Key Points
-
Interactive toys promote exercise and prevent obesity in otherwise sedentary cats.
-
These interactive toys have automatic shut-off functions to give your cat breaks.
-
Durable interactive toys are good for independent play sessions when your cat is alone.
Don’t let your cat get lazy and fat. Give them one of these interactive moving cat toys. These toys entertain and prevent obesity in your sedentary cat.
Entertainment is great, but the health of your feline friend is what’s most important. An indoor cat sometimes becomes lazy and a senior cat gets bored with the same old toys. Bring some life back into your cat with these three interactive cat toys to get your feline moving.
Preventing Obesity with Toys
Even if you feed your cat the recommended amount of food, a lack of exercise may lower their immune system or lead to them putting on extra weight.
Veterinarians Krista Williams and Robin Downing write for VCA Animal Hospitals about preventing obesity in cats:
“In addition to interactive toys that dispense food, other interactive toys, such as dangling feathers, allow us to play with our cats. Laser pointers can provide hours of chasing fun.”
They say obesity causes extra weight on their bones and joints, which can lead to osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Obesity also leads to diabetes in some cats. It’s crucial to stay on top of their health and monitor their body weight.
Preventing weight gain is ideal and much easier than dealing with the problem after it sets in.
Look over these three interactive toys and decide which one may cause your cat to get up and moving.
by Potaroma
Potaroma 3-in-1 Automatic Interactive Kitten Toy and Why
If you have to leave your cat alone during the day, they need some interactive toys to keep them occupied. The Potaroma 3-in-1 Automatic Interactive Kitten Toy is a perfect solution. It’s three toys in one, great for multiple cats to play together, and ideal for independent play for cats left alone.
Cats need mental stimulation and exercise. Indoor cats especially become bored. If they don’t have something to do, they may scratch furniture or curtains, overeat, sleep too much, or try to escape.
Electronic interactive toys promote exercise and prevent obesity. They also preoccupy their minds so they don’t get bored. If they don’t have playmates or live prey to go after, they need some form of entertainment.
The bottom portion of the Potaroma toy has holes where a feather toy pops out randomly. Above that is a track with balls that roll around the toy when your cat bats them. On top of the toy is a wire wand with a butterfly on the end. It spins 360 degrees and flutters around like a live butterfly.
If you’re home with your fur babies, plug the unit into a wall outlet to save battery life. When you leave them alone while you’re at work, let the batteries take over.
The butterfly runs for five minutes straight, but the unit goes on standby for four hours automatically if left alone. Your cats reactivate it when they play with it during the standby mode. After four hours, the power shuts down completely and requires the flip of the button to get it going again.
Even when the power is off, your cats can still bat around the balls in the track and swat at the butterfly on top. It doesn’t move on its own but still has a spring to it when swatted.
Street Cats World posted a TikTok video on May 20, 2023, showing examples of a kitten playing with the toy in all three modes.
Pros and Cons
Reviews are mostly positive, with customers saying their cats enjoy this toy. However, this toy runs on batteries or must be connected to a power source. Some say the batteries die quickly, so you should use the cable when you can.
Although its durable materials withstand rough play, several customers say that their cats tear up the lure on the end of the wire. You might want to keep extra ones on hand or attach a more durable toy.
by Saolife
Saolife Automatic Cat Laser Toy
Most cats become intrigued by laser toys. They love following the little red dot with their eyes and trying to chase it down. The Saolife Automatic Cat Laser Toy moves in random directions, so your cat is never bored.
The Saolife Automatic Cat Laser Toy has a swivel head that you adjust to different positions to aim it so your cat notices it. It has a strong suction cup on the bottom, so you can stick it to a window or set it on a shelf or table.
It has three modes — slow, fast, and slow-fast mixed mode. Adjust it to your cat’s age or agility level. The built-in rechargeable battery keeps you from having to continually replace batteries.
This interactive toy is ideal for cats who are home alone during the day and works well for multi-pet households. Watch as all your cats try to catch the laser.
After it shuts off, give your cat a treat as a reward. You may put a treat under the sofa or rug and point the laser in that direction. Once they find the treat, it creates positive reinforcement for interacting with the toy.
Pros and Cons
There are no small pieces to deal with and no risk of a choking hazard. It gives you peace of mind when you leave them alone with it.
Cats love lasers but may become bored with them when they find that they can’t catch their prey. Depending on your placement of the laser, it may cause your cats to go after it everywhere, knocking things off the table or pictures on the wall.
Some customers have trouble with the suction cup staying on the glass. Others say their unit needs charging often.
by Oxawo
AUKL Interactive Exercise Tumbler
For great entertainment for both you and your cat, get the AUKL Interactive Exercise Tumbler. The rounded weighted base allows it to move back and forth without tipping over completely as your cat swats at the lure. It weebles and wobbles but doesn’t fall down.
It runs for 10 minutes and then goes on standby for two hours to give your cat a break. Then, it comes back on automatically. The rechargeable internal battery plugs into a wall outlet and takes two hours or less to fully recharge.
A 24-inch wire wand extends from the top of the toy, where you attach either a feather toy or a dragonfly. Switch them out to create variety or when one becomes damaged.
The wand moves erratically, spinning, shaking, and wiggling, causing the lure on the end to wiggle around and vibrate. Some attachments come with a bell to further intrigue your cat.
When you first take it out of the box, you may have to take the wire between your fingers (the company suggests using a cloth) and straighten it. Do this if your cat bends it during play as well.
Pros and Cons
Most cats love this toy and it keeps them entertained. They say that one charge lasts a couple of days. They highly recommend this toy.
A few customers say the winged attachment is heavy and weighs down the wire. Others say their cat tears apart the lure. If your cat is more aggressive, monitor them while playing.
Keep Your Cat Healthy with Interactive Toys
Interactive toys have several benefits for your cat. They foster a bond between you and your pet, they stimulate mental concentration and attention, and they give opportunities for exercise.
These aspects are all important for your cat’s emotional, mental, and physical health. You want to keep your cat in top physical form, preventing them from becoming overweight. Along with exercise, offer your cat a complete and balanced diet.
When you buy your cat interactive toys, you show them you love them and they love you back.
Keep your cat’s health in mind when you subscribe to Cattitude Daily.
