11 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys in 2023 — Reviews & Top Picks

Many cat parents are becoming more aware of the products that they use with their pets. There are eco-friendly options available for cat litter and food, but what about cat toys? There are plenty of options for handmade, upcycled, sustainable cat products that are made from safe materials that are sustainably sourced.

To save you research time, we created reviews of the best eco-friendly cat toys. All the products on this list are quality cat toys made from sustainable or up-cycled materials.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2023)

The 11 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys

1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy — Best Overall

If your cat goes cuckoo for catnip, Hepper’s Catnip Stick Toy is a must-have. These catnip sticks are easy to care for with a simple wipe down, and the double-bagged design makes it more difficult for cats to tear them apart bit by bit.

Even better, all the catnip is 100% organic, so you’re only giving your cat the best of the best. They’re also handmade in the United States so you know exactly what you’re getting with each one.

However, while there’s no doubt that these catnip sticks are durable, they’re not completely destruction-proof. If your cat tends to tear things up, there’s still a good chance they’ll eventually work their way through the material. But it’s as durable as they come without sacrificing your cat’s interest level, so it easily earns a spot at the top of our list!

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. Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball With Catnip — Best Value

The Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball is infused with catnip to promote mental and physical stimulation. The budget-friendly price tag makes it the best eco-friendly cat toy for the money. This ball is handmade with all-natural, eco-friendly materials, so you can feel good about what you’re buying. It’s the perfect toy to encourage exercise for all ages of indoor cats.

The catnip is infused into the ball, so your cat won’t actually ingest it unless they tear the toy apart. The rope ends have the potential to fray over time, but the overall value that this ball provides makes it worth the risk.

3. Imperial Cat Dachshund Cat Scratching Board — Premium Choice

The Imperial Cat Dachshund Cat Scratching Board is more expensive than many other toys, making it a premium choice for eco-friendly cat toys. This cat scratcher doubles as a lounging bed and has a surface designed to mimic tree bark. It comes with 100% organic catnip to entice your cat to use the board, and it’s made from 100% recycled materials.

If your cat is a heavy scratcher, you may find yourself picking up tiny bits of cardboard that come off the board. Most cats use the product as a lounger rather than a scratching board. Regardless of your cat’s preference, it’s a cute piece of cat furniture that can fit into any room.

4. Ethical Pet Kitty Fun Tubes

Ethical Pet Kitty prides itself on making cat products out of sustainable, eco-friendly materials. These mesh tubes are made from recycled plastic and infused with catnip to encourage interactive play. They are brightly colored to avoid losing them under the couch and are appropriate for cats of all ages and sizes.

Not all cats are interested in these toys, though, and the catnip smell seems to wear off quite quickly.

5. SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat

If you’re looking for a fun play space that doubles as a bed or hiding spot, the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug fits the bill. It’s built out of mostly recycled materials and satisfies a wide range of cat instincts, including stalking, scratching, pouncing, nesting, and hiding. The thermal base makes for a warm nap spot. The Ripple Rug is covered with all-natural carpet fibers to trap fur and dander. This mat is big enough to accommodate multiple cats to encourage social play.

The only downside of this cat toy is that it may be too big for small rooms. If you live in a tiny apartment, you may find that the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug takes up too much floor space for your liking.

6. Frisco Spaceship Cardboard Cat House

This cardboard cat house from Frisco is designed to look like a spaceship. It provides a cozy hideaway with two levels. Each level has a separate scratchpad, making this house appropriate for multi-cat households. The corrugated cardboard is also scratch friendly. Two large openings enable your cats to hop in and out as they please.

This cat house doesn’t come assembled but is relatively easy to put together. The biggest concern with the product is whether the cardboard will stand up to frequent use. The inner scratch pads are sturdy and designed to hold large cats, but there is a risk of the cardboard outside falling apart if it becomes your cat’s favorite scratching post.

7. Fuzzu Sweet Baby Mice Sweetie Mouse With Organic Catnip

The Fuzzu Sweet Baby Mice Sweetie Mouse toy is infused with 100% U.S.-grown certified organic catnip to encourage active play. It’s the perfect size to bat, chase, and toss around. All materials used in this toy are non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about safety if your cat tries to eat it.

As with any toy, a cat’s interests vary between individuals. Some cats love this toy, while others don’t. It is durable, though, and stands up to heavy play.

8. Litterbox.com Hemp Sock Cat Toy

If you’ve ever had your cat spill toy stuffing all over the room, you’ll understand why a stuffing-free cat toy is appealing. This Hemp Sock Toy from Litterbox.com is made from biodegradable hemp, combined with organic catnip and buckwheat hulls, so it makes crinkly noises when your cat swats it around. This stimulates your kitty’s tactile and auditory senses and encourages play.

Unfortunately, the mess created by a destroyed stuffed toy isn’t any better with the Hemp Sock Cat Toy. If your cat scratches this one up, you will be forced to clean up buckwheat kernels instead.

9. Earthtone Solutions Sisal Wand Mouse Teaser Cat Toy

Earthtone Solutions Sisal Wand Mouse Teaser has handmade, woven mice attached to elastic strings. It encourages your cat’s natural hunting instinct. Since this toy requires you to use it, your cat is sure to love it, and it provides you with extra bonding time with your furry friend. The hardwood rods don’t bend or break easily, unlike many other teaser toys. Since you control the play session, this is a good option for encouraging exercise.

The threads on the mice break easily and fray, so this toy doesn’t look pretty for long. Some customers report that the squeakers work inconsistently. It is also recommended that you don’t leave your cat unattended with teaser toys, as they can become tangled in the string and get injured.

10. K&H Pet Products Stretch n’ Scratch Cat Scratcher Toy

The K&H Pet Products Stretch n’ Scratch Cat Scratcher Toy is A-shaped, so your cat can climb up and down ramps as they satisfy their scratching instincts. There are three different setup options to adjust it to your cat’s personal preferences or change things up when your kitty gets bored. A package of catnip is included with the toy, and you can sprinkle it on the board to get cats interested in it.

While this cat scratcher satisfies all the basic requirements of an eco-friendly cat toy, the cardboard construction makes it less durable than some other options. It moves around when cats play on it, which makes many cats nervous about using it as a climber. For cats that like to pounce on top of things, the scratching board tends to collapse.

11. Catit EcoCat Sisal Cylinder Cat Toy

The Catit EcoCat Sisal Cylinder Cat Toy is made from all-natural materials and corrugated cardboard. It’s a great choice for keeping your cat entertained while you’re away from home. The cylinder rolls when your cat swats, promoting chasing, running, and exercise.

If your cat loves cylinder toys, you may want to buy two of these. The woven threads quickly separate from the cylinder with excessive play. Since the cylinder is made of cardboard, it falls apart from chewing and may not be suitable for all cats.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys

Cats are independent creatures, each with a distinct personality of their own. It can be hard to find affordable, stimulating toys that your cat enjoys. If you only want to buy eco-friendly toys, your choices are narrowed down even further. How do you know which toys are worth the hype?

Here are a few tips to help you choose cat toys for your kitty:

Final Verdict

The best overall eco-friendly cat toy on this list is the Hepper Catnip Stick Toy. This self-play toy is lightweight, organic and will entice almost all cats, making it an excellent choice for pet owners. The Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball With Catnip is the best value for the money. This ball will keep your cat active for hours and is infused with catnip to maintain interest while remaining affordable for cat owners on a budget.

See also: 10 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Foods — Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image Credit: winni-design, Shutterstock