Introduction
Your beloved feline family member is a driven and carnivorous hunter, with intelligence to match. Cats have a strong hunting drive, are extremely agile and possess the intelligence needed to be successful hunters in the wild. If you’ve left your cat one-on-one with a mouse or chipmunk, you’ve probably seen all of this in action!
Cats have sharp claws! We might not want our cats to act on their natural hunting drive if they’re indoors. They could end up hurting other household pets or people. This is where good cat toys and engaging play come in.
By choosing interactive and engaging cat toys, you can mimic the natural urges your cat has of running, chasing, sneaking, and pouncing! Toys offer us the ability to see our cat’s superpowers in action in a controlled way. They also offer fun mental and physical stimulation for our cats, which they are sure to appreciate.
The Benefits of Cat Toys
Playing with our cats has multiple benefits for them. It’s important to keep cats active (both mentally and physically), for a multitude of reasons. Without proper playtime, cats may scratch up furniture, curtains, or even other pets!
Playing with your cat can help them:
Have better blood circulation
Release pent-up energy or aggression
Hone their natural hunting skills
Reduce behavioral problems caused by boredom
Build muscle tone
Cats benefit from play just as much as their canine counterparts do! If your cat is constantly scratching household items up or practicing their hunting skills on household pets (or you), take a close look at how much play they get! They likely need more than they are being given.
Highly Rated Interactive Cat Toys to Consider
Do you want to pick a fun and stimulating interactive cat toy, but don’t know where to start? It’s understandable: there are so many toys out there! The best cat toys stimulate your cat’s natural curiosity while keeping them physically engaged.
Check out the options below to see our recommendations for interactive cat toys that will keep your feline family member engaged for hours!
Kong Puzzlements Toy
The Kong Puzzlements toy is an easy, no-fuss, and entertaining cat toy. This cat toy is simple; it requires no batteries and no complicated setup. This soft play mat features nine pockets that your kitty will love to explore! In the pockets, you can place your cat’s favorite treat, some dry food, or a safe amount of catnip.
It features an attached yarn ball toy that rattles for extra stimulation! For an extra boost, it also comes with a catnip mouse and extra catnip refills, if your cat is into that sort of thing! This toy is incredibly multifaceted – you can customize what goodies are hidden in the pockets. Best of all, this toy is machine washable!
FroliCat BOLT Laser Toy
Lasers and cats are like peanut butter and jelly. They go great together! This FroliCat BOLT Laser pet toy offers hands-free fun for your cat! You can hold it in your hand or place it down independently on a flat surface. Then, simply turn it on and watch your cat chase the laser patterns!
Want to keep your cat entertained while you’re out of the house? This toy features an automatic mode, where you simply set the toy down, turn on automatic mode, and let your cat enjoy hours of endless fun powered by the toy. If you want to get in on the fun, this toy also features a manual mode where you can control the laser direction and patterns and watch your cat pounce in delight!
For its conservative price point, this toy packs a punch. It is a great way to get some playtime with your cat or keep them happy and entertained while you are out.
Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center
Looking to satisfy your cat’s hunting drive? Just because cats have been domesticated doesn’t mean they don’t need to fulfill their natural urges. Food puzzle toys help simulate the feeling and motions of stalking and hunting, making the Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center toy a great choice for a cat.
This toy incorporates five motivated and challenging food-related puzzles for your cat. The five games this single toy includes are:
Game One: A globe that resembles a fish tank requires cats to scoop out treats with their paw.
Game Two: A set of pegs allows cats to stalk treats from a distance and map out a hunting strategy to get the treat from between them.
Game Three: Features an alley, a spirited play option that allows cats to uncover treats while lying down using their paws or claws.
Game Four: Drop some treats down the slits to watch your cat use their tongue and mouth to get treats.
Game Five: Put some toys and treats in the tunnel’s mouse hole for extra challenging fun!
This toy is super versatile. It has something for every cat! Even the most active of cats will find this toy entertaining for hours. It’s also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
Moody Pet Fling-AMA-String Cat Toy
Cats love to chase. It’s a part of that natural hunting instinct we’ve talked about. One of the most fun parts of the hunt is the chase! That’s why it only makes sense to consider a string toy when looking to purchase an interactive cat toy. The Moody Pet Fling-AMA-String cat toy is a modern twist on the classic cat string toy.
This toy offers a battery-operated string flinging machine that will keep your cat active for ages! Simply put in a battery, turn it on, and watch your cat’s joy as they try to catch the string over and over. The best part is, there is no work needed from you! This no assembly, automated cat toy is perfect to put on for your cat while you work or attend to other tasks.
FurHaven Double Decker Playground
Looking to spoil your kitty friend? Look no further than FurHaven’s Double Decker Playground! Going back to a cat’s wild roots, they love to have the upper ground. As hunters, this helped them see prey below them. In domestic situations, this urge is what gets many cats stuck in a tree!
FurHaven’s Double Decker playground offers multiple levels of perches for your active cat. Apart from the climbing and jumping fun it offers, this toy is also super interactive. It features interactive cat toys throughout such as sisal posts, plush ball toys, a hanging rope, and a cat IQ busy box!
Your cat will find fun at every level throughout this playground! When they get tired, they will love cuddling up on one of its perches and enjoying some sunlight. This toy combines lots of physical and mental activity into one spot, making it a great choice for an interactive cat toy.
Conclusion
Cats need lots of play and mental stimulation to stay happy. The historical hunting roots of this animal still live on in its domesticated counterparts! Keeping your cat entertained at home is super important to ensure your cat lives a healthy life (and to avoid getting your personal items used as a toy)!
Interactive cat toys allow your feline friend to entertain themselves for hours on end. They can easily satisfy their biological urges with these toys that encourage them to flex their natural abilities. Hopefully, you found a great new cat toy in our list of suggestions!
Why Cat Toys Are So Important – Farm & Pet Place (farmandpetplace.co.uk)
The 8 Best Interactive Cat Toys of 2022 (thesprucepets.com)
