Best Toys for Indoor Cats (Matched to Your Cat’s Prey Style)
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
An indoor cat still has a hunter’s instincts, but nothing to hunt. The right toys give those instincts somewhere to go: something to stalk, chase, pounce on and catch. This page explains how to pick toys your cat will actually play with, based on its “prey preference”, then lists our picks for the main types of play.
The short version: for most indoor cats, start with a wand toy you move yourself, add one toy your cat can use alone, rotate toys so they stay new, and play every day.
How we wrote this: the advice on this page comes from the Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, a cat behaviorist writing for Cats.com and Vetstreet, each linked where it is used. Product facts come from the makers and from published reviews on each product page. We have not tested these products ourselves.
Why indoor cats need toys
The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative explains that cats’ ancestors had to catch many small animals a day to survive, so they had to be ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Indoor cats do not need to hunt, but they still like to, and having things to stalk and pounce on keeps them happy, healthy and active. Without variety, Ohio State says, cats get bored, sleep most of the day and may put on weight.
Ohio State lists these reasons to play with your cat every day (Ohio State):
- it builds your bond with your cat
- it helps behavior and health and lowers the risk of obesity
- a cat that is active in the day tends to sleep longer at night and bother you less
- it burns off the energy behind “wild frenzies”, especially in the evening
- it teaches your cat to play with toys, not hands, so it is less likely to play-bite
Find your cat’s prey preference
Most cats prefer to hunt certain creatures. Ohio State suggests a short test: move bird-like toys (feathers, things that fly through the air, chirping toys), then mouse-like toys (fur, furry mice, balls moving on the ground), then bug-like toys (a string with a knot, a laser, a treat tossed across the floor), and watch which your cat follows.
| If your cat likes | It prefers | Try |
|---|---|---|
| Feathers and things in the air | Birds | Feather wand toys |
| Furry toys moving on the ground | Mice | Furry mice, balls, toys dragged on a line |
| Tiny objects with lots of movement | Bugs | A knotted string, a laser, treats tossed across the floor |
Source: Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative. Ohio State notes many cats enjoy more than one kind of prey, so if your cat loses interest, try a new toy of the same type, then a different type.
Our picks
Go Cat Da Bird Feather Wand
Best interactive toy. The Da Bird is a feather lure on a 36 inch rod. When you swing it, the feathers flutter and whir like a bird in flight, according to the maker. Ohio State says wand toys let cats use their natural quickness to catch something while playing with you (Ohio State), and the cat behaviorist writing for Cats.com names the Da Bird range among the best rod toys. Cats.com also found the long, light rod gets cats leaping, but saw the feathers wear down with rough play. Replacement lures are sold separately.
Best for: bird-loving cats and a daily play session with you. Skip if: you need a toy to leave out; put it away after play.
Pawaboo 4-Way Collapsible Cat Tunnel
Best for chasing and ambush games. The Pawaboo tunnel has four exits, crinkly fabric walls, a peephole and a hanging bell ball, and it folds flat when you are done. Ohio State suggests hiding a toy and making it move so your cat has to dig for it (Ohio State), and a tunnel is an easy place to do that with a wand. PetsRadar liked watching cats pop in and out of the exits, but the tubes are only about 10 inches across, so it is a tight fit for large cats.
Best for: kittens, young cats and cats that play together. Skip if: your cat is large.
Catstages Kitty Lickin’ Layers Treat Puzzle
Best for time alone. Ohio State suggests filling toys with treats so a cat feels it is hunting and catching its own meal while you are away (Ohio State), and Vetstreet notes that food puzzles make cats use mental and physical energy and help keep them from getting bored (Vetstreet). The Kitty Lickin’ Layers has three layers with more than 70 small compartments that your cat licks and paws treats out of. It is rated intermediate difficulty and is dishwasher safe.
Best for: cats home alone during the day. Skip if: your cat gives up quickly on puzzles; start with an easier one.
Feandrea 37.8-Inch Multi-Level Cat Tree
Best for climbing and perching. Vetstreet points out that outdoor cats climb, perch up high and hide to rest, and suggests cat trees to give indoor cats those options (Vetstreet). The Feandrea cat tree stands 37.8 inches tall on an 18.9 inch square base, with a cave, a basket, a padded perch and sisal posts for scratching. It comes with an anti-tip kit, which you should install. PetsRadar picked it as the best medium-sized cat tree.
Best for: apartments and smaller rooms. Skip if: you want a floor-to-ceiling tower.
Simple toys that work too
Not every toy has to come from a store. Ohio State lists crumpled paper balls, ping pong balls, cardboard tubes and a sock stuffed with cotton balls and a little catnip, and suggests a paper bag or cardboard box you scratch on the outside so your cat tries to catch you (Ohio State). Ohio State’s rule is to let your cat play with anything as long as it is safe for it.
How to play with an indoor cat
- Play every day. The behaviorist writing for Cats.com suggests at least 15 minutes twice a day, and short, frequent bouts for indoor cats. Ohio State suggests a set time each day, so your cat looks forward to it.
- Move toys like prey. Let the toy dangle, then drag it slowly away from your cat, not toward it. Let your cat catch it now and then, so the hunt ends in a win (Cats.com).
- Never use your hands as toys. Ohio State warns that a cat taught to play with fingers will learn to bite and scratch them. Stop if play gets too rough and start again when your cat is calm.
- Rotate toys. Cats get bored with the same toy, so leave a few out and swap them every so often, and bring out the favorites only once a day or once a week (Ohio State). If your cat sleeps next to a toy, Ohio State suggests letting it keep that one.
- Use a laser with care. Ohio State says never to point a laser at the eyes of people or animals. Cats.com adds that a laser should not be the only toy, as chasing a dot it can never catch can frustrate a cat, so finish with a toy it can grab.
Toy safety
- Do not leave your cat alone with strings or feather toys. Cats.com warns against leaving a kitten unsupervised with toys that can be torn or swallowed, like feathers and strings.
- Check that your cat cannot bite or chew off a piece it could choke on, as Ohio State advises for wand toys.
- Replace worn toys and check a cat tree’s bolts and toy strings from time to time.
- If you think your cat has swallowed string or part of a toy, call your vet.
More for indoor cats
Scratching is another instinct indoor cats need an outlet for. Vetstreet notes that some cats prefer to scratch on flat surfaces and others on upright ones. See our best cat scratching post page and our guide to stopping a cat scratching furniture. For toys for dogs as well as cats, see our dog and cat toys buying guide.
FAQ
What toys do indoor cats like most?
It depends on the cat’s prey preference. Ohio State says some cats like bird-like toys such as feather wands, some like furry toys moving on the ground, and some like small, fast-moving things like a knotted string. Try one of each and watch which your cat chases.
How much should I play with my indoor cat?
The behaviorist writing for Cats.com suggests at least 15 minutes twice a day, in short, frequent sessions. A set time each day helps, as Ohio State notes.
How do I keep my indoor cat busy while I am at work?
Leave out a few toys your cat can use alone, such as balls or a treat puzzle, and a perch near a window. Ohio State suggests rotating toys so they stay interesting. Keep wands and string toys put away when you are out.
Are laser pointers bad for cats?
Ohio State says many cats enjoy chasing a laser, but never point it at anyone’s eyes, and stop using it if your cat seems anxious looking for the dot when it is off. Cats.com suggests ending each laser session with a toy your cat can catch.
Why does my cat stop playing with new toys?
Cats get bored with the same toys. Rotate a few at a time, and if your cat ignores a type of toy, try a different kind of prey, as Ohio State suggests.