The Best Cat Toys to Keep Your Kittens Busy

Our senior editor, Bree, just bought this for her cat, and she’s been loving it so far: “Blue hasn’t left this thing alone since I got it delivered! She loves playing with the yarn string, and the hidden mouse toy behind the label made it all the more fun for her to pull apart and capture. It also has a crinkle wrapper, which Blue loves.”

This plush play tunnel offers hours of endless fun, with a 3-in-1 design that can transform the toy into a straight tunnel, curved tunnel, or cozy nest. It encourages your kitty’s natural instincts to sneak, explore, and hide, for a truly exciting playtime every time.

What the reviews say: “Absolutely love this. It keeps my kitten entertained for hours. I love to keep her busy and like to change it up to keep her interested.”

This crinkle sardine can cat toy is a hit with buyers—so much so, it’s earned itself a perfect 5 stars! Inside the sturdy sardine can storage pouch, they’ll find three catnip fish, each filled with organic catnip. They’ll love the sounds of the crinkle paper layer, and the reinforced seams ensure this toy can handle even the most playful kitty.

What the reviews say: “Wow! My cats went absolutely BONKERS over this toy! They were even trying to get into the shipping box to get to it. This is some super potent catnip because I’ve never seen them act like this! I think the little sardines container is so cute with the catnip fish inside.”

Dreaming of a fairytale Tudor cottage? Us, too. Now, you can make it a reality—at least, for your favorite feline! This adorable Tudor style cat scratching toy is made entirely of cardboard (great for their scratching instincts!), has a detailed exterior design, and plenty of room inside for them to hide and play.

What the reviews say: “Before we could even get this together my kitten took to it. He sat right in the middle of the pieces. It’s funny how they know when things are for them. It’s easy to put together, easier if you have two people assembling it at the same time. My kitten loves this house. It’s roomy/comfortable for one. It may accommodate two. I love the design, it’s like a little cottage and it goes great with my home decor. I’ve only had this for a couple of hours and he’s been in it three times already just sitting it lol.”

When over 70,000 Amazon customers give this cat toy a glowing 5-star review, it’s worth paying attention. This multi-level toy comes with three tiers and six spinning balls, which are meant to encourage batting, swatting, chasing, and other natural hunting instincts. It’s also built to entertain more than one furry friend at a time, so this is a good option if you own multiple cats.

What the reviews say: “I bought this for my kittens six months ago and they took to it right away. Now, these two are teenager cats, and they still play with it many times throughout the day—and night. They also love to sit on top of it, tip it upside down, roll it sideways, etc. and it is showing no signs of wear.”

A treadmill remote control cat toy like this is one of the best ways to keep a kitty entertained (and active!) for hours on end. The rope can be adjusted to create a custom chase path, and you can easily tie on accessories like feathers or fabric if you want to add to the fun. Best of all, there’s an auto-timer function if you want to schedule playtime.

What the reviews say: “I am so incredibly happy with this purchase! I have two cats, and my biggest struggle before was that when I used a regular feather wand, only one cat could play while the other just watched. This toy completely solved that problem—now both of my cats can chase it and play together at the same time, and they are both so happy!”

This eco-friendly chew rope is made out of organic cotton rope and contains gall fruit, an alternative to catnip. (Just note: Gall fruit can be toxic to dogs if ingested, so you may want to seek alternatives if you live in a multi-pet home.) A quiet playtime toy that won’t disrupt your sleep and promotes healthy teeth for your kitty? This kitten teething toy is a win-win in our books.

What the reviews say: “My cat got so excited he barely let me get the rope out before he was clawing at it. He has since played with it extensively and now likes napping on it.”

This stimulating, motion-activated ball toy comes with two modes. The slower setting is most suitable for timid, less active, or older cats, and does not include a light. The other, faster mode includes the light and is certainly louder—but also makes for a far more entertaining interactive cat toy for both you and your furry friend.

What the reviews say: “There are two modes, but my cat likes the ‘basic’ mode the best; the other level spins more and makes a lot more noise, and he doesn’t like that very much. It did take a few minutes for him to get interested in chasing it; he was startled when I turned it on the first time.”

Sometimes, it’s best to stick with a classic! This simple set of five plush mice is enough to keep your cat swatting and pouncing to their heart’s delight.

What the reviews say: “My cats loved these so much that I had to order another set and will probably be ordering another. The fruit designs are really cute & just enough cat nip to not be overpowering. Strangely out of the bunch, all of my cats prefer the little strawberry mouse best.”

There are so many different kinds of catnip toys for cats out there, but the best really are ones that speak to a kitty’s wild side. Case in point: these little critters! They appeal to cats’ natural hunting skills, featuring plush heads filled with organic catnip and crackle material inside the body.

What the reviews say: “Our cats absolutely love these wildlife catnip critters! One of our cats even broke into the packaging before we officially handed them over! The catnip critters are our favorite toys to get out all the midnight jitters before bedtime.”

Comb through any Reddit thread or pet owner forum, and you’ll see this cat wand toy come up a lot. The realistic fluttering motion of the feathers seems to be irresistible to most kitties, and pet owners get a lot of enjoyment seeing how much their furry friends love pouncing and leaping after it.

What the reviews say: “I bought this at my local store and it immediately became mine and my cats’ favorite toy. For someone with a physical disability, it’s hard for me to always have the energy and ability to play with my cats as much as I want, but with this I can play with them while resting on the couch. The rod is very flexible and the string is long (not excessively so), which allows for a wide radius and not too much effort on my part.”

Even though technically this is a cat feeder, it’s really more of a challenging puzzle game meant to simulate your cat during mealtime, while also slowing down eating. Just fill the toy’s center compartment with food or treats, and the feeder automatically disperses it into different tunnels that open as your kitten explores.

What the reviews say: “Though my fat cat is a little miffed he can’t just chow down at will anymore, he’s motivated enough by food to get into this toy. It’s doubly good because he is also super smart and easily bored.”

This puzzle also doubles as a slow feeder while promoting mental stimulation. Put treats into different compartments, and watch as your kitty pushes the pieces around to release the rewards.

What the reviews say: “There are different puzzles to solve and also the big wheel can be ‘locked’ into place with your cat needing to figure out what’s keeping it from spinning. It’s very enriching and challenges their brain almost like a session of play time! Very well made and easy to clean.”

For something so seemingly straightforward, this laser pointer comes with lots of bells and whistles—starting with the fact that it can also be used as a flashlight or UV blacklight. It comes with a carrying case and keychain strap, too. Best of all, it’s easily rechargeable—so you and your feline friend will never have to stop the fun.

What the reviews say: “My cat Salem loves laser pointers so we have gone through a few. The problem really lies within how big the red dot is, she sometimes has a hard time tracking it on our carpet, especially darker carpets. This lil gadget is bright and big! She absolutely loves it. My hands also love it because I don’t have to hold down a button. If you’ve used cheap laser pointers, you know how holding that little nob of a button can hurt over time.”