Cats are lovely, fascinating, bizarre creatures. They’re additionally very choosy. Discovering toys that they will truly play with is hard—particularly with the sheer oversaturation of the pet market as we speak. Cats require a particular surroundings to play, scratch, and loosen up. Based mostly on years of testing with our cats, these are our favourite WIRED-approved, tech-y cat toys and scratchers. Even when our cats rejected a selected product, we nonetheless examined general development, design, and worth to find out whether or not it might be helpful for different kitties.
I am a helicopter cat mother specializing in pet tech, and all of those cat toys are accredited by each my and different staffers’ (very spoiled) WIRED cats. Take a look at our associated guides like The Finest Automated Cat Litter Containers, The Finest Automated Cat Feeders, The Finest Cat Water Fountains, and Our Favourite Fancy Cat Furnishings. Extra of a canine particular person? We have got you coated! See our Finest Equipment and Tech Necessities for Your Canine information.
Up to date April 2025: We have overhauled this information for the present yr and added the Omlet Freestyle Indoor Cat Tree, Mau Kona Finish Desk Scratcher, Kong Kickeroo, Sofolor Interactive Cat Toy, Catstages Interactive Cat Deal with Puzzle, Silvervine Chew Sticks, Da Chicken, Feather Mice, Tkenpro 2K Pet Digital camera Deal with Dispenser, and Enabot Rola PetPal Robotic Pet Companion. We have up to date costs all through.
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Do not take heed to the cat haters: Cats do type a reference to their human homeowners. Whereas they might be extra low-maintenance than canines, they nonetheless require considerate care. Listed below are some primary dos and don’ts when proudly owning a cat.
Do: Separate meals and water. Use a number of litter containers for a number of cats. Give them methods to hunt their meals. Guarantee they get train and playtime. Give them locations to cover and really feel secure. Usually trim their nails. Give them love and affection!
Do not: Declaw them. Depart them unattended round these poisonous crops. Unintentionally hurt them with widespread important oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan food plan, milk (sure, actually), or these different poisonous meals.
Discovering cat toys that your cat will truly love may be very hit-or-miss. We love interactive toys—all the pieces on this checklist are the toys that our cats truly performed with. The entire toys even have a component to assist interact their pure instincts to hunt prey, like a enjoyable kicker toy or a puzzle toy so your cat has to make use of their pecan-sized mind to get rewarded with scrumptious, smelly treats.
Cats like to leap and climb no matter they’ll, so a cat tree ought to assist hold them occupied and off your mantel or breakable glassware. Our favourite cat bushes are comprised of supplies that may be scratched up, and our favourite window perch lets cats responsibly work together with the skin world. We even have a information to the fanciest cat furnishings we have tried if you happen to really need the total scoop, however listed below are another notable favorites in the case of cat furnishings and toys:
A lick mat is an effective way so as to add enrichment and stimulation—plus, it helps them promote sluggish consuming (and fewer throwing up). I even have this set of two cute fish-shaped lick mats for every of my kitties, and it is a enjoyable option to give them a deal with whereas selling sluggish feeding and stimulation. I put Churu purée with some added water to assist sneakily add extra hydration to their snacks.
Whenever you stay in a small condo, all the pieces you beautify with issues as a result of it is all on show—nothing will get hidden whenever you solely have one to 3 rooms. A few of us need our cat’s furnishings to match too. Mau’s Cat Tree is one in every of former reviewer Madea Giordano’s favorites. For those who can afford it, your cats will thanks.
Greater than only a cat tree, Freestyle helps you to customise your personal indoor or outside cat jungle fitness center from a collection of bamboo platforms, beds, ramps, hammocks, and scratchers. The platforms are sturdy sufficient to help cats of any measurement or exercise stage, and the poles can accommodate ceilings as much as 14 toes. The system will not be cheap or particularly simple to place collectively, however my cats Circe and Scylla spend each single day on theirs, making it well worth the funding. —Kat Merck
Mau is thought for its high-end and tasteful cat furnishings (together with the Cento cat tree, above), and its new Kona facet desk suits proper into the lineup with a midcentury mod vibe and scratching pad discreetly tucked into the again. The solid-wood desk may be very heavy and nicely made, with choices for an oak or walnut end. It didn’t dissuade my cats from scratching the chair it’s subsequent to, however it does include a bag of catnip to assist with encouragement. This desk is in style and sometimes bought out, however you’ll be able to enroll on Mau’s web site to be notified of the following restock. —Kat Merck
Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano beloved these window seats as a result of they’re an effective way for cats to bask within the solar and hold a watchful eye on the neighborhood whereas safely indoors. They’re simple to put in too, with sticky strips that connect to your window sill that may maintain as much as 40 kilos. You may as well nail the bottom into the window body, and there are even heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are detachable and may be machine-washed. Heads up, you will want a window sill no less than 2 inches deep to correctly help it.
If you cannot determine which type of toy your cats will like, otherwise you simply need them to be refreshed once in a while, Meowbox is a good subscription. You’ll be able to select to get deliveries each one or two months, and so they embrace each treats and extremely cute toys with an equally cute theme. Plus, for each field bought, the corporate provides meals to a shelter. You’ll be able to see precisely the place on its web site.
Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s cats additionally went nuts for this Ripple Rug. The underside piece stays in place whereas the highest may be configured into totally different shapes for enjoying (or searching), and you’ll reshape it as usually as you want. The fabric seems like felt however is comprised of 24 post-consumer plastic bottles and may face up to sharp claws.
All three of our cats love the Kong Kickeroo, and it has been some of the long-lived cat toys we’ve ever purchased. Bodhi is our eldest cat and infrequently performs with toys anymore, however even he can’t resist the Kickeroo. It’s the proper form to seize and claw at along with his again paws, and it has a tail, blended textures, and crinkly materials inside with a contact of catnip. We additionally tried the smaller mannequin, however it was shortly chewed by means of, whereas the bigger one has lasted for years. —Simon Hill
My extraordinarily spoiled cats by no means work together with a toy for greater than 5 minutes, however they play with this interactive cat toy for hours on finish. It has three modes so cats by no means get bored: regular, lively, and interactive, and it shuts off mechanically after a time frame not getting used. It has a easy USB charger and a button that controls all the pieces, plus it comes with a substitute wand in case your cats are as rough-and-tumble as mine. Though this is a little more than I prefer to spend on cat toys, it was the very best buy I’ve made this yr.
One in every of my cats is an especially clever, high-energy cat who’s additionally very meals motivated, so it’s a continuous problem to seek out issues to maintain him entertained—to not point out, I even have to verify he would not inhale his meals. With this toy, you’ll be able to cowl up the treats with the leaves or put them solely within the cups for an additional problem—I like that this puzzle toy is completely customizable based mostly in your cat’s intelligence stage. I’ve each the Melon Insanity and Buggin’ Out fashions, and even years later, my cats are nonetheless entertained by them. I name {that a} good funding.
My overactive cat Basil is one in every of roughly 40 p.c of cats that do not react to catnip, which is a bummer as a result of he will get FOMO watching his sister go wild. Fortunately, each of my cats go loopy for these easy sticks. It helps them interact with pure kicking instincts and redirects aggressive chewing from my iPhone twine.
I’ve had seven cats over the previous 20 years, and each single one in every of them has been obsessive about this interactive toy. And never simply any wand toy, this one particularly and its authentic feather attachment, which makes use of the identical swivel mechanism as a fishing lure to create motion by means of the air that registers as one hundred pc genuine to cats. There are different attachments out there, like fur “mice,” however nothing hits fairly like the unique feather cluster. Ensure you top off on refills, in case your cat finds the wand in the midst of the evening and has its method with it. (Talking from expertise.) —Kat Merck
Do you know there are “bird” cats and “mouse” cats? Most cats truly want to hunt particular varieties prey, and I’ve seen this play out in my very own home. Regardless that they’re litter mates, one in every of my indoor cats clearly prefers to leap at flying issues (birds) and the opposite likes to cover and leap out at issues down low (mice). They each get pleasure from these toys—they’re fuzzy like mice however feathered like birds, with some catnip for added curiosity. I like to recommend placing them away when playtime is completed to maintain curiosity recent, and to take away the bell if you happen to don’t wish to hear jingling in the midst of the evening. —Kat Merck
This treat-dispensing pet cam has PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) capabilities and crystal clear stay videofeed, and you’ll take images and file video from it. By the app, you’ll be able to pan the digital camera practically 360 levels, pay attention to the goings-on when you’re away, and discuss to your pet by means of the microphone. If simply being a safety digital camera wasn’t sufficient, you may also schedule common feedings by means of the app or toss them a kibble snack everytime you really feel prefer it. Will we want to mix safety cameras and deal with dispensers? Why not?
Is it a toy? Is it a safety digital camera? Is it a deal with dispenser? There is no have to resolve! Whereas my cats have been extra interested in it than excited to play with this li’l robotic, it did hold their consideration, which is a win in my guide. The app could be a bit glitchy, and the robotic is not at all good, however it’s a digital camera you’ll be able to transfer about your own home when you’re away, and it will roll, slam into objects, and shoot treats out at your confused cats.
Different Necessities We Maintain Going Again To:
- The Chom Chom Curler Pet Hair Remover ($25) is universally beloved amongst all pet-owning WIRED reviewers. This nifty gadget makes it simple to de-fur nearly any floor. We use them each single day. It is environment friendly, would not refill too shortly, and emptying it takes simply seconds.
- Basepaws’ Breed + Well being Cat DNA Take a look at ($160) take a look at tells you in case your cat is evident, a service, in danger, or at excessive danger of quite a few metabolic, cardiovascular, eye, blood, endocrine, renal, autoimmune, pores and skin, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue problems, in addition to blood sort, transfusion danger, and different traits. Any cat can develop a illness or dental issues, however having a baseline can alleviate anxieties and empower you to work along with your vet to make the very best life decisions on your cat. —Louryn Strampe
- We love this primary however dependable stainless-steel Owala Pet Bowl ($30). Stainless-steel is way more hygienic than plastic, which might simply harbor dangerous micro organism and trigger issues like cat pimples.
- The Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy ($9) has been the one most beloved toy by all of former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s cats.
