Life can get busy, which is why having the best automated cat toys can be a real lifesaver. While they shouldn't replace interactive playtime with your feline altogether, they're super handy for keeping your kitty entertained when you have other things to do.
In comparison to the best cat toys, electronic ones can be a little more expensive, which is why it's important to do your research first. As someone who tests pet products for a living and has had cats for over 20 years, I have a great understanding of what makes a good toy and have rounded up my six top picks below for all types of cats and owners.
When curating this list, I looked for toys that stimulate natural behaviors and keep your cat engaged – but without breaking the bank! Below, you'll find a rolling ball for active cats, a mouse toy for high-prey-drive cats, and a teaser toy which is my top choice for all. These toys have been tested by our review panel and received their stamp of approval, so you can feel confident they will be worth your money.
Best automated cat toys
Best automated cat toy overall
This exciting teaser toy spins a feather round in the air, encouraging your cat to chase after it. You can customize the speed controls and program it for a certain amount of time.
Best automated cat toy runner-up
Mimicking the hide-and-seek movement that makes your cat want to pounce and play, simply turn on this toy and watch as they try to catch the unpredictable and cunning mouse.
Best automated cat toy with catnip
This budget-friendly cat toy is motion-activated and when the stomach is touched, it wriggles around like a real fish would. It also has a refillable catnip pocket to make things even more exciting.
Best remote control automated cat toy
This is the coolest toy we've ever tested; it can be driven round your home via a remote control app. It has a toy attachment for your cat to play with, you can dispense treats at the click of a button, and talk to your cat via the two-way communication and camera features.
Best rolling automated cat toy
Give your cat this ball and they'll be entertained for hours as it taps into their instinct to hunt prey. It's motion-activated and reacts to your cat's movements, with a fuzzy exterior that's soft on paws.
Best automated cat toy for high-prey drive cats
This peek-a-boo cat toy has a simple concept – a couple of mice pop out of two sides at random intervals, sometimes coming all the way out and sometimes just poking their nose through to keep your cat fully engaged.
The best automated cat toys we recommend
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Best automated cat toy overall
If you're looking for a fun way to encourage your cat to exercise more, the SmartyKat Loco Motion Electronic Cat Toy is our top pick. Most cats love teaser toys, but this one goes a step further by automatically moving around in unpredictable patterns.
This battery-powered device has two different speed settings, allowing you to customize it to your cat's preferences and switch things up if they get bored. You can program it for up to two hours of continuous play, making it a great choice for solo sessions and allowing you to get on with your own tasks while they have fun.
Our tester Janet says: "It usually keeps one or both of my cats engaged while it's moving. It's like an automated wand toy and they interact with it that way, chasing and pouncing the wand which has feathers on the end. Additionally, Rufio likes to detach the wand to play fetch.
"The base of the toy is quite durable. The wand is also fairly sturdy, but the feathers on the end take a beating. There are replacement wands you can get and we are on our third. The noise is a bit like a whirring motor, not loud enough to scare them or drown out the humans' conversations.
"My cats have stuffed mice and crinkly balls and plenty of other toys to keep them busy and entertained, but when I push the button on this one, they typically drop what they're doing to play with it. The toy was a gift from my sister and it is definitely one we appreciate!"
If you think the noise with bother you, the Cheerble M1 Smart Interactive Cat Toy has the option to be quieter if you put it on 'gentle' mode.
Best automated cat toy runner-up
Our freelance writer, Kathryn, is a huge fan of this toy after trying it out with her cat, Roxy. She says it's been a game-changer for independent play, keeping her cat entertained for around 10 minutes when she needs to get on with other things.
Switch it on, and the little mouse will dip in and out of the toy, encouraging your cat to swat and pounce after it for mental and physical stimulation. Kathryn was initially concerned about Roxy's paws getting trapped inside, but thankfully, it has a paw-friendly design, so you don't have to worry.
There are two different speed settings to choose from to suit your cat's play style, but Roxy likes the slow option best. Unlike other automated cat toys we've tested (like the Petchain Mouse), this one works well on all surfaces, which Kathryn was very happy about.
This toy is heaps of fun, but Kathryn notes that it does get a little repetitive after a while, so if you have a cat who is easily bored, you might want to opt for the Enabot ROLA PetPal instead!
Best automated cat toy with catnip
Catit Groovy Fish is a motion-activated toy that's sure to keep your cat engaged. When pressed on the stomach, the fish springs into action and wriggles about just like the real thing – perfect for tapping into their natural hunting instincts!
The padded cover is soft to the touch and features a special pocket where you can insert catnip, making it even more irresistible for your kitty to play with. You'll receive a tube of catnip with the toy, which is excellent value for money considering it's under $20! I've been testing this toy for months and still have three-quarters of the tube left.
You won't need to worry about buying batteries – simply recharge it using the USB-C cable that comes with it. The battery life is pretty good, lasting for 250 movement cycles before it needs a recharge, and I think I've only had to do this around two to three times in total.
While the manufacturer says there are three different movement modes to choose from, they all look pretty similar to me, though this certainly hasn't a deal breaker.
The toy is really easy to set up and use – simply turn on the switch, tap the belly, and you're good to go! Sometimes the noise can get a little bit annoying, so I’m happy it has an on/off switch, allowing my cats to enjoy it with or without the automated feature. If this is a deal breaker, I'd recommend the Cheerble M1 Smart Interactive Cat Toy instead, which doesn't make a noise.
My cat Chilli comes back to this toy time and time again – it's definitely the best one I've ever given him. He's the sort of cat who gets bored of toys really quickly, but he plays with this one a few times a week and has had it for months now!
Best remote control automated cat toy
Enabot ROLA PetPal is a robot companion that does it all. Whether you want to use it as a cat toy, a treat dispenser, or a pet cam, it can do all three – and it even has a two-way talk feature!
To get started, you'll need to download a free app. Once connected to the robot, you can control its movements and actions through your phone. This might sound a little intimidating, but I promise it's easier than it seems (and that's coming from someone who hates reading instructions!)
There are lots of fun features to explore, like a laser for your cat to chase, a treat dispenser, and a camera to watch your kitty play. You have to buy the toy attachment separately, but for $49, I don't think it's worth it and is slightly disappointing that it's not already included. Instead, I recommend DIYing your own toy attachment by tying on a cheaper teaser toy (like this one from Amazon).
When you're in separate rooms, you can talk to your pet using the two-way communication feature, and watch their reaction on the camera. You can even play pre-recorded messages and other noises, like duck squeaks and meows.
While this toy is a bit pricey compared to others, I've had so much fun with it – it truly is a unique purchase. However, if the cost is putting you off, I'd recommend the SmartyKat Loco Motion Electronic Cat Toy instead, which costs considerably less.
Best rolling automated cat toy
This toy is super convenient – simply charge for one hour using a USB cable and it will provide up to four hours of play.
The ball – given its natural shape – can roll 360-degrees but it does so erratically to keep your cat alert. It has three interaction modes (normal, passive and gentle) and when it's turned on, it will automatically move, shake or bounce depending on the mode it's been set to.
The surface of the Cheerbe cat ball is made of synthetic fiber that's furry to the touch, making it comfortable to play with. There are three modes to choose from and we love that one of them offers 10 minutes of active play and then goes in to rest mode for 30 minutes to ensure your cat has a good play-rest balance and doesn't become overstimulated.
Thanks to the built-in intelligent motion sensor, the Cheerble light up ball is able to reverse itself and move away when hitting an obstacle or tight spots, so you don't need to worry about it becoming stuck, and while we don't recommend it for use on carpets, it works beautifully on wooden flooring.
Our tester Georgia says: "It’s been great for Annie because it keeps her busy while I’m working and serves as a great distraction. She’s been running around all over the place, so I’d recommend this Cheerble for kittens and playful cats.
"It’s loud on hard flooring, but if you’re leaving it out while you’re out of the house then that’s not an issue. It's easy to charge – I love that it’s not battery – with a micro USB as everyone has one of those chargers hanging around."
If you're looking for a toy that works well on all surfaces, the SmartyKat Loco Motion Electronic Cat Toy is your best option.
Best automated cat toy for high-prey drive cats
From the moment we got this toy out of the box, we were very impressed by its build. Although it uses an abundance of plastic, it's sturdy, well-created and has no sharp edges which makes it a toy that is sure to last while also proving to be very safe.
Our admiration for the Cheese Teaser extended to its use. Although the batteries are not included (which seems typical with many cat toys), once we located a trio of AAs and inserted them, it was clear our cats were in for a good time.
To save battery power and, more importantly, to prevent your kitty from becoming overstimulated and over-familiar with the toy to the point of boredom, each session lasts for between just 10 and 15 minutes. If you decide to program the device, then you can have it set off every couple of hours for that length of time, and we would have no problems leaving a cat unsupervised with this one.
PetSafe has really thought this toy through; the rubber feet prevent it from slipping around when a cat is attempting to claw at the mice. And, since the button needs to be firmly held down to turn on and off, your cat is going to struggle to accidentally activate and deactivate the device, putting you in control of when it gets used.
What's more, none of this comes at a particularly high price (under $27), certainly not when you consider how well it's made. As a bonus, you get a two-year manufacturer's warranty and only if we were being particularly picky would we express a need for a plug option and some sort of smartphone integration. If that's important to you, we'd opt for the Enabot ROLA PetPal instead.
Our tester Allie said: "My cats love watching the mice poke in and out of the toy. It's good for cats] who need more mental stimulation - or cats who are always getting into things, as this toy keeps them nicely distracted. We use it to get them out of rooms they shouldn’t be in - they recognize the sound when we turn it on and go right to it."
Other automated cat toys we tested
Catit PIXI Spinner
The Catit PIXI Spinner spins in circles and drops treats on the floor as a tasty reward. It features an enticing feather for your cat to chase and a light for nighttime play. While Chilli and Nala had fun with this toy at first, they lost interest over time, which is why I downvoted it from the top six.
Petchain Interactive Cat Toy
If your cat loves to chase after mice, then they'll love playing with the Petchain Interactive Cat Toy. I've been testing this for months, and while it does keep my cats entertained for four minutes or so, the movements get a little bit predictable. I'd love this if it was remote controlled so it wouldn't crash into furniture and move in unrealistic patterns. However, even if my cats don't chase it, it keeps them transfixed.
How we tested the best automated cat toys
To find the best automated cat toys, I spent hours researching different products on the market and consulted our pet parent panel to see if they had any recommendations. After reading customer reviews and checking the toys were from a reputable brand, I gave them to our testers to try out with their cats.
To ensure accuracy and consistency, I asked our testers the same set of questions:
- Does the toy move in a way that keeps your cat engaged?
- How does your cat react to the toy’s movement patterns?
- What is the noise level like?
- How well does the toy handle different surfaces?
- What's the battery life like?
- Is the toy durable enough for repeated play?
I was very particular about what made the cut for this guide, and out of all of the toys we tested, only six made it in. I also updated this page to remove outdated products where I believe there's now a better option.
To learn more about our review process, read our dedicated page on how we test.
Our review panel
How to choose the best automated cat toys
When choosing your automated cat toy there are some important things that you need to consider:
1. Personal preferences
First, it is important to remember that different cats like different things. While some might go crazy for toys that make erratic movements, other cats will prefer the mental stimulation of a hide-and-seek toy. Try and identify what games your cat likes to play with you and see if you can find something similar in an automated form.
2. Toys that stimulate natural behaviors
The best automated cat toys tend to be the ones that stimulate natural behaviors, which for cats means hunting! Cats enjoy toys that act like prey – this means sudden or unpredictable movements or toys that have a hide-and-seek feature. The reward in these games is the ability to be able to catch the prey. Toys that feature lasers can lead to frustration as there is nothing for your pet to physically get hold of at the end.
3. Physical ability
Factor your cat’s age and fitness levels into your decision-making process. An elderly, arthritic, or overweight cat may not be able to get much enjoyment out of a very fast-paced toy, leading to frustration and disinterest.
4. Safety
The other thing you need to consider when selecting your automated toy is safety. Choose a toy that comes from a reputable retailer, is robustly made, and features a secure battery compartment. This should have screws to ensure the compartment never comes open by itself, which is vital when this toy is being used by unsupervised cats.
5. Cost and ease of use
Automated cat toys will have different price points depending on their design and complexity. Equally, some will require batteries or charging, which can run out at inopportune moments. These are all things to think about when making your purchase decision.
If you're feeling unsure of which toy to pick, here's what I recommend for each type of cat:
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Best for | Cats who need more exercise | Cats with high prey drive | Catnip lovers | Cats who like interactive playtime | Cats who love to chase | Cats with high prey drive |
Will an automated cat toy keep my cat entertained while I’m out?
An automated cat toy can be a useful tool for cats that are home alone. It can provide mental stimulation as well as encourage physical activity, which is important to keep your cat happy.
Cats may not play with their toy endlessly (many cats sleep 15 hours or more a day!), but it does allow them to express natural behaviors should they choose to use it. Remember that nothing can replace the social aspect of playing with you, so make sure you give your cat lots of attention when you are home again.
Are automated cat toys good for cats?
It is generally agreed that yes, reputable automatic cat toys are. Whilst they do not replace you and your interaction with your cat (usually their favorite form of cat play and connection) they provide a myriad of mental stimulation, playful fun and opportunities to keep cats satisfied. They're super handy if your cat wants to play all the time!
Both physical and mental activity are required daily to consistently maintain a happy, stress free and healthy cat. As well as that, automatic toys help to maintain movement, healthy joints, ideal weight and, if they are on a weight reduction diet, support weight loss. They also prevent you from stressing and worrying about them being alone as you work, run errands, and generally live life.
You should tailor the type of toy to your cat's personality too. “It is also important to consider which natural behavior it is encouraging and what your cat prefers." explains Dr. Lily Richards. So, if you cat likes stalking and playing with prey then they may prefer a teaser toy, while cats who like to pounce might enjoy a pop-up toy more.
Dr. Richards recommends keeping a variety of toys on hand too, as "offering a range of toys that encourage different play types, stimulating both body and mind, is a good idea.”
We all love playing with our feline friends, but we can’t keep them entertained all the time. As Dr. Lily Richards explains, “Cats are natural hunters, active, and playful animals but can get bored easily.”
Bored cats are more prone to undesirable behaviors, such as furniture scratching, so keeping their minds and bodies active is a necessity and automated cat toys are perfect for this. They’re also a great way to keep your kitty fit and active, contributing towards healthy weight loss for cats, which can be a struggle for house cats especially.
Do cats get bored of automatic cat toys?
Cats can quickly get bored of doing the same thing over and over, just like us, and this includes playing with the same toys. Automated toys can be more stimulating than regular cat toys, but that won’t stop your furry friend from tiring of their high-tech toys after a while.
Overexposure is the main reason that cats get bored of toys, and while an automated toy might keep them engaged for longer, they aren’t immune to this issue. Dr. Richards notes that an “abundance of prey can lead to a lazy cat”, noting that an automatic toy that’s always available, or too many choices of toys can lead to them feeling overwhelmed or even apathetic.
There are some tricks you can use to keep your kitty entertained though. “Toy rotation is a useful tool to ensure that buying new toys to entertain our feline friends doesn’t get out of hand”, explains our expert vet Dr. Lily Richards. “Simply put away some of their toys and bring them back out a couple of months later, it will be like they are brand new all over again.”
Want more recommendations? Read our guides on the best catnip cat toys, best interactive cat toys, and best cat toys for indoor cats.
Megan has been Staff Writer on PetsRadar since 2023, where she creates buying guides and reviews to help readers make informed purchases. Having grown up with cats all her life, she's tested her fair share of cat toys, and knows what to look out for when it comes to testing. She currently lives with two tabbies, Chilli and Nala, who helped try out some of the products in this guide. She graduated from the University of Westminster with a degree in Journalism. If you have any questions about the toys featured in this guide, her emails are always open.
Dr. Lily Richards is a vet with 11 years of experience in farm, equine, small animal and exotic patient care. After running a busy clinic she took a step into client education focusing on getting the right information to those that need it and are searching for help and advice from professionals online.
Edited by Georgia Guerin.
Recent updates
We regularly review our buying guides to ensure the products are relevant, available and up to date. This page was last updated in February 2025 by Megan Milstead.
