Are you looking for the best toys for indoor cats? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We put seven to the test by our team of experts (and their furry friends) to help you find the right choice.
If you’re wondering whether cat play is that important and if they really need toys, the answer is yes! Experts recommend playing with them two to three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes. The best interactive cat toys provide your feline with essential stimulation and strengthen your bond together. Regular play also helps to reduce unwanted behavior, like aggression and can prevent boredom and anxiety in cats.
If your cat stays inside, you might find it trickier to entertain them. However, having a good selection of toys can make things easier. Whether they’re using their natural foraging instincts with the best cat puzzle feeder or activating their hunting skills with the best laser toys for cats – play is excellent for their mental and physical health. Here are the best indoor cat toys in 2024:
The best toys for indoor cats [year}
The best indoor cat toy overall
Type: Ball toy
A snail-shaped toy that will keep your indoor cat active. Not only does it have LED lights to attract your feline, but it also has two different speed settings that you can adjust.
You won't need to worry about it falling over or knocking into obstacles as it has a smart auto-flip design. It's also made with "paw-friendly PVC" and works on all surfaces.
Our tester Norah says it's "amazing" and is perfect for cats who love to chase. Thanks to the long-standing battery life, this toy kept her "typically needy" cat engaged for hours. The only downside? The material isn't the best quality and the antennae broke off within the first couple of days.
Norah says: "The snail runs around, changing direction when it bumps into something. [It's a] fully independent toy that engages our cat and helps her get healthy exercise. She loves it, I would highly recommend it for any cat owner who lives in an apartment and needs to engage their cat."
Reasons to buy: Good battery life, engaging
Reasons to avoid: Material isn't the best quality
The best runner up toy for indoor cats
Type: Teaser toy
An exciting teaser toy that will keep your indoor cat active. They’ll love pouncing after the rolled cardboard at the end of the wire – it will have them running about your home for hours. We also love the fact that it’s under $10, making it super affordable! As well as being good for your cat (and your bank account), it’s kind to the planet too, and is made from non-toxic materials in a solar-powered factory.
Our tester Allie gave it to her cat Iris and says it’s now her favorite toy. She’s usually fussy with what she plays with, but Allie has “never seen her go so crazy [as with] this one.” She also notes that it’s long-lasting and durable, despite being dragged all about the house and the constant play.
She says: “I've never had a cat that doesn't love a cat dancer. This is a super simple toy with a great play payoff. I can literally find nothing wrong with this product”
Reasons to buy: Entertaining, durable, affordable, eco-friendly
Reasons to avoid: Wire might be a safety hazard for your cat’s eyes
The best AI cat toy for indoor cats
Type: Robot toy
This robotic cat toy has lots of exciting features and doubles up as a treat dispenser. After downloading the app, you can control where it goes and watch your cat’s reaction on the built-in camera. It also plays noises, like meowing or barking, and you can talk to your cat using the voice chat microphone.
Our tester Megan says: “I thought this toy would be a hassle to set up, but it was actually very simple. I love seeing my cats on the camera, it’s hilarious (I think I had more fun than they did!) It’s great that you can download the videos and watch them back. It definitely engages my cats, but they don’t really chase after it.”
Reasons to buy: Interactive, fun for humans too, built-in camera and microphone
Reasons to avoid: Doesn’t encourage your cats to stay active
The best treat dispensing toy for indoor cats
Type: Treat dispensing toy
There are lots of reasons to love this treat dispensing toy. Not only will it encourage your indoor cat to stay active, but it can also help with weight management. You can control how much food it dispenses by adjusting the hole.
Our tester Laura recommends it for cats who eat too much or too fast. She loves the fact that it doubles up as a regular ball when you close the holes, and thinks the concept is a great idea. However, she struggled to work out how to open it and said it was too big for her kitten.
She also says: "[My kitten] would push the ball just enough to roll out a piece of food without having to actually play with it. I think this product is better in theory than practice. But it still might be good for cats who need food as encouragement."
Reasons to buy: Adjustable dispensing hole, doubles up as a regular ball, affordable
Reasons to avoid: Too big for kittens, hard to set up
The best automated ball for indoor cats
Type: Ball toy
A self-rolling ball features engaging sounds and color-changing LED lights, avoiding obstacles as it rolls and bounces. It automatically moves depending on your cat's actions, making it super engaging. Cheerble has three different settings to suit every mood and personality, as well as a play and rest cycle.
Our tester Georgia says it's a great distraction for her kitten who usually climbs all over her. Since getting the toy, she's been "running about all over the place", so she recommends it for kittens and playful cats.
She adds: "It’s loud on hard floor, but if you’re leaving it out while you’re out then that’s not an issue."
Reasons to buy: Easy to charge with microUSB, soft material.
Reasons to avoid: Designed for hard surfaces and short pile carpet.
The best puzzle toy for indoor cats
Type: Puzzle toy
Does your cat eat their food too fast? If the answer is yes, then it's worth investing in a puzzle feeder like this one. It helps to prevent vomiting and is also good for weight management.
If you've got an indoor cat, then you might find it hard to think of new ways to mentally stimulate them. This toy is a great way to do that, activating their natural foraging instincts when they can't go outside. To reveal the food, they have to spin the three layers round.
With over 80 different compartments, this toy is sure to get your cat's brain ticking and will keep them entertained. Whilst most puzzle toys are only suitable for dry food, you can put wet food in this one too.
We are currently in the process of testing this product and will add more notes soon.
Reasons to buy: Helps with weight management, affordable, activates foraging instincts
Reasons to avoid: Might be time-consuming to clean
The best track toy for indoor cats
Type: Track toy
This colorful cat toy is great for mental stimulation, thanks to the rotating ball that spins around the track. It also includes a catnip toy that will keep your fur friend engaged and excited.
Our tester Helen says it provides lots of stimulation for her cats and that they’re intrigued by the catnip toy and ball. “[My] cats have played with this every day so far [... and] are happy when it comes out [...] in the morning.”
She notes that this might not be the best for dextrous or aggressive players who tip the toy over, as the middle ball escapes easily.
Reasons to buy: Entertaining, includes catnip toy.
Reasons to avoid: The middle ball falls out easily.
How we tested the best toys for indoor cats
To ensure your cat is healthy and happy, they need to have a good selection of toys to play with. As well as improving their physical health by keeping them active, it helps with stress and anxiety in cats. Regular play will also strengthen your relationship; building trust and communication.
With so many options on the market, it's challenging to find the best toys for indoor cats. As pet parents ourselves, we know what that's like - and we also know what you're looking for. We gave every one of these toys to our team of experts, who put them to the test on their cats. Here's what they looked out for:
Suitability: Just like humans, every cat is different. That's why we included a variety of toys to suit different personalities. Whether your cat has lots of energy and loves to run about, or needs a little motivation with food - we've rounded up a great selection to choose from.
Enjoyment: What's the point in spending money on toys that your cat won't enjoy? We ensured that the toys were engaging, stimulating, and something that they actually wanted to play with.
Affordability: Not everyone wants to fork out hundreds of dollars on cat toys - and we totally get it! High-quality toys don't need to cost the earth, and we're pleased to say that all of these are under $30. We also included some budget options in the mix for under $15.
Whilst we recommend all of these cat toys, there's always room for improvement. Here at PetsRadar, we're transparent about the things that could be better and make sure we include these in our testing notes. That way, there are no unwanted surprises for you.
Photos from our testers
How to choose the best toys for indoor cats
Cat toys are relatively inexpensive, so the best way to find them is to just try things out and see what works for your cat and its temperament.
Be led by how your cat behaves. If they enjoy running around your home, something like a cat ball is best, as they encourage your cat to sprint and pounce.
You should also think about how much you want to be involved in play. Most vets recommend you play with your cat for 15 to 20 minutes, two to three times a day.
If you don’t exercise your cat daily, this can lead to disinterest and obesity, which can have a detrimental effect on your cat’s physical and mental health. A healthy cat is happier and more affectionate.
We suggest playing with cats yourself as much as possible. As tempting as it is to leave toys lying around the home for them to interact with, cats form better bonds with their owners through play. Plus, they lose interest in items that they see frequently, so tidying them away, rotating toys, and playing with your cat directly will always be more exciting and rewarding for them than just leaving them to their own devices.
How do you keep an indoor cat entertained?
If you have an indoor cat, you might find it difficult to find new ways to keep them stimulated. We asked Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, an expert vet, for her top tips:
1. Give them a scratching post
"It’s normal for cats to want to scratch, not only to keep their claws in good shape but also to scent mark. An indoor cat won’t have access to trees or a garden fence for this purpose, so make sure they have scratch mats or scratch posts to fulfill these natural behaviors," she says.
2. Give them a cat tree
"Cats also enjoy looking down on their territory and keeping half an eye on it whilst relaxing. An indoor cat should have access to a cat tree or some other way of getting up high, so try and incorporate this into your living space where possible," she says.
3. Mix up the toys
Dr. MacMillan says: "A variety of toys will help to keep an indoor cat amused. Try limiting and rotating which toys are out for your cat at any one time as this will help prevent boredom.
"Puzzle toys or feeders can be a great way of exercising your cat mentally and physically. Instead of putting treats in them (which can add additional calories and lead to weight gain), [...] use some of [your] cat’s daily kibble allowance in there instead. This helps them work for their dinner!"
4. Provide some outdoor space if you can
She says: "If you can, build an enclosed outdoor space for your cat (e.g. a catio), then this will help greatly with their mental wellbeing. We all benefit from some fresh air and being able to watch the world go by, so it is well worth providing for your cat if you can."
If you're looking for some catio ideas, check out this feature. Or, if you're wondering 'Why do cats chase lasers? check out this feature.
Megan Milstead is Staff Writer on PetsRadar and is a lifelong animal lover. As a pet parent of two cats (Chilli and Nala), she understands the importance of cat play for their health and happiness. That's why she's committed to helping you find the best toys for your indoor cats. She graduated from the University of Westminster with a degree in BA Journalism and joined the PetsRadar family last year.
Rebecca is a vet surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. She enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation). She writes on various feline and canine topics, including behavior, nutrition, and health.
