6 Cat Toys That Encourage Exercise and Play

happy domestic kitten plays with a ball in the apartment on a light background. AI generated. the concept of cat food and healthy animals. toys for animals.

Key Points

  • Playing with your cat every day cuts down on their desire to hunt live animal prey.

  • The Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer is a perfect toy for cat owners who want to interact with their cats but have limited mobility.

  • A variety pack of toys works well if you just adopted a cat and are unfamiliar with their preferences and style of play.

Exercise is essential for all cats. Cat toys encourage exercise and play while providing mental stimulation.

For bored indoor cats, interactive toys infuse excitement into their lives. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you may worry about them hunting animals, affecting the local wildlife population. That wildlife might even end up in your home. Toys serve as suitable replacements for cats' natural prey.

The RSPCA in the United Kingdom advocates for all animal life. To keep your cat from hunting live prey, they suggest you play with your cat. They encourage owners to "[m]ake spending time playing with your cat every day part of your routine. It's not unusual for cat owners to think their cat isn't very playful or interested in toys but sometimes it just takes a little time to get them engaged."

The first step is to pick a toy your cat will enjoy based on their unique play style and preferences. Choose from this list of six cat toys carefully selected to entertain your cat and motivate them to move.

Interactive Kitten Toys Roller Tracks with Catnip Spring
$12.99

by Pawzone

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08/17/2024 08:54 am GMT
Pawzone Interactive Roller Track

The two-in-one design of this toy keeps cats from getting bored. Even cats with limited mobility can easily play with this toy as they stay in one place while playing.

Features and Design

As the name suggests, the Pawzone Interactive Roller Track is an interactive toy that combines a mouse cat toy teaser with a spinning ball track, designed to stimulate exercise and play for your cat. The outer ring holds a ball track with a small ball that spins and rolls when batted by your cat's paw. In the center is a plush mouse set up on the end of a spring. When your cat swats at it, the mouse bounces back and forth, keeping your cat engaged as they try to keep track of its movements.

Promotes Exercise and Play

The spinning ball track entices your cat to chase and swat the ball, which requires physical exercise and mental stimulation. This is a great toy for multiple cat households as the ball track and mouse can be played with at the same time. Cats can play with one another in a competitive game as they bat the mouse or the ball back and forth. This toy is ideal for cats who enjoy batting and hunting activities.

Customer Feedback

Many cat owners rave about the Pawzone Interactive Roller Track due to its ability to keep their cats entertained and active. Customers say that their cats play with the ball and then get distracted by the mouse and vice versa. One drawback is that the toy tips over frequently. However, it's very durable and engaging.

Rainbow Cat Charmer
$9.99

by Cat Dancer Products 

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08/17/2024 11:36 am GMT

Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer

This is one of the simplest toy designs you'll find, but it's extremely entertaining for cats. They love moving objects, and creating movement is effortless with this wand.

A TikTok video posted on June 16, 2023, shows an owner playing with their cat using a similar wand. It's a soft ribbon like the Rainbow Charmer, showing just how much cats love these toys!

Unique Qualities and Construction

The Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer is a long, rainbow-colored fleece ribbon attached to a wand. This design mimics the movement of a snake or a running mouse, enticing your cat to pounce and chase the ribbon. The wand is made of sturdy but flexible material that allows you to control the movement of the ribbon. The rainbow-colored pattern is an additional attention-grabber.

Stimulating Exercise and Play

The unpredictable movements of the Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer appeal to your cat's hunting instincts. As you wiggle and wave the ribbon, your cat pounces and tries to catch it. This toy encourages jumping, running, and swatting movements, providing your cat with exercise while engaging their predatory instincts.

Customer Feedback

Owners report that their cats love this wand even after months of use. It's light and easy to move around, so it's a perfect toy for senior cats who may not move as well. Owners sit in their chairs and whip the wand around, watching as their cat gives chase. Use this interactive toy to forge a closer bond with your cat.

Cat Pillow Toys
$12.98

by Potaroma 

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08/17/2024 10:01 am GMT

Potaroma Cat Kicker Pillow

This great kicker toy comes in a pack of three, so it's an awesome deal! It's fuzzy and soft like a real cat's tail.

Features and Materials

The Potaroma Cat Kicker Pillow is a plush toy infused with organic catnip. It encourages your cat to engage in interactive play. The toy has an elongated shape, with a fuzzy exterior and a generous amount of stuffing for your cat to kick and wrestle with.

Encourages Exercise and Play

The Potaroma Cat Kicker Pillow activates your cat's hunting instincts. The infused catnip inside the toy attracts your cat's attention, making them more interested in playing. The shape and size of the toy allow your cat to grab, bite, and kick it, promoting physical activity and mental engagement. It also includes crinkle paper that further entices your cat.

Customer Feedback

The Potaroma Cat Kicker Pillow is a best-seller, and it's not hard to see why. Owners say that this toy keeps their cats engaged for hours at a time. It's light enough that their cats can carry it around in their mouth. It's also extremely durable, standing up to even the roughest players.

Automatic Moving Ball
$18.29

by Migipaws

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08/17/2024 02:51 pm GMT

Migipaws Automatic Moving Ball

If you want an automated toy you don't have to switch on and off, this one's for you. It has a USB port for recharging and it's great for independent play.

Interactive Nature

The Migipaws Automatic Moving Ball is an automated ball with either a mouse-like or feathered lure attached. It features a motion sensor that rolls the toy around when your cat plays with it. It moves erratically, creating unpredictable movements that keep your cat engaged.

Benefits of Exercise and Play

The Migipaws Automatic Moving Ball presents your cat with a mentally and physically stimulating activity. The sporadic movements prompt your cat to chase and pounce, promoting exercise and simulating hunting behavior. It even has multicolored LED lights so your cat can play in the dark.

Customer Feedback

Many cat owners praise the Migipaws Automatic Moving Ball for its ability to entertain their cats for long periods. However, some customers don't like the small size, as it gets lost easily.

Grass Patch Hunting Box Cat Toy
$11.04

by Catstages 

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08/17/2024 09:16 am GMT

Catstages Grass Patch Hunting Box

This two-in-one scratch pad and puzzle box is a great mental challenge for keeping indoor cats entertained. It also caters to a cat's scratching needs.

Design and Features

The Catstages Grass Patch Hunting Box is a simple cardboard box with holes cut just wide enough for your cat to reach inside and find three jingle balls. Topped with faux grass, your cat scratches and paws at the grass instead of your furniture.

Promotes Exercise and Play

The Catstages Grass Patch Hunting Box has jingling balls hidden inside to stimulate your cat's natural hunting instincts. Cats love elusive prey, so this puzzle box spurs physical exercise and mental stimulation as they figure out how to retrieve the balls in the box. Replace the balls with treats for further enticement.

Customer Feedback

Owners highly recommend the Catstages Grass Patch Hunting Box, emphasizing how it keeps their cats entertained and active. Many customers mention the sturdiness of the box and how their cats like to lie on top of it. They say assembly is simple, but some aggressive cats may tear through the cardboard.

Cat Toys Variety Pack
$11.98

by Fashion's Talk 

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08/17/2024 10:46 am GMT

Fashion's Talk Cat Toys Variety Pack

If you just adopted a cat or kitten and don't know what they like, this is a worthwhile purchase. No matter what their preference, you're sure to find a toy they enjoy.

Unique Qualities and Benefits

Fashion's Talk Cat Toys Variety Pack is a bundle of 20 different toys to engage your cat in play. The company updates its toys regularly, so you never know what you'll get. It may include a cat wand, catnip mice, rattle toys, ball toys, feather toys, and more. Some sisal-wrapped toys encourage your cat's need to scratch, while others make noise to arouse your cat's interest. These toys all afford opportunities for interactive play between owner and pet, fostering a loving bond.

Stimulates Exercise and Play

The irresistible catnip inside some of the toys in the Fashion's Talk Cat Toys Variety Pack captivates your cat's attention and stimulates their desire to play. Whether they bat them around, chase them, or wrestle with them, the toys encourage physical activity and mental engagement. The small sizes and lightweight nature of these toys make them perfect for interactive play sessions.

Customer Feedback

Owners rave about the Fashion's Talk Cat Toys Variety Pack. They love that it includes a wide variety for their cat to choose from. Some customers' cats end up playing with all the toys, making this pack a great investment.

Encouraging Exercise

Keeping your cat physically and mentally active is crucial for their well-being. These six toys encourage exercise and play, helping your cat achieve a physically fit physique. They provide mental stimulation as well as an opportunity to foster a deeper bond between cat and owner.

Cats have different preferences, so choose toys that align with their unique play style. By investing in these recommended cat toys, you give your feline companion hours of exercise, mental stimulation, and playful entertainment.

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