Cats are stunning, fascinating, bizarre creatures. They’re additionally very choosy. Discovering toys that they’re going to truly play with is hard—particularly with the sheer oversaturation of the pet market in the present day. Cats require a particular surroundings to play, scratch, and calm down. Primarily based 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 specific product, we nonetheless examined total 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 authorised by each my and different staffers’ (very spoiled) WIRED cats. Take a look at our associated guides like The Greatest Automated Cat Litter Bins, The Greatest Automated Cat Feeders, The Greatest Cat Water Fountains, and Our Favourite Fancy Cat Furnishings. Extra of a canine particular person? We have you lined! See our Greatest Equipment and Tech Necessities for Your Canine information.
Up to date April 2025: We have overhauled this information for the present 12 months 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 Fowl, Feather Mice, Tkenpro 2K Pet Digicam 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 could be extra low-maintenance than canine, they nonetheless require considerate care. Listed here are some fundamental 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. Commonly trim their nails. Give them love and affection!
Do not: Declaw them. Go away them unattended round these poisonous crops. Unintentionally hurt them with widespread important oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan eating regimen, milk (sure, actually), or these different poisonous meals.
Discovering cat toys that your cat will truly love could be very hit-or-miss. We love interactive toys—all the pieces on this listing 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 will, so a cat tree ought to assist preserve them occupied and off your mantel or breakable glassware. Our favourite cat timber are produced from 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 should you really need the complete scoop, however listed below are another notable favorites on the subject of cat furnishings and toys:
A lick mat is a good way so as to add enrichment and stimulation—plus, it helps them promote gradual 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 strategy to give them a deal with whereas selling gradual 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 residence, all the pieces you enhance with issues as a result of it is all on show—nothing will get hidden once 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 among former reviewer Madea Giordano’s favorites. When you can afford it, your cats will thanks.
Greater than only a cat tree, Freestyle permits you to customise your individual indoor or out of doors cat jungle fitness center from a sequence of bamboo platforms, beds, ramps, hammocks, and scratchers. The platforms are sturdy sufficient to assist cats of any measurement or exercise degree, and the poles can accommodate ceilings as much as 14 ft. The system will not be cheap or particularly straightforward to place collectively, however my cats Circe and Scylla spend each single day on theirs, making it definitely worth the funding. —Kat Merck
Mau is understood for its high-end and tasteful cat furnishings (together with the Cento cat tree, above), and its new Kona aspect desk suits 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, but it surely does include a bag of catnip to assist with encouragement. This desk is common and sometimes offered out, however you may enroll on Mau’s web site to be notified of the subsequent restock. —Kat Merck
Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano liked these window seats as a result of they’re a good way for cats to bask within the solar and preserve a watchful eye on the neighborhood whereas safely indoors. They’re straightforward 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 may want a window sill not less than 2 inches deep to correctly assist it.
If you cannot work out which type of toy your cats will like, otherwise you simply need them to be refreshed now and again, Meowbox is a good subscription. You’ll be able to select to get deliveries each one or two months, they usually embody each treats and extremely cute toys with an equally cute theme. Plus, for each field offered, 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 could be configured into completely different shapes for taking part in (or searching), and you may reshape it as typically as you want. The fabric looks like felt however is produced from 24 post-consumer plastic bottles and may stand up to sharp claws.
All three of our cats love the Kong Kickeroo, and it has been probably the most long-lived cat toys we now have ever purchased. Bodhi is our eldest cat and barely 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, combined textures, and crinkly materials inside with a contact of catnip. We additionally tried the smaller mannequin, but it surely was shortly chewed via, 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 period not getting used. It has a easy USB charger and a button that controls all the pieces, plus it comes with a alternative 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 one of the best buy I’ve made this 12 months.
One among my cats is a particularly clever, high-energy cat who’s additionally very meals motivated, so it’s a continuous problem to search out issues to maintain him entertained—to not point out, I even have to verify he does not inhale his meals. With this toy, you may 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 primarily based in your cat’s intelligence degree. 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 among 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.
I’ve had seven cats over the previous 20 years, and each single one among 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 via the air that registers as one hundred pc genuine to cats. There are different attachments obtainable, like fur “mice,” however nothing hits fairly like the unique feather cluster. Be sure you refill on refills, in case your cat finds the wand in the course of the evening and has its approach with it. (Talking from expertise.) —Kat Merck
Do you know there are “hen” cats and “mouse” cats? Most cats truly desire to hunt particular varieties prey, and I’ve seen this play out in my very own home. Though they’re litter mates, one among 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 contemporary, and to take away the bell should you don’t wish to hear jingling in the course of the evening. —Kat Merck
This treat-dispensing pet cam has PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) capabilities and crystal clear stay videofeed, and you may take photographs and file video from it. Via the app, you may pan the digital camera practically 360 levels, eavesdrop on the goings-on when you’re away, and discuss to your pet via the microphone. If simply being a safety digital camera wasn’t sufficient, you too can schedule common feedings via the app or toss them a kibble snack everytime you really feel prefer it. Can 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 isn’t any must resolve! Whereas my cats have been extra interested by it than excited to play with this li’l robotic, it did preserve their consideration, which is a win in my e book. The app is usually a bit glitchy, and the robotic is on no account sensible, however it’s a digital camera you may 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 Preserve 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 straightforward to de-fur just about any floor. We use them each single day. It is environment friendly, does not refill too shortly, and emptying it takes simply seconds.
- Basepaws’ Breed + Well being Cat DNA Take a look at ($160) check tells you in case your cat is evident, 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 issues, 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 one of the best life decisions on your cat. —Louryn Strampe
- We love this fundamental however dependable chrome steel Owala Pet Bowl ($30). Chrome steel is far more hygienic than plastic, which may simply harbor dangerous micro organism and trigger issues like cat pimples.
- The Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy ($9) has been the only most liked toy by all of former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s cats.