Cats are stunning, attention-grabbing, bizarre creatures. They’re additionally very choosy. Discovering cat toys that they’re going to truly play with is hard, particularly with the sheer oversaturation of the pet market immediately. Cats require a specific environment to play, scratch, and chill out. Primarily based on years of testing with our cats, these are our favourite WIRED-approved, tech-y cat toys (and furnishings). Even when our cats rejected a selected product, we nonetheless examined total building, design, and worth to find out whether or not it might be helpful for different kitties.
We love interactive cat toys—every little thing on this checklist we have examined through the years and our cats truly play with. All of those toys even have a component to assist interact their pure instincts, like an interactive mat that mimics prey’s actions, or a puzzle toy so your cat has to make use of their pecan-sized mind to get rewarded with scrumptious treats.
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. Try our associated guides like The Best Automated Cat Litter Containers, The Best Automated Cat Feeders, The Best Cat Water Fountains, and Our Favourite Fancy Cat Furnishings. Extra of a canine individual? We have got you coated! See our Best Equipment and Tech Necessities for Your Canine information.
Up to date June 2025: We have added Knowledge Panel Cat DNA take a look at, 5Strands Intolerances & Imbalances Check, Uproot Clear Professional, VIWIK Interactive Cat Toy Mat, Knead Therapeutic Mattress, Desk Nest Cat Mattress, Valonii Movement Activated Cat Laser Toy, Petcube Play 2, and Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy. We have up to date costs and hyperlinks all through.
Cats like to leap and climb no matter they will, so a cat tree ought to assist preserve them occupied and off your mantel or breakable glassware. Our favourite cat timber are constructed from supplies that may be scratched up. (We even have a information to the fanciest cat furnishings we have tried if you happen to really need the complete scoop.) While you reside in a small condominium, every little thing 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 certainly one of former WIRED reviewer Madea Giordano’s favorites. If you happen to can afford it, your cats will thanks.
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
Omlet
Freestyle Indoor Cat Tree
Greater than only a cat tree, Freestyle helps you to customise your personal indoor or out of doors cat jungle health club from a collection of bamboo platforms, beds, ramps, hammocks, and scratchers. The platforms are sturdy sufficient to help cats of any dimension or exercise stage, and the poles can accommodate ceilings as much as 14 ft. The system isn’t cheap or particularly simple to place collectively, however my cats Circe and Scylla spend each single day on theirs, making it definitely worth the funding. —Kat Merck
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
Mau
Kona Finish Desk Scratcher
Mau is thought for its high-end and tasteful cat furnishings (together with the Cento cat tree, above), and its new Kona facet desk matches proper into the lineup with a midcentury mod vibe and scratching pad discreetly tucked into the again. The solid-wood desk could be very heavy and effectively made, with choices for an oak or walnut end. It didn’t dissuade my cats from scratching the chair it’s subsequent to, nevertheless it does include a bag of catnip to assist with encouragement. This desk is standard and sometimes offered out, however you’ll be able to enroll on Mau’s web site to be notified of the subsequent restock. —Kat Merck
{Photograph}: Medea Giordano
Okay&H Pet Merchandise
Kitty Sill Cat Window Perch
Our favourite window perch lets cats responsibly work together with the skin world. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano liked these window seats as a result of they’re an effective way for cats to bask within the solar and preserve 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. It’s also possible to nail the bottom into the window body, and there are even heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are detachable and could be machine-washed. Heads up, you will want a window sill a minimum of 2 inches deep to correctly help it.
Courtesy of Knead
This cat mattress has reminiscence foam sculpted contour mattress base with an excellent cozy (detachable and washable) nano heating and volcanic particle-infused cowl. It has a button on the facet with completely different warmth settings, together with timed heatings. It has optionally available self-heating pure herb pad attachments for additional ache aid and to assist cut back arthritic irritation, which is very preferrred for senior cats. The sculpted mattress is specifically contoured to offer orthopedic help for the cat’s joints. Professional tip: Put the mattress on the next floor or someplace the cats already lounge. Cats like to be off the bottom, and as soon as I moved this on high of my facet desk, each of my cats lay in it continuously.
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
I have been getting Instagram advertisements for this trendy mattress that attaches to your desk for so lengthy, I needed to cave and see if it was definitely worth the hype. Particularly since I’ve a really needy cat who likes to lounge on my laptop computer whereas I am WFH. This mattress is simple to assemble, with an arm that screws into the wood base and a screwed vice to maintain the mattress in place on the desk. It has adjustable vertical top and the bottom additionally rotates. Simply be sure you measure the floor you need to connect it to before you purchase. My desk was too thick, and my facet desk was too skinny—fortunately they despatched further planks so as to add into the screwed vice to make it sturdier, however I have never discovered the purrfect spot for it but.
{Photograph}: Meowbox
If you cannot determine which type of toy your cats will like, otherwise you simply need them to be refreshed now and again, Meowbox is a superb 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 offered, the corporate provides meals to a shelter.
{Photograph}: SnugglyCat
Snuggly Cat
The Ripple Rug
Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s cats went nuts for this Ripple Rug. The backside piece stays in place whereas the highest could be configured into completely different shapes for taking part in (or searching), and you may reshape it as usually as you want. The materials seems like felt, however is constructed from 24 post-consumer plastic bottles and might stand up to sharp claws.
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Courtesy of Amazon
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{Photograph}: Simon Hill
All three of our cats love the Kong Kickeroo, and it has been probably the most 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 together with his again paws, and it has a tail, combined textures, and crinkly materials inside with a contact of catnip. We additionally tried the smaller mannequin, nevertheless it was shortly chewed by way of, whereas the bigger one has lasted for years. —Simon Hill
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Sofolor
Interactive Cat Toy
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, energetic, and interactive, and it shuts off mechanically after a time period not getting used. It has a easy USB charger and a button that controls every little thing, 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.
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Viwik
Interactive Cat Toy Mat
My cats go bonkers for interactive play mats, and though this one did not preserve their consideration as a lot because the play mat above, it is nonetheless a strong alternative and supplies them with choices relating to human-free play. The rechargeable rolling ball lights up and strikes erratically within the mat, which held my cats’ consideration for most likely half an hour. I put this one away for a day or two after which convey it again out to maintain curiosity. You’ll be able to even use the rolling ball as a toy outdoors the mat, however beware that it simply rolls underneath furnishings and in hard-to-reach corners. My largest gripe is that the rechargeable ball has a brief battery life, and must be charged after every play session.
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Valonii
Movement Activated Cat Laser Toy
There’s some controversy within the cat-owning neighborhood about whether or not lasers are too irritating for cats, who could really feel like they will by no means “catch” the “prey” (aka pouncing on the laser dot with out truly having the ability to get it). My cats are each obsessive about laser toys, and it is an effective way for them to get train and preserve themselves entertained; I simply all the time give them treats after to reward them for a job effectively performed. It has three interactive modes and movement sensor activation to additional preserve cats’ consideration, and it lasts about two days earlier than needing to be recharged.
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Catstages
Interactive Cat Deal with Puzzle
One in all 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.
{Photograph}: Amazon
Bawan
Silvervine Chew Sticks
My overactive cat Basil is certainly one of roughly 40 % 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 wire.
{Photograph}: Amazon
I’ve had seven cats over the previous 20 years, and each single certainly one 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 way 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 replenish on refills, in case your cat finds the wand in the course of the night time and has its approach with it. (Talking from expertise.) —Kat Merck
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
This pet digital camera has the power to regulate a laser through app, so you’ll be able to interact in play together with your cat even when away, and it goals to auto-engage when movement is detected (however fairly often it did not). Though I want the movement sensors had been a bit extra delicate to have interaction in play extra usually whereas I am not house, it persistently saved my cats entertained, plus it was enjoyable to have the ability to play with them by way of the app from afar.
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Enabot
Rola PetPal Robotic Pet Companion
Is it a toy? Is it a safety digital camera? Is it a deal with dispenser? There is not any must determine! Whereas my cats had been extra curious than excited to play with this li’l robotic, it did preserve their consideration, which is a win in my e book. My cat Basil was obsessive about the toy attachment and liked discovering alternative ways to tug it off. The app is usually a bit glitchy, and the robotic is on no account sensible, however it’s a digital camera you’ll be able to transfer about your own home whilst you’re away, and it will roll, slam into objects, and shoot treats out at your confused cats. On the finish of the day, the robotic was nice at holding their consideration, which is all we actually need in the long run.
Different Necessities We Hold Going Again To:
Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover for $25: This device 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 replenish too shortly, and emptying it takes simply seconds.
Uproot Cleaner Pro for $20: This easy device is so satisfying to make use of. It is small, light-weight, and simply pulls up hair from quite a lot of carpets and materials. I exploit it religiously on my cat timber and generally on my carpets, and it all the time pulls up fur that is blind to the bare eye.
Basepaws’ Breed + Health Cat DNA Test for $159: This at house DNA take a look at tells you in case your cat is obvious, a provider, 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 kind, 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 together with your vet to make the very best life selections for your cat.
