Last updated Feb 24, 2023
As celebrity cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy says, “A cat wants to kill things. It’s what they’re on this planet to do.”
Cats are predatory carnivores – hardwired from the tips of their whiskers to their tender toe-beans to stalk, lunge, pounce, and kill.
Your cat craves a toy that taps into their natural instincts – one that both lives and dies. And that’s what the best interactive cat toys do.
Unlike play tunnels and rugs, which are entertaining but don’t engage your cat’s hunting instinct, and mice, which are essentially pre-killed prey, interactive cat toys act alive. Like a real mouse or bird in nature, interactive cat toys give your cat the muscle-tensing joy of the hunt.
Quick Look at Our Top Picks:
In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy
- Stimulates your cat on multiple levels
- Large enough for multi-cat play
- The ball is smooth and responsive
Petstages Tower of Tracks Interactive Cat Toy
- The balls move smoothly in the tracks and are highly responsible to your cat’s batting
- Sturdy construction can withstand plenty of active play
- Perfect for independent play
Cat Dancer 101 Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy
- A classic design with millions of fans
- Allows you to fully participate in playtime
- Moves like a tantalizing insect
HEXBUG Nano Robotic Cat Toy
- Moves independently - the company says its movement is like that of a real bug
- Small enough for your cat to bat around the house
- Well-balanced and capable of handling a long play session
PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Cat Feeder
- Makes every meal more satisfying
- Forces cats to exercise before eating
- Helps to prevent cats from inhaling their food
Top Picks Explained
Interactive Cat Toys Are A Diverse Category
You’ll find toys that involve human involvement, allowing you to share bonding playtime moments with your cat, hands-off interactive cat toys for independent play, and interactive feeders. Let’s take a closer look at each of these types of toys.
Interactive Cat Toys For Playing With Your Cat
By putting a conscious entity on the other end of the toy, you give your bored cat that real-prey experience they crave. You can send the toy into hiding behind a door or let it dart under a bed. You control the prey’s energy levels and know when it’s time to let it succumb.
These toys help you to get to know your cat better, increasing your bond. They also encourage you to get a little extra exercise, helping both of you to stay fit.
Interactive Cat Toys For Independent Play
Although human involvement in playtime is ideal, it’s important to give your cat a way to stay stimulated when they’re home alone.
Interactive cat toys keep your cat healthy and happy when you’re not there. They also help to prevent your cat from using household furnishings and other objects as toys.
While these toys aren’t as intelligent as you are, they respond readily to your cat’s attacks, simulating the experience of a real hunt.
Interactive Feeder Toys
Interactive feeder toys are a great choice for overweight cats, cats who eat too quickly, and highly food-motivated cats. Furthermore, they tap into your cat’s desire to kill their prey and eat it, providing an instinctually satisfying meal experience.
Top 5 Best Interactive Cat Toys Reviewed
#1 Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy
The toy is comprised of an 8-piece adjustable track with a motion-activated circuit ball. The ball quickly moves through the hills and valleys of the adjustable track, zipping along as if on a rollercoaster and is widely considered on of the best toys for destructive cats.
While the ball takes its crazy rollercoaster ride, your cat has the opportunity to get in on the action by poking their paw through one of the many holes in the track. It’s large enough for multiple cats to play with at the same time.
So that the game never gets old, the track is adjustable. With about 100 different layouts possible, you can offer a constantly-changing movement pattern. The Catit roller circuit is compatible with other track sets, allowing you to create a stimulating playground for your cat.
Pros
- Stimulates your cat on multiple levels – sound, touch, and light activity are exciting for almost all of the senses
- Large enough for multi-cat play
- The ball is smooth and responsive
- Perfect for independent play
Cons
- The optional illuminated ball’s battery is short-lived and you can’t replace it, meaning that you’ll need to invest in replacement balls
#2 Petstages Tower of Tracks Interactive Cat Toy
This three-level track toy encourages your cat to send the battable balls spinning around and around each track.
Thanks to the anti-slip pads on the bottom, you won’t have to worry about the toy from sliding across the floor during play. All of the balls are designed to remain in the tracks and are unlikely to pop out for an adventure under the refrigerator.
The tower is 9.75” in diameter and 6” tall, making it the perfect size for most cats. The three-level design makes it spacious enough for multi-cat playtime.
Pros
- The balls move smoothly in the tracks and are highly responsible to your cat’s batting
- Sturdy construction can withstand plenty of active play
- Perfect for independent play
- A highly-rated and extremely popular toy
Cons
- Sometimes the non-replaceable balls escape the tracks
#3 Cat Dancer 101 Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy
This interactive cat toy has a deceptively simple design. It looks like – and is – a piece of springy wire attached to pieces of rolled cardboard. This straightforward design is one of the most mesmerizing and exciting in the world of cat toys. Over 8 million cats have tested out this extraordinarily popular toy, and most of them have loved it.
The toy’s design makes it look and behave much like a bug – and everyone knows cats love playing with bugs.
The springy toy is perfect for people who want to engage in interactive playtime, but don’t want to move much. Thanks to the springy, responsive natural movement of this toy, you can sit in a chair and give your cat a full, exciting play experience.
Pros
- A classic design with millions of fans
- Allows you to fully participate in playtime
- Moves like a tantalizing insect
Cons
- Because the toy doesn’t have a handle, it can be uncomfortable for some people to hold
#4 HEXBUG Nano Robotic Cat Toy
This battery-operated robotic toy is one of the most realistic prey toys on the market. Like a living creature, this robotic bug toy glides across the floor, dragging its enticing fluffy tail behind it.
The company says that the toy has an “uncanny sense of balance”. If your cat knocks the toy over, the vibrating movement of the robot will cause it to flip back onto its plastic feet and continue moving.
Remember that any loose parts could pose a risk to your cat, so periodically inspect the toy to ensure that everything is intact and safe for playtime.
Pros
- Moves independently – the company says its movement is like that of a real bug
- Small enough for your cat to bat around the house
- Well-balanced and capable of handling a long play session
Cons
- Doesn’t work well on carpeted floors
#5 PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Cat Feeder
This instinct-approved interactive feeder forces your cat to play before they eat – just as they would in nature. The bouncy play ball is filled with treats or kibble, and your cat must agitate the ball to release the deliciousness hiding within.
Because it forces your cat to play before they eat, it’s perfect for overweight cats who need a little extra exercise. It’s also a good choice for cats who typically scarf down their food.
The feeder toy is adjustable, so you can choose how much food the toy dispenses as is bounces, rolls, and shakes. It’s made from dishwasher-safe plastic, so it’s easy to clean it up after use. The plastic is BPA-free.
Pros
- Makes every meal more satisfying
- Forces cats to exercise before eating
- Helps to prevent cats from inhaling their food
- Made from dishwasher safe BPA-free plastic
Cons
- Doesn’t work with every type of kibble
I have two very spoiled 2-year old female kitties. I’m finding they get very bored with something we play within a short period of time. I have every one of the toys you recommend above except for the Hexbug Robotic Cat Toy. We have scratch posts throughout the house, and a huge tower to climb, which one uses to scratch and the other uses to sleep up high. The feeder ball is only good for a little bit of time by one of them. We played Da Bird every day for a long time when they were both little, and now they sit there and say ho hum. I can bring out one of several da birds and maybe once in a while they’ll play. I have the cat dancer which didn’t keep interest very long and when I try to bring it back out, they look at it and say ho hum to that. I have the Tower and Circuit toy, but neither are played with for more than a few seconds. We have a large tunnel and I also build a tunnel on my bed every morning with pillows. Once in a while I can hide the da bird in one of the openings and they’ll pounce on the pillows, but it doesn’t last long. I’ve had several Pouncing Paws which they both played with for longer periods of time, but after they didn’t touch it for a while, I hid it in the closet. I’ll bring it out after a long period of absence, but it doesn’t have the appeal it once did, so back in the closet it goes. One of my cats loves for me to shoot rubber bands in the air and she will catch them. The other one hears the word rubber band and high tails it out of the room. We used to play with the bouncy ball, but they don’t chase it anymore either. I also used to take all the cat balls I own (I have a LOT) and open a paper bag at the other end of the room. Then I would roll them toward the bag. But that seems too boring, too. The latest kick they seem to be on is string. I have a long piece of regular string and a long piece of sisal. I walk around dragging the string behind me, and both of them follow me and try to grab one or the other. If I can catch an end under a box or something, it’s way more fun to try to catch the end before it disappears under the box. But I’m running out of ideas. They aren’t crazy about mice, only one likes catnip, so when they come to me in the evening and want to play, I ask them what, but get no answer. Birdie gets an eyes down, and string gets a little murr. I definitely get more exercise with the string than they do. I’ve also hidden treats at various places throughout the great room, but I don’t want to keep giving them so many treats. Any other recommendations would be much appreciated! Thanks, I really enjoy your information!
Hi Karen, thanks for the message! Really, it sounds like you’re doing everything right! Cats will get tired of toys that they’ve been playing with for a long time, and their tastes will change over time. Keep experimenting and engaging with them, and you’ll be just fine. You can also try helping them get some enrichment from a catio or outdoor exploration!