Keeping a cat entertained is no easy task. However, they must have plenty of mental and physical exercise to remain happy and healthy. Enter interactive toys. The toys described in our reviews will all help meet these needs.
From tunnels to balls to feeder puzzles, we have a wide range of styles and sizes here to tempt even the most discerning or laziest cat into a fun play session. Keep reading to learn more and find your cat’s next favorite plaything.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Frisco Plush Ball & Tunnel Cat Toy |
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Best Value | PetSafe Funkitty Treat Dispenser Cat Toy |
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Premium Choice | Petscapes Interactive Cat Puzzle Toy |
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Best for Kittens | Catit Vesper Cat Tunnel Toy |
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Bergan Star Chaser Cat Scratcher |
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The 10 Best Interactive Cat Toys
1. Frisco Plush Ball & Tunnel Cat Toy Variety Pack – Best Overall
Features: | Tunnel, balls, catnip |
Size: | 16” x 16” x 3” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
Our best overall interactive cat toy is the Frisco Plush, Teaser, Ball, and Tunnel Variety Pack. As the name implies, this toy has a little bit of everything. For a low price, your cat will get hours and hours of entertainment and exercise. This toy comes with a crinkly tunnel, balls, catnip, pom-poms, and a wand. Your cat will never be bored as there’s always a new way to play. In total, there are 25 different things for your kitty to play with. It’s a great choice for cats that need a little extra motivation to move.
2. PetSafe Funkitty Egg Treat Dispenser Cat Toy – Best Value
Features: | Treat dispenser, chaser |
Size: | 3” x 3” x 4” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
The best interactive cat toy for the money is the PetSafe Funkitty Egg Treat Dispenser Cat Toy. This egg-shaped toy allows you to hide treats for your cat to find. The treats come out as your cat chases and rolls the dispenser, so they also get exercise. You can adjust the difficulty and make your cat work harder for each treat for an added fitness bonus. But if you want your feline to play back-to-back games, you need to standby to fill it back up each time.
3. Petscapes Interactive Cat Puzzle Toy – Premium Choice
Features: | Hidden treat compartments |
Size: | 1” x 13” x 10” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
This Petscapes Interactive Cat Puzzle Toy is an excellent toy for the cat who likes mental and physical challenges. It has 14 different compartments in which you can hide treats for your kitty to sniff out. You can also use this as a feeder for the cat that tends to gobble their food down too quickly. It’s a wonderful way to keep a bored cat occupied for hours at a time. You can also alter the levels of difficulty so that they never know exactly what to expect.
4. Catit Vesper Cat Tunnel Toy – Best for Kittens
Features: | Soft, ball, scratch area, tunnel |
Size: | 7” diameter |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
The Catit Vesper Cat Tunnel Toy is the perfect toy for your curious kitten. It has a soft pad that your little furbaby can scratch instead of your furniture. There is a fun ball for them to bat at and plenty of space in the tunnel to dash through. This is also a cozy hiding place for the shy kitten that likes having their own place. The cover of the extra pad has a removable cover so you can wash it as needed.
5. Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy
Features: | Light-up ball, track, scratchpad |
Size: | 16” x 16” x 2” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
Cats love scratching and hunting. The Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy gives them an outlet for both. Your curious kitty will love chasing the light-up ball around the track. They can also ease stress by scratching away at the inner scratchpad. You can sprinkle catnip on the pad or leave it as is. Replacement balls and scratch pads are available, so you don’t have to worry about the heavy use of this toy. Beware, it might frighten timid kitties at first.
6. Petstages Rainy Day Puzzle & Play Cat Toy
Features: | Puzzle, treat compartments |
Size: | 14” x 14” x 2” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
This toy is an excellent choice for the cat who needs to eat more slowly as it will make them work for their food with the Petstages Rainy Day Puzzle & Play Cat Toy. It can also be used to keep a bored cat entertained as they solve the puzzles and are rewarded with tasty treats each time they move a peg. This toy also contains no removable parts that can become a choking hazard if they fall off.
7. Petstages Chase Meowtain Track Cat Toy
Features: | Balls, multiple levels |
Size: | 7” x 10” x 10” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
If your kitty likes chasing balls and darting around, then the Petstages Chase Meowtain Track Cat Toy is a great toy for them. There is a four-level track and four spinning balls to bat and chase around the track. It’s very sturdy and won’t tip over too easily. This toy will keep your cat intrigued and help them get their daily dose of exercise in, but you’ll have to keep an eye on it, as the balls can come off the tracks. On the plus side, this toy is big enough for two cats to play with at the same time.
8. Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy
Features: | Balls, track |
Size: | 1” x 4” x 14” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
Cats love chasing things and stalking their prey. The Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy allows them to exercise that instinct. The balls in this toy are inside of a tunnel where your cat can see them move. There are holes along the tunnel that give your cat a sneak peek of the plastic balls and allow them to touch them with their paws. The track is also expandable so you can switch it up to keep it interesting for your cats. It’s also a good toy for multi-cat homes, but you have to buy it all over again once the battery runs out, as they aren’t replaceable.
9. PetFusion Ambush Interactive Electronic Cat Toy
Features: | Lights, feathers, batteries |
Size: | 7” x 7” x 3” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
The PetFusion Ambush Interactive Electronic Cat Toy is a bunch of fun for kitties that like to play peek-a-boo with their toys. There are six different holes that the feather can pop out of at random. Your cat will love to dart around and catch the feather as it appears. It’s a great toy for exercise and as an outlet for your cat’s natural hunting instinct. The bottom of the toy has non-slip grips so that it stays in place during play sessions.
10. SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy
Features: | Catnip, chirping noise |
Size: | 2” x 1” x 2” |
Ease of Use: | Easy |
For the cat looking for a simple, yet fun toy, the SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy is the perfect choice. This small, inexpensive toy packs a lot of excitement. It makes a chirping sound when your cat kicks it. The catnip inside is refillable for long-lasting enticement and excitement. Just make sure you don’t lose this one under the couch!
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Interactive Cat Toy
You probably noticed that all of the toys in our reviews have two things in common—they exercise your cat’s brain and body. These are the keys for the interactive cat toys.
Ideally, you want your cat to be able to play with their toys whether or not you’re home. You also want to make sure that a toy can withstand your cat’s weight and size during play.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our reviews, you know the best interactive cat toy options out there. For the best overall interactive cat toy, you’ll adore the Frisco multi-pack. The best interactive toy for the money is the simple, yet effective PetSafe FunKitty Egg-cersizer. You really can’t go wrong with any of the toys on our list. They’ll all keep your kitty happy and in great physical condition.
Featured Image Credit: Chewy