The Best Cat Toys for Your Furry Friend (2025)

Cats are beautiful, interesting, weird creatures. They're besides very picky. Finding feline toys that they'll really play pinch is tough, particularly pinch nan sheer oversaturation of nan pet marketplace today. Cats require a circumstantial environment to play, scratch, and relax. Based connected years of testing pinch our cats, these are our favourite WIRED-approved, techy feline toys (and furniture). Even if our cats rejected a peculiar product, we still examined wide construction, design, and worth to find whether it whitethorn beryllium useful for different kitties.

We person tested everything connected this database pinch our ain cats. All of these toys person an constituent to prosecute their earthy instincts, for illustration an interactive mat that mimics nan movements of prey, aliases a puzzle artifact truthful your feline has to usage their pecan-sized encephalon to get rewarded pinch delicious treats. Plus, expanding vertical abstraction pinch cat furniture is simply a awesome measurement to supply passive enrichment.

I'm a chopper feline mom specializing successful pet tech, and each of nan feline toys and furnishings successful this guideline are approved by some my and different staffers' (very spoiled) WIRED cats. Check retired our related guides for illustration nan Best Automatic Cat Litter Boxes, Best Automatic Cat Feeders, Best Cat Water Fountains, and Our Favorite Fancy Cat Furniture. More of a canine person? We've sewage you covered! See our Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog guide.

Updated October 2025: We've added The Purrgola, Mau Reiya, and Mau Ivy 3, and removed nan 5Strands Intolerances & Imbalances Test. We've updated prices and links throughout.

Cat Toys

This feline crowd pleaser is nan feline artifact I urge everyone buy. My highly spoiled cats seldom interact pinch a artifact for much than 5 minutes, but they play pinch this interactive feline artifact for hours connected end. It has 3 modes truthful cats ne'er get bored: Normal, Active, and Interactive, and it shuts disconnected automatically aft a play of clip not being used. It has a elemental USB charger (but lasts connected a complaint for astir six days), and a fastener that controls everything, positive it comes pinch a replacement wand successful lawsuit your cats are arsenic rough-and-tumble arsenic mine. Although this is simply a spot much than I for illustration to walk connected feline toys, it was nan champion acquisition I've made this year.

My cats spell bonkers for interactive play mats, and though this 1 didn't support their attraction arsenic overmuch arsenic nan play mat above, it's still a coagulated prime and provides them pinch options erstwhile it comes to human-free play. The rechargeable rolling shot lights up and moves erratically wrong nan mat, which held my cats' attraction for astir apt half an hour. I put this 1 distant for a fewer days earlier bringing it backmost retired to support interest. You tin moreover usage nan rolling shot arsenic a artifact extracurricular nan mat, but beware that it easy rolls nether furnishings and successful hard-to-reach corners. My biggest gripe is that nan rechargeable shot has a short artillery life and needs to beryllium charged aft each play session.

There's immoderate contention successful nan cat-owning organization astir whether lasers are excessively frustrating for cats, who whitethorn consciousness for illustration they tin ne'er “catch” nan “prey” (aka pouncing connected nan laser dot without really being capable to get it). My cats are some obsessed pinch laser toys, and it's a awesome measurement for them to get workout and support themselves entertained; I conscionable ever springiness them treats aft to reward them for a occupation good done. This artifact has 3 interactive modes and mobility sensor activation to further support cats' attention, and it lasts astir a time earlier needing to beryllium recharged.

One of my cats is an highly intelligent, high-energy feline who's besides very nutrient motivated, truthful it is simply a continual situation to find things to support him entertained—not to mention, I besides person to make judge he doesn't inhale his food. With this toy, you tin screen up nan treats pinch nan leaves aliases put them only successful nan cups for an other challenge—I emotion that this puzzle artifact is wholly customizable based connected your cat’s intelligence level. I person some nan Melon Madness and Buggin’ Out models, and moreover years later, my cats are still entertained by them. I telephone that a bully investment.

If you can't fig retired which benignant of artifact your cats will like, aliases you conscionable want them to beryllium refreshed each truthful often, Meowbox is simply a awesome subscription. You tin take to get deliveries each 1 aliases 2 months, and they see some treats and incredibly tiny toys pinch an arsenic tiny theme. Plus, for each container sold, nan institution gives nutrient to a shelter.

Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano's cats went nuts for this Ripple Rug. The bottommost portion stays successful spot while nan apical tin beryllium configured into different shapes for playing (or hunting), and you tin reshape it arsenic often arsenic you wish. The worldly feels for illustration felt, but is made from 24 post-consumer integrative bottles and tin withstand crisp claws.

All 3 of our cats emotion nan Kong Kickeroo, and it has been 1 of nan astir long-lived feline toys we person ever bought. Bodhi is our eldest feline and seldom plays pinch toys anymore, but moreover he can’t defy nan Kickeroo. It’s nan cleanable style to drawback and claw astatine pinch his backmost paws, and it has a tail, mixed textures, and crinkly worldly wrong pinch a touch of catnip. We besides tried nan smaller model, but it was quickly chewed through, while nan larger 1 has lasted for years. —Simon Hill

My overactive feline Basil is 1 of astir 40 percent of cats that don't respond to catnip, which is simply a bummer because he gets FOMO watching his sister spell wild. Luckily, both of my cats spell crazy for these elemental sticks. It helps them prosecute pinch earthy kicking instincts and redirects fierce chewing from my iPhone cord. I'd urge that anyone pinch cats who don't respond to catnip aliases person fierce chewing tendencies springiness these a try.

I’ve had 7 cats complete nan past 20 years, and each azygous 1 of them has been obsessed pinch this interactive toy. And not conscionable immoderate wand toy, this 1 specifically and its original feather attachment, which uses nan aforesaid swivel system arsenic a sportfishing lure to create activity done nan aerial that registers arsenic 100 percent authentic to cats. There are different attachments available, for illustration fur “mice,” but thing hits rather for illustration nan original feather cluster. Make judge you banal up connected refills, successful lawsuit your feline finds nan wand successful nan mediate of nan nighttime and has its measurement pinch it. (Speaking from experience.) —Kat Merck

This pet camera has nan expertise to power a laser via app, truthful you tin prosecute successful play pinch your feline moreover erstwhile away, and it intends to auto-engage erstwhile mobility is detected (but very often it didn't). Although I wish nan mobility sensors were a spot much delicate to prosecute successful play much often while I'm not home, it consistently kept my cats entertained, positive it was nosy to beryllium capable to play pinch them done nan app from afar.

Is it a toy? Is it a security camera? Is it a dainty dispenser? There's nary request to decide! While my cats were much funny than excited to play pinch this li'l robot pet camera, it did support their attention, which is simply a triumph successful my book. My feline Basil was obsessed pinch nan artifact attachment and loved uncovering different ways to proudly propulsion it disconnected and bring it to me. The app tin beryllium a spot glitchy, and nan robot is by nary intends smart, but it is simply a camera you tin move astir your location while you're away, and it'll roll, slam into objects, and sprout treats retired astatine your confused cats. At nan extremity of nan day, nan robot was awesome astatine keeping their attention, which is each we really want successful nan end.

Cat Trees and Furniture

More than conscionable a feline tree, nan modular Freestyle lets you customize your ain indoor aliases outdoor feline jungle gym from a bid of bamboo platforms, beds, ramps, hammocks, and scratchers. The platforms are sturdy capable to support cats of immoderate size aliases activity level, and nan poles tin accommodate ceilings up to 14 feet. The strategy is not inexpensive aliases particularly easy to put together, but my cats Circe and Scylla walk each azygous time connected theirs, making it worthy nan investment. —Kat Merck

This is 1 of nan astir celebrated items I person ever tested pinch my cats. Neighbors emotion it, transportation group remark connected it, and, of course, some my cats adore it. It’s ace easy to combine and install, provided you person a vertical sash window—just adjacent nan model connected it, and raised acrylic stakes successful nan backmost will support it successful place. (You besides person nan action to screw nan Purrgola to nan model frame, which is recommended, and/or unafraid nan model successful spot pinch window locks.) The thick, weatherproof acrylic—which is earnestly thick; it moreover survived a tumble retired of a first-story model during our test—is load-tested to 90 pounds, and nan cushion wrong has a soft, minky, machine-washable cover. The screens connected either broadside are stainless alloy mesh to forestall immoderate funny business. It’s sewage an acrylic doorway connected nan room broadside that pulls retired and down to close, but this portion is fragile; I’ve now surgery it doubly taking it successful and retired of nan window, but it glues backmost conscionable fine. I wouldn’t urge utilizing a Purrgola during a very rainy season, arsenic a small dense rainfall will travel successful nan broadside screens (though not a lot!), aliases wherever location are tons of bugs, arsenic it’s not an airtight fresh successful nan window. However, if your cats are indoor-only (and they should be!), this is simply a nosy and stylish measurement for them to interact safely pinch nan outdoors. Also statement that it whitethorn return cats a while to get utilized to it—it took some of excavation astir a week, but aft that, they were some successful it each day. —Kat Merck

No 1 does high-end feline furnishings rather for illustration Mau. WIRED has tested respective of Mau’s feline trees complete nan years, and each 1 has been a banger: objectively beautiful, sturdy, good made, and beloved by cats. The solid-oak Reiya isn’t 1 of Mau’s flashier designs, and successful fact, I’m amazed by really unassuming it looks online—in person, it sounds arsenic a midcentury activity of art, Hans Wegner-esque pinch rounded edges and a glowing oak finish. Everyone who visits our location has commented connected it. I admit I was a small worried astir nan baskets being clawed aliases unraveled, but they’re integrative rattan. The woolly Oeko-Tex cushion covers zip disconnected for washing, and for younger, much playful kitties, location are rings connected nan underside of nan apical level for dangling white, green, aliases pinkish optional pom poms ($12). The scratching pad is the difficult benignant of sisal material, which my cats don’t love, but they quickly warmed up to it pinch immoderate training. In immoderate case, a Mau feline character is an investment, but you get what you salary for, and this is apt nan past feline character you will request to bargain successful your lifetime. If you’re not sure, Mau offers a 45-day proceedings play and one-year warranty. —Kat Merck

It's beautiful clear that nan WIRED reviews squad loves Mau furniture. It's sleek, good made, and looks for illustration a high-end portion of furnishings alternatively than nan ugly, cheaply-made feline trees of yesteryear. This portion is solid, pinch a dense wood base, 2 sturdy sisal-rope-lined trunk pieces that screw together, 3 woven baskets that screw into place, and 3 super-soft fur pillows. Plus, each of nan pieces are replaceable, truthful that if thing succumbs to deterioration and tear complete time, you won't person to propulsion distant nan full tree. The fur cushions are instrumentality washable too, but make judge you publication nan cleaning directions to guarantee they past arsenic agelong arsenic possible. Mau has free shipping (in nan contiguous US and Canada), a 45-day return policy, and a one-year warranty. My cats usage this character each day, and I'm happy to person this stylish portion proudly connected show successful my surviving room.

Cats for illustration to jump and climb immoderate they can, truthful a feline character should thief support them occupied and disconnected your mantel aliases breakable glassware. Our favourite feline trees are made from materials that tin beryllium scratched up. (We besides person a guideline to nan fanciest feline furnishings we've tried if you really want nan afloat scoop.) When you unrecorded successful a mini apartment, everything you decorate pinch matters because it's each connected display—nothing gets hidden erstwhile you only person 1 to 3 rooms. Some of america want our cat's furnishings to match, too. Mau's Cento is 1 of erstwhile WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano's favorites. If you tin spend it, your cats will convey you.

Mau is known for its high-end and tasteful feline furnishings (including our Mau picks above), and its Kona broadside array fits correct into nan lineup pinch a midcentury mod vibe and scratching pad discreetly tucked into nan back. The solid-wood array is very dense and well-made, pinch options for an oak aliases walnut finish. It didn’t dissuade my cats from scratching nan chair it’s adjacent to, but it does travel pinch a container of catnip to thief pinch encouragement. This array is celebrated and often sold out, but you tin motion up connected Mau’s website to beryllium notified of nan adjacent restock. —Kat Merck

Our favourite model perch lets cats responsibly interact pinch nan extracurricular world. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano loved these model seats because they are a awesome measurement for cats to bask successful nan sun and support a watchful oculus connected nan vicinity while safely indoors. They're easy to instal too, pinch sticky strips that connect to your windowsill that tin clasp up to 40 pounds. You tin besides nail nan guidelines into nan model frame, and location are moreover heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are removable and tin beryllium machine-washed. Heads up, you'll request a windowsill astatine slightest 2 inches heavy to decently support it.

This feline furniture has a representation foam sculpted-contour mattress guidelines pinch a ace cozy (removable and washable) nano heating and volcanic-particle-infused cover. It has a fastener connected nan broadside pinch different power settings, including timed heatings. It has optional self-heating earthy herb pad attachments for further symptom alleviation and to thief trim arthritic inflammation, which is particularly perfect for elder cats. The sculpted furniture is specially contoured to supply orthopedic support for nan cat's joints. Pro tip: Put nan furniture connected a higher aboveground aliases location nan cats already lounge. Cats emotion to beryllium disconnected nan ground, and erstwhile I moved this connected apical of my broadside desk, some of my cats laic successful it constantly.

I've been getting Instagram ads for this stylish furniture that attaches to your table for truthful long, I had to cave and spot if it was worthy nan hype. Especially since I person a very needy feline who loves to lounge connected my laptop while I WFH. This furniture is easy to assemble, pinch an limb that screws into nan woody guidelines and a screwed vise to support nan furniture successful spot connected nan desk. It has adjustable vertical height, and nan guidelines besides rotates. Just make judge you measurement nan aboveground you want to connect it to earlier you buy. My table was excessively thick, and my broadside array was excessively thin—luckily they sent further planks to adhd into nan screwed vise to make it sturdier, but I haven't recovered nan purrfect spot for it yet.

Other Essentials We Keep Going Back To

Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy for $6: This artifact has been nan azygous astir loved artifact by each of erstwhile WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano's cats.

Playology Feather Mice for $17: Did you cognize location are “bird” cats and “mouse” cats? Most cats really prefer to hunt circumstantial types of prey, and I’ve seen this play retired successful my ain house. Even though they’re litter mates, 1 of my indoor cats intelligibly prefers to leap astatine flying things (birds) and nan different likes to hide and leap retired astatine things down debased (mice). They some bask these toys—they’re fuzzy for illustration mice but feathered for illustration birds, pinch immoderate catnip for added interest. I urge putting them distant erstwhile playtime is vanished to support liking fresh, and to region nan doorbell if you don’t want to perceive jingling successful nan mediate of nan night. —Kat Merck

Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy for $4: This absurdly elemental artifact is simply a inexpensive crowd pleaser. It's conscionable immoderate rolls of cardboard that measurement down a springy alloy wire. The erratic movements are akin to bugs flying, and my cats ever actively play pinch it.

Lick Mat for $8: A lick mat is simply a awesome measurement to adhd enrichment and stimulation—plus, it helps them beforehand slow eating (and little throwing up). I besides person this group of 2 tiny fish-shaped lick mats ($17) for each of my kitties, and it's a nosy measurement to springiness them a dainty while promoting slow feeding and stimulation. I put Churu puree pinch immoderate added h2o to thief sneakily adhd much hydration to their snacks.