10 Best Cat Toys of 2024, Rated and Reviewed

Pet parents with cats who can’t resist the allure of the red dot, look no farther than this 3-in-1 laser pointer. There’s a lot to like about the little interactive cat toy, from its multi-purpose use to its built-in USB connector for easy charging.

It has three settings: laser, flashlight, and UV black light. The red laser is vibrant and can project a bright dot up to 100 feet away, as advertised. (I had to go outside to test that far of a distance, but it worked.)

It sent my cat, Luna, into full-on hunt mode. I loved watching her get low to the ground and zigzag across the room, trying to snuff out the dot with both paws.

The flashlight is about what you would expect from a keychain flashlight. It’s good in a pinch.

The black light is used to detect stains, like urine. It’s not a must-have for me, but it’s nice to know it’s there if needed.

To select a lighting option, you slide the on button to the desired setting and then release. This makes playing with your cat easier because you don't have to press down on the button the whole time, as with some other laser pointers. (Do not shine it into their eyes!)

I have not needed to recharge it yet, but I tried out the charging ability and it was quick and easy. Instead of a USB cable, it has a built-in USB connector (similar to a flash drive) that you can insert into any USB port to charge.

It does not come with a USB port to plug the connector into, but those are so ubiquitous these days it wasn't a problem for me.

We have an outlet in the kitchen that has a USB port built in, and that’s what I used to charge it. You could also use your cellphone’s charger block or laptop’s USB port, or you can buy a cheap one at a convenience or big box store.

The price is at the upper end of what these cat laser toys cost, but I think it’s worth it due to all the features. Luna wishes your cats happy hunting!

Things To Consider:

• Three lighting modes: laser, flashlight, and UV black light

• Bright red laser dot shines up to 100 feet

• Don't have to hold button to keep it turned on

• Built-in USB connector, but no port provided

There are many different forms of electronic toys, from battery-operated fish that flop to motion-activated lasers. This automatic cat toy scored big for its ability to engage our kitty tester, Serendipity (aka Dip).

“It’s extremely mentally enriching, and a fantastic outlet for [cats’] instincts,” says Casey Seleman, Dip’s cat mom and veterinary technician.

It mimics the motions and sounds of prey hidden under brush in the wild by swinging a furry teaser toy back and forth under crinkly fabric.

“Dip’s favorite game has always gone like this: I put my hand under a blanket and move my fingers in and out from beneath it,” Seleman says. “This toy effectively replicates her favorite game!”

Powered by AA batteries, it features three speeds (slow, medium, and fast) and a “random” setting that alternates speeds. The slow speed was surprisingly fast and more than enough for Dip.

“She needed to take breaks often. I think she becomes overwhelmed a bit,” Seleman says.

Seleman also notes that the loud sound of the wand dragging across a hard surface floor could scare some cats. She recommends using it on carpet, at least initially, to muffle the sound.

Things To Consider:

• Automatic toy mimics motion and sounds of wild prey

• Requires three AA batteries (not included)

• Three speeds, though slowest speed may be all that your cat needs

• Noisy on hard surface flooring

Ball toys come in an array of materials, including plastic, rubber, foam, and fleece. Chewy Editor Claudia Guthrie found these balls made of lightweight mylar to be the best after a week’s worth of daily play with her cat, John Wick.

What makes them a real standout? Their cat-addicting crinkling sound, which Guthrie describes as a “little playtime alarm bell.”

“I don't know what it is about the sound of the crinkling, but my cat went crazy for it,” she says. “I would pick up a ball, crinkle it, and he would instantly drop low, ready to pounce.”

She appreciates that, unlike plastic balls with actual bells, "these won't break when I inevitably end up stepping on it.” They also do not contain any small parts or strings that can become dislodged and accidentally swallowed.

Another plus was the price: You get a dozen for around $5.

Guthrie highly recommends them for cats who like to bat toy balls around versus those who like to roll balls around and chase after them.

And because the toys are so lightweight, they don't travel very far when you throw them.

Things To Consider:

• Addictive crinkle sound

• Lightweight design better for batting around vs. throwing/tossing

• Won’t break when stepped on

Dogs may be more well-known for chasing after squirrels, but cats can get in on the hunt, too, with this squirrel plush toy from Frisco by Chewy®.

Tester LeeAnna Buis, a certified feline training and behavior consultant, appreciates its well-made construction and the little pouch for filling with catnip.

“The refillable catnip makes it easy to ‘recharge’ and spark your cat's interest,” says Buis, though pet parents should take care not to let the catnip cover the hook-and-loop closure when pouring it in, as it makes the fasteners less secure.

Cat tester Ollie especially loved when his mom rubbed the toy on his face.

At about 6 inches in length from nose to end of tail, it was too small for “bunny kicks,” which is Ollie’s preferred method of play, but the smaller size makes it easier for cats to carry around.

“It's a good size for the ‘post-hunt, strut around and show off your kill,’” Buis says.

Things To Consider:

• Small size ideal for treating like prey

• Refillable compartment for catnip (included in purchase)

• Well-made construction

Puzzle toys provide good mental enrichment for cats, especially those who are food motivated.

This one was a clear winner for our tester, whose three senior cats were easily able to move the puzzle pieces around to find their hidden bounty.

It features adorable ladybug-like pegs that slide and leaves that swivel. Cats move those pieces to uncover treats(sold separately). Treats also can be placed inside the pegs to be fished out, creating a more challenging game.

“The pieces of the toy are pretty easy to move with paws,” says tester Marci Koski, a certified feline behavior and training consultant. “My cats had no problem scooting the leaves and bugs around to get at the treats.”

Once the treats were uncovered, actually getting them out of the little cups presented another challenge. “Perhaps if they were scoop-bottomed, they would be easier for kitty paws to get treats from,” she says.

Still, that did not hinder her highly food-motivated cats, Oliver, Samantha, and Momo.

“Oliver figured out that he could just stick his face over the cup and lick the treats out,” Koski says.

The cute nature-inspired design also won Koski over, as did the puzzle’s quality construction for the price.

“[It] will bring lots of enjoyment to my cats for weeks to come,” she says.

Things To Consider:

• Recommended for food-motivated cats

• Puzzle pieces are easy for cats to move

• Adjustable for more challenging play

• Large enough for multiple cats to play at once

• No removable parts for safer play

• Clean with warm running water and soap (dishwasher not recommended)

Our tester cat Winnie got a real kick out of this kicker toy from KONG, which features multiple textures, including burlap, soft velvet-like plush, and a fuzzy tail. Catnip and crinkle sounds add to the excitement.

At 9.5 inches in length (16 inches if you include the tail), this stuffed toy is long enough for cats to grab with their front claws and bunny kick it with their hind legs, which is exactly how Winnie likes to play with this toy.

She also likes chewing the soft tail and rubbing her face on the toy because of the catnip inside, reports cat mom Guthrie.

The multiple ways for cats to engage with this toy was a plus, especially since Winnie is a “really high-energy cat and demands a lot of playtime,” Guthrie says.

In addition to independent play, Guthrie notes that pet parents can wave it around and make the tail wiggle to encourage interactive playtime together.

Despite lots of wrestling action, the kicker toy has held up well and there are no safety concerns over any pieces coming loose.

Overall, Guthrie describes it as an affordable, simple-yet-effective cat kicker toy.

Things To Consider:

• Multiple features entice multiple types of play

• No squeaker makes it a fairly quiet toy

• Large size allows cats to get a good grip, but takes up more space in toy box

Cat wand toys help engage your cat’s inner hunter, and this one brought out the wildcat in our kitty testers.

It immediately captured cats Oliver and Momo’s interest when cat mom Koski waved it around to initiate playtime.

Koski was especially impressed with the ribbon’s fleece fabric, which was very stretchy and allowed her cats to get a good grip on it.

“It's so soft and stretchy, and easy to catch and ‘keep,’” she says, noting that wands should be kept out of reach when not in use, because cats could become tangled up in the string and potentially injured.

This one, she says, is small enough to easily be stowed away when playtime is over.

The handle of the wand was a little on the long side, which offers limited control, and Koski’s cats’ interest began to wane over the course of the weeklong testing period (as is common with cats), but it's a good value for the price and makes a great toy to swap in and out of rotation.

Things To Consider:

• Simple toy that packs a lot of punch

• Soft fleece ribbon is engaging and easy to catch

• Longer handle limits amount of control

• No small pieces to cause a safety hazard but should be kept out of reach when not being used to prevent tangles and/or injuries

Made from a lightweight flexible frame covered in a soft suede-like material that makes an enticing crinkling sound when touched, this cat tunnel features a dangly toy at one end and two holes or “windows” on the side.

It provides various forms of enrichment for my cat, Luna. She likes to sprint through it, loaf in it, and sleep in it.

She also enjoys it when she’s inside and I dangle wand toys into one of the windows or just outside one of the openings on either end.

At 47-inches long, it allows cats to fully hide within the tunnel without sticking out, as may be the case with shorter tunnels. I think that’s why Luna likes it so much—because she can be completely concealed from the outside world.

I could see this being a good size for multi-cat households too.

The straight tube shape is another selling point. Luna likes to blast through it during zoomies, and the straight shot makes it easy for her to do just that.

Being a straight tube also makes it easy to push it out of the way against a wall, dresser, or other piece of furniture.

It is collapsible and has toggle buttons to keep it tightly secured for easy storage. But, since this has become one of Luna's favorite toys, we keep it out 24/7. Being able to push it up against the wall to get it out of the way is ideal.

I could do with a different color other than brown, maybe something that suits our home decor better, but at least it blends in with the hardwood floors.

Things To Consider:

• Straight tube shape is great for cats to run through and easy to push out of the way

• Folds up for easier storage if you want it totally out of the way

• Length allows a cat to fully fit inside, would also fit multiple cats

• More color options would be nice but not a deal-breaker

What makes the Frisco Scratch & Roll Cat Toy the best? It’s a twofer! Cats get both an exciting ball track toy and a corrugated cardboard pad to satisfy their scratching needs.

Luna loves scratching cardboard, so this was right up her alley, immediately sparking her interest—no catnip required, even though it does come with a little packet of ’nip.

And one of the best parts is that this toy comes fully assembled so all I needed to do was take it out of the box to let the fun begin.

Luna's style of playing with ball track toys is to lie on the floor and lazily bat the ball back and forth, and I appreciate that this one has little peepholes on the side of the base through which to see the ball. While the holes could be larger, it was a plus to have them at all.

I also like that the design of the track ensures the ball does not pop out if playtime gets rowdy.

The scratcher was what really sold me on this, though. It has now become her favorite scratch pad in the house.

Luna still scratches it every day and, because it is quite large (almost 10 inches in diameter), she even likes to lounge on it—which has earned this toy a permanent place on our living room floor.

Things To Consider:

• Dual use with ball track and scratcher

• Ready to go right out of the box

• Comes with catnip to entice play

• Toy can be played with from the top or the side thanks to (small) peepholes

Satisfy cats' chewing desires with this top-rated cat chew toy from Catstages. It earned top marks from our tester, Buis, for its smart and safety-conscious design.

The durable netting is meant to help remove tarter from teeth when cats bite into it, and it’s stuffed with catmint, a cousin of catnip, to both entice cats and freshen breath.

Buis says the smaller size (about 5 inches long) was very manageable for her cat Ollie to play with, and she likes the softness, which limits the chances of it getting stuck or wedged in the jaw.

She also appreciates that it doesn't have any small pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed.

“Being fabric, there is some danger of a cat pulling it apart and ingesting bits, but it seems well-made,” she says, adding that cats should always be supervised when playing with chew toys.

The catmint filling was a hit, piquing Ollie's interest. Buis reports that he especially enjoyed rubbing his face all over the toy, “which was adorable.”

Given the cost, construction, and various features, Buis thinks it’s a good value, and recommends it to pet parents whose cats like chewing fabric.

Things To Consider:

• Ideal for cats who like chewing fabric/soft materials

• Durable netting offers dental benefits

• Catmint entices and freshens breath