and chasing. They provide a way for your kitty to play on its natural hunting instincts while also getting its daily dose of exercise. The balls have a textured surface that allows them to move around erratically, imitating a cat’s real prey. They also have bells inside each ball to keep your kitty engaged as it’s playing. Since the balls are so lightweight, they’re easy for your pet to carry around and can even be a great toy for teaching them how to play fetch.
Yeowww!’s Rainbow Catnip Toy is chock full of premium and organically grown catnip to give your pet the ride of its life during playtime. The catnip is grown without any chemicals or pesticides which makes it super safe for your cat. The rainbow is made in the USA so you don’t need to worry about potentially harmful ingredients or materials and its high-quality cotton fabric can withstand even the most aggressive biters or chewers. Each rainbow is sewn by hand and individually stuffed so you can expect a toy that’s built with care and love.
These adorable mice toys from Chiwava Soft Plush Mice with Bell are made with a furry synthetic material that’s supposed to mimic real mice. Each mouse is stuffed with a plush filling to give it a little substance and something for your kitty to grab onto when they’re playing with it. The tails also make a fun crinkling sound that cats love.
This package comes with four mice in total, two with bells and two without bells. We recommend leaving the two bell-less options out at night so your cats can play to their heart’s content without waking you with the incessant ringing sound. The bell is sewn into the end of the tail which can present a hazard if you’re not supervising your pet during playtime.
This Beewarm Flippity Fish is an electronic toy that flops and wags when touched. It looks and moves just like a real fish which should appeal to your cat’s natural hunting instincts. Your kitty can attack, hug, and kick this fish as if it were the real thing. It charges with an included USB cord so you can keep the flopping going all night long (or as long as you can withstand the noise). This toy is stuffed with catnip to keep your cat interested in it if the flopping doesn’t do it for them. The fish material comes apart from the electronic components so you can hand wash it if it gets dirty.
This feather teaser from Pawaboo is a great toy not only for indoor cats who long to spend time outside with birds. It satisfies your cat’s instincts to hunt birds without affecting the bird population1 of your area. The wand is over 30-inches long and is super flexible so it can bend easily without breaking. The natural feathers on the end of the wand and bell are irrepressible to cats and can lure even the laziest kitty into getting its exercise. This is a great toy for spending some quality time with your kitty and isn’t something you should let them play with on their own.
Pros
Flexible wand
Great price
Comes with extra feathers
Bell attracts cat
Cons
Feathers fall off easily
Not for solo play
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Toy in Canada
There are several factors one must take into account when choosing the best toy for their cats. Keep reading to learn a little more about the ins and outs of cat toys and other considerations you should think about as you begin your hunt for the perfect toy.
Play Style
The toy you choose should match the play style of your cat. Does your cat like to fly solo and play on its own terms? Or does it prefer to include its favorite humans in playtime?
Cats who prefer to play alone will love toys like springs or balls as they’re something they can play with whenever the mood strikes. Cats who prefer to bond with their human family members during playtime will benefit most from toys that require you to partake like feather wands or the remote control mouse.
Durability & Safety
Cats can be destructive, especially when they’re playing and pretending that the toy mouse you just bought them is a real mouse. The toys that you buy for your pets should be able to withstand even the most aggressive kitties.
Durability and safety go hand in hand when it comes to pet toys. Toys that are put together poorly can become dangerous when the materials rip apart or small pieces fall off.
It can be difficult to know what toys are durable, especially when you’re shopping online and can’t physically touch the toy to feel for its sturdiness before buying. That’s why we recommend always reading the reviews from real consumers like yourself beforehand. Their reviews should give you some insight into the safety and durability of the toy.
Why Do Cats Need Toys?
Cats need to play to add stimulation and enrichment to their lives. Your cat’s wild ancestors used play to learn essential survival skills like chasing and trapping their prey. Even if your cat has its meals served to it in a cat-shaped bowl in the safety and warmth of its own home, hunting is a natural instinct that they need an outlet for.
Aside from satisfying its natural instincts to hunt, play is essential for keeping your cat healthy. Play gives your pet an excuse to get out of their cozy beds to run around the house and get some exercise. Regular play sessions keep your kitty active and can help them maintain a healthy weight.
Cats that don’t have a healthy outlet for play can become bored and destructive.
Image Credit: Mathias Reding, Pexels
Do Cats Need a Lot of Toys?
Not really, no. Cats don’t know the difference between the $30 remote-controlled mouse you bought them to play with and a paper ball you scrunched up after your latest work meeting. Cats are great at making just about anything into a toy.
Of course, you should still invest in a few different types of toys to encourage your cat to satisfy their inner hunters and keep their physical activity up. If your budget doesn’t allow for new toys all the time, rotate toys in and out to keep things fresh and engaging.
Conclusion
The best overall cat toy in Canada is SmartyKat’s Skitter Critters for its durability and engaging catnip-infused design. The best value toy is Ethical Pet’s Colorful Springs, as they provide your cat with seemingly endless ways to play. Finally, the premium cat toy in Canada is SmartyKat’s Race ‘N Chase mouse, as it mimics the look and motion of a real mouse.
The best cat toy is one that gets your kitty engaged in play and movement. We hope our reviews have helped narrow down your list so you and your pet can focus on what matters: bonding with each other.
Featured Image Credit: Ellie Burnett, Shutterstock
Chantelle is passionate about two things in her life – writing and animals. She grew up on the prairies in Canada surrounded by animals and as an adult, she chooses to share her home with five cats, two guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Chantelle, her husband, and their child take great pride in being great animal parents - the ones who spend a thousand dollars on wall-mounted cat shelves so that their cats can have an indoor jungle gym all year round. When Chantelle isn’t snuggling her cats on the couch or taking pictures of them being hilarious, she’s outside exploring in the Rocky Mountains, binging the same shows on Netflix over and over, and reading about whatever random topic pops into her brain. ...Read more
