Cat Play Toys

The toys that work best move, either on their own or when you drag them, since cats respond to motion more than shape or colour. Catnip toys and interactive spinners get the most repeat use here. Kittens go for anything light enough to carry off in their mouth. Adult cats often need something sturdier, like Kong's Pull-A-Partz range, built for real biting. Swap toys every few weeks so the same ones don't gather dust.

Yes. Catnip won't hurt a cat: it isn't addictive, isn't toxic, and the worst that happens is your cat gets a bit silly for ten minutes and then falls asleep. Kittens under six months usually don't react to it at all, since the response develops later. If you're trying catnip for the first time, start with one toy rather than restocking the whole basket. Kong and Tabby Patch both make catnip options in this range.

Every one to two weeks works well for most cats. Leave a toy out permanently and most cats stop noticing it within days, so keep half your toys in a drawer and swap them in on rotation. A teaser wand one week and a catnip mouse the next keeps things from going stale without buying anything new.

Kittens do best with something light enough to carry in their mouth, like a small plush mouse or a feather teaser, with nothing loose enough to swallow. Adult cats can handle tougher toys, like electronic spinners or Kong's Pull-A-Partz range, which take more biting and batting. Catnip usually doesn't register with cats younger than six months, so don't expect much reaction from a kitten. Keep an eye on play if the toy has small parts.

Yes, for most cats. An indoor cat with nothing to hunt gets bored, and a spinner or teaser wand gives them something to chase that isn't the curtains. Catit's motion-activated spinners and Kong's teaser wands both hold a cat's attention longer than a toy that just sits there. Ten minutes of play a day is enough to cut down on the pacing and yowling that comes with an under-stimulated cat.