Animals Pets The 10 Best Cat Toys of 2023 Give your kitty something way more exciting than a ball of yarn By Mary Jo DiLonardo Mary Jo DiLonardo LinkedIn Twitter Senior Writer University of Cincinnati Mary Jo DiLonardo has worked in print, online, and broadcast journalism for 25 years and covers nature, health, science, and animals. Learn about our editorial process Updated March 9, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Animals Wildlife Pets Animal Rights Endangered Species We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Although sometimes they seem quite content just swatting at a piece of string, cats truly deserve really fun toys. Just like dogs, your feline friend needs mental and physical stimulation, and fortunately there are all sorts of great ways to keep them physically and mentally engaged. You may think your cat is ignoring you. But things will change when you pull out one of these kitty playthings. Even the coolest cat won’t be able to resist when you offer a catnip mouse or a really huge paper bag tunnel. These items were chosen with kitty preferences in mind, and of course we gave extra love to companies that used recycled materials or otherwise kept the environment in mind when designing or creating their products. If you feel like you’re always trying to make your cat happy, here are some of the best cat toys on the market for you to try: The Rundown Best Overall: SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Exercise: Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy at Walmart Jump to Review Best Motorized: Petlinks Mystery Motion Electronic Cat Toy at Amazon Jump to Review Best Interactive: Kong Active Feather Teaser Cat Toy at Amazon Jump to Review Best Chew Toy: Petstages Mint Stick Cat Chew Toy at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Older Cats: From The Field Shelby The Hemp Mouse at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Indoor Cats: Dezi & Roo Collapsible Paper Tunnel at Amazon Jump to Review Best Laser: Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser at Chewy Jump to Review Best Natural: Friendsheep Wool Dryer Balls at Walmart Jump to Review Best Kicker: Etsy Denim Kicker at Etsy Jump to Review Best Overall SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Chewy This cat activity playmat encourages all your cat’s favorite activities. With the never-ending configurations, there’s room for pouncing, hiding, stalking, and resting. You can hide treats in the folds and send your kitty on a treasure hunt, or use a wand toy to play with your pet when they’re hiding under the rug. Cats can pounce and collapse the tunnels or burrow in the folds. There are holes so they can pop up and play hide and seek. We love that the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug is made using recycled plastic water bottles, but it’s durable enough to withstand lots of digging and scratching. Price at time of publish: $48 Best for Exercise Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Chewy Spinning balls on three levels of tracks keep cats transfixed as they bat at the colorful toys and race around, trying to hit them over and over again. The PetStages Tower of Tracks is a good toy for a cat that is home alone and needs a fun way to keep their mind and body engaged. It’s also a popular way to hold the attention of several cats as they compete for the whirling balls. Make sure you get the newest model of the tower that has a safety bar across the top. It keeps curious cats from going exploring and getting stuck in the center of the toy. Price at time of publish: $36 "My cat Marbles loves this toy. She can be shy, but she likes playing with this toy both alone or sitting across from a human who's willing help keep the balls in motion." - Margaret Badore, Treehugger Editor Best Motorized Petlinks Mystery Motion Concealed Electronic Motion Cat Toy Petlinks View On Amazon View On PETCO View On PetSmart If your cat shows true predatory instincts, this battery-operated toy offers the opportunity to hunt without any risk to nature. The outer casing of the PetLinks Mystery Motion toy is a large ring made from recycled plastic. There’s a fast-moving bundle of feathers peeking out underneath, designed to lure your kitty into a chase. The toy has four speeds—slow, medium, fast, and random—to keep your pet engaged and entertained. Reviewers say that it’s the toy their cats “love to hate” as they pounce and stalk the feathers as they race around the edge of the circle. The toy makes a humming, robotic noise that tells kitties it’s playtime. It operates on three AA batteries. Price at time of publish: $35 The 5 Best Rechargeable Batteries of 2023 Best Interactive Kong Active Feather Teaser Cat Toy Amazon View On Amazon View On Horse.com View On Petcarerx.com Sometimes it’s just the simple things: A mischievous cat will entertain itself with dangling shoelaces or knitting yarn. For an inexpensive but decidedly feline alternative, the Kong Active feather teaser offers a colorful catnip-filled critter on a lure. Spend playtime coaxing your pet into showing off pouncing and hunting skills. Each flamingo, bluebird, or butterfly has bright feathers and crinkly material to make the chase so tempting. Some reviewers say their cats are obsessed with this toy, often dragging it around and choosing it over much more expensive playthings. We also like that it’s made by the durable and popular Kong brand. Price at time of publish: $7 The 11 Best Durable Dog Toys of 2023 Best Chew Toy Petstages Fresh Breath Mint Stick Cat Chew Toy Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Chewy Many cats typically eat only soft food and treats, so it’s easy for tartar to build up on their teeth. (Who said “dog breath” is only a canine thing?) This simple chew toy is an easy and fun solution. The Petstages Fresh Breath Mint Stick chew toy features durable netting filled with fresh mint so as cats and kittens chew, it helps clean their teeth with a refreshing scent. The ends are stuffed with a crinkly material to make the toy even more enticing for play. More than 17,000 reviewers on Amazon raved about how much their cats love chewing and tossing and playing with this toy. Price at time of publish: $6 Best for Older Cats From The Field Shelby The Hemp Mouse Amazon View On Amazon There are lots of catnip mice toys available, but this is certainly our favorite. From the Field products are stuffed with catnip that is organically grown in Washington state without pesticides or weedkillers. The rest of the toy is made from hemp fabric and hemp rope. Hemp is a versatile, biodegradable fiber that doesn’t harm the environment. Earth aside, some reviewers said this is the only toy that their senior cats were interested in. They love to play and cuddle with it and even swat at the dangling tail. Because the tail is a whopping 4 feet long, you can tie it to a doorknob or swing it over the edge of the chair. Price at time of publish: $13 Best for Indoor Cats Dezi & Roo Hide and Sneak Collapsible Paper Tunnel Amazon View On Amazon Every cat person knows that cats love boxes and paper bags. This bright idea from Dezi & Roo combines the fun of crunchy bags with the hiding place of boxes. It’s a nearly 3-foot-long tunnel with entry holes on each end that provides your pet a place to run, hide, and play. It’s an especially great option for indoor cats who stay safe (and keep wildlife safe) but don’t get to explore the outside world. Designed by a veterinarian, the tunnel is made of biodegradable paper and cardboard. If your cat plays rough and shreds or pounces until the walls come down, just toss it into the recycling bin. Some reviewers say yes, this is just a really long paper bag tunnel with holes, but that’s exactly why their cats are so enamored with it. Price at time of publish: $15 Best Laser Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser Original 2-in-1 Dog & Cat Toy Ethical Pet View On Chewy Most cats like to go after anything that moves, which is why lasers are so popular as kitty toys. There are plenty of fancy battery-operated laser toys that dance light beams all over the house. But this simple, inexpensive handheld Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser lets you shine the LED light on the floor and walls for playtime fun. Some vets caution, however, that you make sure you don’t play so much that your cat gets obsessed. One trick is to end your play session by shining the light on a catnip mouse, a play ball, or a treat so your cat isn’t frustrated and ends up by victoriously winning and catching some “prey.” Price at time of publish: $9 Best Natural Friendsheep Wool Dryer Balls 4.6 Free the Ocean View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Freetheocean.com Technically, these wool balls are meant to be tossed into the dryer to fluff and soften your laundry, but some people found out that their cats really enjoy playing with them. You’ll find similar items for sale from other companies marketing them as cat toys but these are 100% pure wool with no inner filler or plastic ball and the design is made with non-toxic dyes. While your cat will love batting these balls all over the house, you’ll appreciate that they are created in Nepal in ethical and environmental friendly working conditions. Plus, Friendsheep works with Eden Restoration Project to plant a tree for every purchase. Price at time of publish: $32 Best Kicker Etsy Denim Catnip Kicker Cat Toy View On Etsy Many cats love kicker toys, which let them play on their backs and "bunny kick" their feet. Kicker toys are particularly good for solo cats who don't have a playmate to wrestle. We love this kicker made from recycled denim by Etsy shop MoonflowerCastle. The denim is durable enough to withstand some rough play, and the addition of U.S.-grown catnip helps kitties know this toy is just for them. It measures 2.5 x 12 inches, and has double-stiched seams, and your choice of colorful appliqué. Price at time of publish: $17 Final Verdict Our top cat toy is SnugglyCat's The Ripple Rug (available on Amazon), for its sustainable materials and many fun configurations. If you’re after a durable wand toy, check out the Kong Active Feather Teaser (available on Amazon). Why Trust Treehugger? The proud mom of a rescue dog, Mary Jo DiLonardo has fostered 30 dogs and puppies and a handful of kittens. Her floors are covered in a never-ending collection of pet toys. For more than 25 years, Mary Jo has covered a wide range of topics focused on nature, pets, health, science, and anything that helps make the world a better place. She has spent six years with Treehugger, formerly under the Mother Nature Network brand.