While your cat probably sleeps the majority of the day away, it’s essential to have toys that keep them active, alert, occupied, and entertained while they are awake.
In fact, the best cat toy out there can make your cat forget that anything else exists beyond exploring and chasing that toy around. It’s a well-known fact that most cats love to play, explore, hunt, and of course, sleep.
There are many different cat toys out there to choose from for a pet parent, so many in fact that it can become overwhelming and confusing trying to pick the best ones for your feline companion. Some of the best cat toys include laser pointers, robotic balls, catnip mice, scratching posts, and more. In this guide, we’ll review the 7 best cat toys out there in 2021 so that you don’t have to.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
The 7 Best Cat Toys – Reviews & Top Picks 2021
1. Bentopal Automatic Cat Toy – Best Overall
| Color: | Multicolored |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Features: | Automatic on/off, smart sensor, automatic toy |
| Life Stage: | Adult and older |
In our opinion, the best overall cat toy on the market is the Bentopal Automatic Cat Toy. The toy features an automatic on-off switch, a smart sensor to keep your cat playful and interested, and is great for cats of all ages. The toy comes equipped with a feather dangle, which is attached to two wheels and moves around the room in an erratic way, encouraging your cat to try and catch it.
Featuring a fast and slow mode, it runs on any type of flooring, from hardwood to carpet. Your cat will have fun for hours hunting, pouncing, and attacking this robotic toy.
Pros
- Features an automatic on/off switch
- Durable and handles rough play well
- It’s automatic
Cons
- Takes some time to warm up
- Not best for very small cats or kittens
| Color: | Multicolored |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Features: | Catnip, feather |
| Life Stage: | Adult |
The best cat toy for the money would have to be the Kong Active Feather Teaser cat toy. While the automatic cat toy at number one is a great overall pick and perfect for your cat playing alone, there are times you want to spend time playing with your feline pal as well.
This toy is perfect for your joint play sessions. An interactive toy, it features an 18.5-inch string with either a bird, a flamingo, or an owl dangling from it. It swings easily, retracts quickly, and stretches when your cat catches his prey. The toy itself is full of premium catnip. Remember, as with any toy like this one, you want to play with your cat instead of leaving him unsupervised to prevent the risk of injury. For the price, this one is a keeper for you and your pet.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Has catnip
Cons
- Some users reported the toy breaking easily
- The cord is too short on some
3. FurryFido Laser Cat Toy – Premium Choice
| Color: | Silver |
| Material: | Stainless steel |
| Features: | For exercise |
| Life Stage: | Adult |
At number three on our list is our premium choice, the FurryFido Laser cat toy. Most cats love a good old-fashioned laser pointer to chase around the house, and it’s perfect for spending time playing with your feline friend.
Featuring a high-quality stainless-steel finish, this cat toy is one that you and your cat will love playing with for some time to come. This isn’t one of those flimsy laser pointers that give up the ghost in a matter of hours. The best thing is you never have to change the batteries because you can plug it into any USB port to recharge it when it dies. It also comes with two additional modes, UV light and a white flashlight.
Pros
- Rechargeable through a USB port
- Durable
- Nice and bright
Cons
- Some users reported it stopped working within weeks
4. SmartyKat Skitter Critters Value Pack Catnip Cat Toys
| Color: | Value pack |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Features: | Catnip |
| Life Stage: | All stages |
Perfect for cats who are always indoors, which is the safest place for them to be, this value pack comes with 10 little skitter critters for your feline to chase around the house, giving him the exercise he needs and satisfying his hunting instinct at the same time.
The mouse-shaped toys contain catnip, which promotes relaxation and relieves your cat’s overall stress. You can play with your kitty with them, or he can easily play on his own. The plush bodies of the skitter critters are easy for your cat to carry from room to room as well.
Pros
- Comes in a value pack of 10
- Filled with catnip
- Promotes play and relieves stress
Cons
- Basic toy
- Mice fall apart easily, according to some users
5. PetStages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy
| Color: | Orange and blue |
| Material: | Polypropylene |
| Features: | For exercise |
| Life Stage: | Adult |
As your cat gets older and becomes a senior cat, they tend to become less active, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need exercise and stimulation. That’s where the PetStages Town of Tracks cat toy comes in on our list. The toy features three tiers with three tracks and has three colorful balls for your pet to chase.
It’s also great for when you’re at work, as it will keep your cat entertained. One of the best things about this cat toy is that the balls never leave the tracks, so you don’t have to worry about your cat losing them and the toy being rendered worthless.
Pros
- Balls stay on the track
- Durable
- Encourages cats to play
Cons
- Not balanced well
- Some users reported the tower breaking easily
6. Trixie Activity Fun Board
| Color: | Various |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Features: | Food-related games |
| Life Stage: | Adult |
At number six on our list is the Trixie Activity Fun Board. This is the perfect cat toy for cats that are motivated by food. It’s a 5-in-1 activity board that encourages the cats to get active to reach the food inside the various areas of the board. There are tunnels, tubes, a fishbowl, pegs, alleys, and tongues for you to hide your cat’s dry food and treats in, so he has to work to get at them.
The item features a non-slip rubber bottom that stops it from sliding all over the place when your cat is playing, making for easy cleanup in more ways than one.
Pros
- 5-in-1 game for food
- Features a non-slip rubber bottom
- Encourages cats to exercise and hunt for food
Cons
- Some users reported the board being poorly made
- It might not be best for cats with large paws
7. Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer
| Color: | Multicolored |
| Material: | Polycarbonate wand, fabric |
| Features: | 4 feet of colorful fabric |
| Life Stage: | All ages |
If you’re searching for a classic chase toy for you and your pet to play with, then you need to check out number seven on our list. The Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer features four feet of colorful fabric that your cat is going to love.
The handle is durable, and the fabric is well-made and colorful enough to keep your cat stimulated and ready to hunt for quite a while. It’s safe to use with your adult cats and kittens as well during playtime, just don’t leave your pet unattended with the toy, as it could lead to injury.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Good for playtime with cats and kittens
Cons
- Some users reported the toy as being a choking hazard
- Some users reported the fabric ripping easily
Buyer’s Guide
Now that we’ve shared our top 7 best cat toys, it’s time to talk a little bit about how to choose the best cat toy and answer a few of the questions you might have. So, in our next section, we’ll do just that.
What Features Should You Look For in a Cat Toy?
Every cat’s different, so what one cat likes, another one may not. However, there are some basic features you should look for in every cat toy. You can find those basic features below.
Solo Play
You’re not always going to be around to play with your cat, as you have work and other obligations to attend to. Therefore, it’s essential that you purchase some toys that are good for solo play. We recommend those toys that can’t become a safety hazard without your supervision.
Benefits for Your Cat
While most cat toys are for entertainment purposes, you want to look out for the benefits that the best toys bring for your cat. For example, some toys will get your cat up and moving where he gets enough exercise, while others have built-in scratching posts to take care of their claws. Some even have parts that can be chewed to help with the dental aspect of your cat’s health.
Will Your Cat Use It?
We all have cat toys just lying around gathering dust because our feline friend turned their whiskered little noses up and walked away. So, it’s important to judge how much your cat will engage with a particular toy before purchasing.
Cats are finicky, and we all know they’ll play with a toy once, then never again. So, if you’re unsure your cat will play with a particular toy you’re considering, then it’s probably best to stick with toys you know he likes. To ensure your cat likes the toy you’ve chosen, try playing with him, and then see if he comes running every time you pull the toy out from then on.
Safety First
The absolute first thing you want to do is put your cat’s safety first when it comes to buying the best toy for him. Remember to follow the warning labels and directions on anything you purchase and pay attention to what life stage is best for that particular toy and your pet.
If a label says not to leave your cat unattended to play with the toy, then you need to play with it with your pet and then put it away when you’re done. Make sure to avoid anything that can get tied around your cat’s neck and choking hazards as well for the best results.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our final review on our picks for the top seven best cat toys in 2021. Our overall choice was the Bentopal Automatic cat toy due to it being a smart toy and providing fun for a cat who was playing alone. Our second pick for the best cat toy for the money went to the Kong Active Feather Teaser cat toy because of its affordability and value. Finally, our premium choice of the FurryFido Laser cat toy came in at number three because it’s perfect for playing with your pet and has a rechargeable battery. So, what’s your choice going to be?
Oliver (Ollie) Jones – A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master’s degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.
