11 Best Cat Toys for Indoor Cats in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Choosing the right cat toy is much more important than you may think.

Even the laziest of cats need stimulation — even if they require a bit of extra motivation. But finding the right toy can be difficult. Cats are some of the pickiest creatures on earth! So, it’s useful to do some research before buying—especially if you already have an idea of what interests your cat.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of reviews of some of the best cat toys for indoor cats. We’ve featured several different types of toys for you to choose from including trackball circuits, scratchers, and even a pop-up tent.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners in 2023

The 11 Best Cat Toys for Indoor Cats

1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy – Best Overall

Hepper Catnip Stick Toy is our pick for the best cat toys for indoor cats. It is a great choice for cats who are confined to their home without access to the outdoors. This toy is sure to provide hours of entertainment and it’s perfect for energetic cats that need something to do while you’re away at work.

It can also keep your active cat from literally climbing the walls when you’re gone for hours at a time. These catnip sticks are made of durable, non-toxic materials, making them safe for cats to play with and chew on. This toy also comes in a variety of colors (white/blue/gray) and they last a fairly long time.

The Catnip Stick Toy also contains organic catnip, which cats find irresistible. This catnip is carefully sourced, ensuring that it is free of pesticides and other harmful substances. Catnip is a natural herb that stimulates cats and provides them with a sense of calm and relaxation.

At ExcitedCats.com, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

2. Bergan Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy – Budget Buy

If you’re looking for one of the best budget buy cat toys for indoor cats, it’s the Bergan Turbo Scratcher.

Cats are notorious for scratching. So instead of letting them rip up the furniture, why not provide them with an appropriate scratchpad? This scratcher is made out of corrugated cardboard that’ll help satisfy your cat’s urges. The Bergan Turbo Scratcher also comes with catnip that you can sprinkle on the cardboard to encourage use.

It’s also stable enough to stay planted in place with non-slip grip feet on the underside. The feet will grip any hard flooring surface. However, they will not grip onto a carpeted floor — but you probably don’t want to use this toy on carpet anyway. The corrugated cardboard will eventually shred and tatter.

Otherwise, this is an awesome scratcher. Plus, with the addition of the ball and racetrack, this will provide tons of entertainment along with a scratch zone. All in all, when it comes to value, this is the best indoor cat toy on our list.

3. PetFusion Ambush Interactive Cat Toy

While some cats are content with being goofy and lovably lazy, others prefer a challenge. Test your cat’s wit and will with the PetFusion Ambush toy.

This toy is a thick, disc-shaped structure with six holes around the perimeter. When the toy is turned on, a motor inside pushes a colorful feather out of one of the holes at random before quickly retracting it. This indoor cat toy encourages your kitty to focus on the thrill of the hunt to catch the feather.

It comes with anti-slip feet on the bottom of the toy to prevent over-eager cats from toppling it over. And when your little hunter finally catches the feather for good, it comes with an easy-to-attach replacement.

However, there are a few things that we wish were a bit different. First, it’s definitely on the pricey end of the spectrum for cat toys. But that due to its sophisticated motor and quality construction. And secondly, we’re not too jazzed by how loud this thing can get. For jumpy and nervous cats, this might not be the right toy for them.

4. Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy

The Petstages Tower of Tracks toy isn’t your ordinary interactive trackball toy. Instead of a single circular track, this unit has three separate tracks and balls stacked vertically on top of each other.

This toy will definitely pique your cat’s curiosity. Because there are three different tracks, your cat can play with more than one ball at a time without fear of losing them all at once. This unit is built to last as well. It’s got a good sturdy construction and anti-slip feet to prevent mishaps while your cat is playing with it.

And there’s no assembly required. Just unpack it and let your cats do their thing. One thing we found a bit off-putting is that the tracks are not closed loops. Since they are open tracks, it’s entirely possible for motivated cats to remove the balls from their tracks.

Other than that, it’s a great toy for any cat and earns its spot on our best indoor cat toys list.

5. Hepper Fish & Chews Cat Toy

Sometimes, simplicity is best, and our kitties have a lot to teach us about enjoying the little things. This stylish, fuss-free, Hepper Fish & Chews cat toy from Hepper is another great cat toy overall and is sure to keep your cat entertained all day long. Its minimalist and modern design is an elegant match for contemporary decor, plus, it comes in four great neutral shades.

The Fish & Chews’ proportions are ergonomically designed to be the ideal size for your cat to get their paws around. Your cat will find endless possibilities for entertainment whether it chews the rod and rope or plays with the wool and fish. To keep your home fresh, this toy is fully machine washable and can simply be air-dried after washing. There’s no construction necessary—just open up your package and let the pouncing begin!

This is easily one of the most interactive cat toys we’ve seen and is our pick for overall best toys for indoor cats.

At ExcitedCats.com, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

6. SmartyKat Electronic Concealed Motion Indoor Cat Toy

Kittens can be especially playful. That’s because they’re still learning the skills they’ll need throughout life and they do so by playing. And cats are natural hunters. So, it only makes sense to get them a toy that will help them develop their hunting abilities.

The SmartyKat Electronic Concealed Motion toy is perfect for doing just that.

This toy consists of a small motor attached to a small “mouse” via a flexible wand. As the motor spins, the wand moves, propelling the mouse to move back and forth. The entire setup is hidden underneath a circular polyester skirt. That way your cat can see the movement but not the mechanism.

Your cat will love the hidden element as well as the thrill of the hunt. But there are a couple of things to take note of. This toy is designed more for smaller cats. Larger or more aggressive cats can easily destroy the skirt of the toy. Also, the battery life isn’t too long. A fully charged set of batteries will only last about an hour, so be sure to keep extras on hand.

7. Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly Cat Toy

The Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly toy is another 3-tiered trackball toy. However, it also comes with a butterfly wand attached to the top. This can definitely provide your cat with the mental and physical exercise it needs for the day.

The toy comes equipped with non-skid feet on the bottom to prevent toppling and proper operation. However, the feet don’t grip strongly enough, and you’ll find that this toy tends to slip all over the place. This may be due in part to the butterfly wand on top. Cats interested in the butterfly may grab ahold of it and pull against the tower’s center of gravity.

While the butterfly attachment does provide an additional level of fun, we believe that a simpler model is sometimes better.

8. Hartz Just For Cats Peek & Play Tent Cat Toy

Sometimes cats just need a little place they can call their own. And the Hartz Just for Cats Peek & Play can be a great little clubhouse for your kittens.

This collapsible tent comes with an interactive crinkle pad, hanging toys, and peek-a-boo holes. It’s a complete package for your kitten to scratch, play, nap, or just hang out. And when it’s time to put the tent away, it collapses and can be securely tucked away.

While this seems like the perfect toy, there are some issues we need to address. It’s advertised for cats of all sizes, but that just isn’t the case. The holes are only 9’’ in diameter, making this difficult for larger cats to comfortably enter and exit. Also, the hanging toys could be connected more securely. They’re not fastened on tight enough in our opinion.

9. PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser Cat Toy

Does your cat just love chasing a laser pointer? If so, elevate your cat’s catch-the-dot game with the PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser toy!

What makes this different than a standard laser pointer is that it’s hands-free for you. No longer do you need to hold down buttons and maintain the stability of the laser. This act can be tiresome, especially for arthritic hands.

Instead, this toy projects different laser patterns across the room through rotation and mirrors. It also comes with an automatic shut off of 15 minutes to conserve the battery. However, 15 minutes of play is usually enough time for most cats.

We did notice, however, that the motor tends to get a bit noisy. So, if you’re looking for a quiet toy, this isn’t it. Also, the laser seems somewhat weak when compared to other handheld lasers.

10. Pet Fit For Life Wand Cat Toy

If there’s one toy that all cats love, it’s a wand. And the Pet Fit for Life is a decent choice. It’s got a comfortable foam handle with a long stick attachment, allowing you to use it even from the comfort of your couch. It also comes equipped with two separate feather attachments and a detachable bell.

The attachment string is made out of nylon cord which is suitable for most cats. But if your cat’s a bit aggressive when he plays or is on the larger side, this cord might not last too long. Also, the cord’s non-elastic. So, if that’s what you’re searching for, look elsewhere.

The biggest issue we have with this toy is the handle construction. While comfortable to hold, the handle is actually comprised of two pieces that fit together. And they tend to split apart. We believe a single-piece construction would be a much better choice.

11. Hexbug Mouse Robotic Cat Toy

The last toy on our list is the Hexbug Robotic Mouse. We’ve all seen these types of toys in every pet supply store. Normally, it’s just a stuffed toy mouse with a small motor inside that makes it run.

However, the Hexbug is a definite upgrade. It’s rubber tail and ears are designed to further draw in the attention of your cat. And it has multiple modes of operation. There’s paw mode, where the mouse only starts if swatted. There’s also chase mode, which is a constant go once initiated. But perhaps the best feature we like about this is that it can flip back over onto its own feet when upside down.

That being said, there are some things we just don’t like. The mouse only runs on hardwood floors. If you’ve got nothing but carpet, do not get this toy. The durability of this toy is also not up to snuff. If your cat bats the mouse around — which it probably will — the mouse has a tendency to stop working. And unlike other Hexbug products, this mouse has difficulty navigating out of corners. It just gets stuck, which is no fun for your kitty.

Conclusion

With so many options available, choosing a cat toy for your indoor cat can be tough. But, hopefully, our reviews of the best cat toys for indoor cats helped you narrow down a great choice for your loved one.

If you’re still unsure which to get, we definitely recommend the Hepper Catnip Stick Toy. Your furball is bound to love kicking and chewing this enticing catnip toy!

And if you’re looking for a great budget option, be sure to check out the Bergan Turbo Scratch Toy. It’s a 2-in-1 toy that any cat is sure to love.

Alternatively, if you want to surprise your cat with something cool, check out the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. It's not just a scratcher; it's a piece of modern furniture that your cat can play on. It's got a curvy design that's perfect for stretching and moving, and it's built tough with strong birch plywood and thick B-flute cardboard. You can adjust it to three different heights, which keeps cats entertained. Plus, it won't break the bank! Our cats love it, and we do too.

At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Featured Image Credit: Hepper.com