Cat toys: the best toys for indoor cats and how to play

Indoor cats still have a hunter's instincts and a lot of energy to spend. Without an outlet, that energy turns into night-time zoomies, attacks on ankles, scratched furniture or weight gain. Regular play fixes much of this, and it's good for older cats too.

Play like a hunt

Cats hunt in a sequence: stalk, chase, pounce, catch. The best play follows the same pattern.

1. Move a wand toy like prey: along the floor, behind furniture, away from your cat rather than at them.
2. Let your cat chase and pounce, with pauses in between.
3. Let them catch it often. A cat that never wins gets bored or frustrated.
4. Slow the game down, then finish with a small meal or treat, the "eat" part of the hunt.

Two sessions of 10 to 15 minutes a day suit most cats. Kittens want more; senior cats like shorter, gentler games.

Types of cat toys

• Wand and teaser toys for play with you. Most cats' favourite, and the best exercise.
• Kickers and plush toys that cats grab and bunny-kick.
• Balls, crinkle toys and mice for solo play.
• Circuits and puzzle toys that make a cat work for a ball or a treat.
• Tunnels for hiding and ambushing.
• Electronic toys that move on their own, for while you're busy.

Rotate toys: put some away for a week and bring them back, and they feel new again.

Catnip and silver vine

Many cats roll, rub and play when they smell catnip, while others ignore it; kittens usually don't react until they're a few months old. Silver vine is a plant that many cats react to as well, including some that don't care about catnip. Both are safe in normal amounts, and the effect fades after a few minutes.

Laser pointers

Lasers get cats running, but they can never catch the dot. End every laser session by landing the dot on a toy your cat can grab, or switch to a wand toy, so the game finishes with a catch.

Toy safety

• Put wand toys and anything with string, ribbon or elastic away after play. Swallowed string can cause a serious bowel blockage.
• Throw away toys with loose parts, feathers coming off or torn stuffing.
• Watch kittens with small toys.

Scratching is play too; see our scratching post guide.

Cat toys at our store

• Cat Dancer Cat Toy
• Define Planet Feathers On Silver Vine Wand Cat Toy
• Catit Senses Super Circuit
• Bud'z Tunnel With Two Pop Out Holes Cat
• Eyeowww Banana Catnip
• Dexypaws Smart Rotating Ball Cat Toy
• Frolicat Multi Laser Toy
• Cancor Crinkleball Cat Toy

• All cat toys
• Cat treats

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