8 best cat toys for entertaining indoor kitties

Best: Overall

This little white bird is a WFH saviour. When turned on, a yellow feather pokes out on either side of the device in random movements, making it a delight for cats to watch and play with. Even with the most attention-seeking cats, this battery-powered bird (batteries not included) can keep them engaged for a minimum of 10 minutes at a time – just enough for you to finish that Zoom call or type out a few paragraphs in peace and quiet.

It has two play modes – a one-time 10-minute play or a play-all-day mode that self-activates when its motion sensor picks up movement from your cat, meaning you don’t have to worry about them being bored while you’re out running essential errands. It also comes with a replacement feather, which is handy if your moggy’s a bit boisterous. We recommend placing it inside a box or burrow.

Best: For cats who love hiding

Cats love hiding behind or inside things while play-hunting and this crinkly tunnel is perfect for just that. Featuring a butterfly on one end and soft beaver attached on the inside on the other end, the play spaces burrow got our feline reviewer very excited  to play hide and seek. Throw another toy or a couple of treats inside to make it extra interesting. It also folds up neatly, making it easy and convenient to store away when you need the extra floor space.

Best: Cat teaser

Colourful, fuzzy and wiggly – just the toy to get your precious puss going. This teaser is comfortable to hold and wave around, and the string isn’t so long that flicking it is more work than it’s worth. It became a fast favourite of our kitty reviewers, and they loved chasing it around, biting and chewing on the sponge part of the teaser, as well as clawing at the fluffy part.

However, be warned – it does make a mess, as the fluffy bits fall out each time you play. It may also benefit you to have some superglue at hand in case the toy falls off the string at the paws of a particularly ferocious player.

Best: Electric cat toy

Best suited to hyperactive kittens or fearless felines, this electronic toy whirls around really quite impressively. The batteries are included and once you’ve set it up, all you have to do is press a button to get it going. Our cats could not resist the fuzzy teaser that whips about as the device whirls, and they also loved watching it go. It works best on hard floors – on a carpet it appears to just spin, but the teaser will still flip around enough to engage the cats. The whirring didn’t bother the cats or us, but do keep an eye out in case it gets stuck in a corner or under some furniture.

Best: Catnip cat toy

Simply the best catnip toy we tested, this stinky banana made for some seriously happy kitties. Stuffed with organically grown catnip in a durable fabric, the banana toy was an all-round success. It’s a pleasing shape for cats to grab onto and kick with their feet, as well as lay and wriggle on, making it entertaining for both you and your companion. Its effects are said to last up to around 15 minutes at a time, which our reviewers found was fairly accurate. Store away in a resealable bag and watch your kitty go a little bit bonkers the next time you hand it over.

Best: Playing ball

Dogs aren’t the only pets that love to play with a ball. Cats often love chasing balls too and with this one, they can have hours of fun and you never have to fish a ball out from under the sofa again. The ball also lights up when in motion or when pawed at lightly, which makes it even more exciting for your kitty. The circuit features incline within the individual tubes, which snap together and can be taken apart fairly easily, so the ball rolls at different speeds and directions within the circuit. Thankfully, there’s no bell in the ball, so it’s fairly quiet except for the sound of rolling – all the better for your sanity.

Best: Laser cat toy

Get all the fun of watching your cat chase after the elusive laser dot without having to wave it around yourself with this electronic toy. It’s cute, clean cat shape also makes it quite appealing to have around the house and it really is quite a smart toy. You can either place it on a flat surface, such as a table or shelf, or hang it over a doorknob.

The higher it is, the further the laser will reach and the faster it moves around, which is great for tiring energetic kitties out. Like the electronic bird toy we mentioned earlier, this also has two play modes for one-off play and all-day play. In the all-day play mode, it will last for 15 minutes between rest modes to keep things exciting.

Best: For encouraging slow eating

Got a cat that loves to eat a little too much? This activity centre is great for keeping little paws busy and can act as a slow feeder as well, which keeps over-excited moggies from scarfing down their kibble too fast and making a mess on your carpet later.

It features little pockets with moveable caps on the sides, ready for kitties to paw aside and dig out treats, and the sections in the middle ensure they’re kept busy figuring out ways to get at food you’ve placed inside. We especially like this for tiding over cats that get a little aggy for snacks around the middle of the day – it keeps them quietly occupied and sated, allowing you to get on with your work.