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 Look at Our Winners in 2023
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Best Overall
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Hepper Catnip Stick Toy |
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Budget Buy
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Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball With Catnip |
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Imperial Cat Dachshund Scratching Board |
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Ethical Pet Kitty Fun Tubes |
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SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Play Mat |
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The 9 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys
1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy — Best Overall
| Toy Type | Catnip |
| Features | Self-play, exercise |
| Material | Linen, catnip |
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!
- 100% organic catnip
- Bite-proof double-bagged design
- Handmade in the USA
- Durable
- Some cats can end up destroying them
2. Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball With Catnip — Budget Buy
| Toy Type | Active |
| Features | Catnip |
| Material | Rope |
The Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball is infused with catnip to promote mental and physical stimulation. The budget-friendly price tag makes it affordable for all. 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.
- Handmade from natural materials
- Infused with catnip to promote play
- Promotes exercise
- Great value
- Potential for rope ends to fray
3. Imperial Cat Dachshund Cat Scratching Board
| Toy Type | Scratching board |
| Features | Catnip |
| Material | Cardboard, recycled materials |
The Imperial Cat Dachshund Cat Scratching Board is our third 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.
- Multi-purpose lounger and scratcher
- Attractive furniture piece
- Mimics tree bark to encourage scratching
- Comes with organic catnip
- Expensive
- Bits of cardboard fall off with heavy scratching
4. Ethical Pet Kitty Fun Tubes
| Toy Type | Exercise |
| Features | Catnip |
| Material | Plastic |
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.
- Made from recycled plastic
- Encourage interactive play
- Brightly colored
- Smell wears off quickly
- Don’t appeal to all cats
5. SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat
| Toy Type | Activity mat/bed |
| Features | Exercise, hiding space |
| Material | Recycled materials, rubber, polyester |
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.
- Multi-purpose
- Doubles as a bed or hiding spot
- Suitable for multi-cat homes
- Traps fur and dander
- Washes with soap and water
- Large
6. Frisco Spaceship Cardboard Cat House
| Toy Type | Cathouse |
| Features | Multi-purpose |
| Material | Cardboard |
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.
- Dual-purpose scratching post and cat hideaway
- Easy to assemble
- Durable scratching pads
- The cardboard may not stand up over time
7. Fuzzu Sweet Baby Mice Sweetie Mouse With Organic Catnip
| Toy Type | Active |
| Features | Catnip |
| Material | Polyester |
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.
- Made from non-toxic materials
- Encourages active play
- Includes organic catnip
- Durable
- Not all cats are interested in it
| Toy Type | Teaser |
| Features | Squeaky |
| Material | Hemp, wood |
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.
- Encourages bonding
- Durable rods
- Promotes exercise
- Threads fray easily
- Inconsistent squeaking
- Requires supervision
9. K&H Pet Products Stretch n’ Scratch Cat Scratcher Toy
| Toy Type | Scratching board |
| Features | Catnip |
| Material | Cardboard |
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.
- Three customizable setups
- Encourages scratching and exercise
- Less durable than some other scratchers
- Collapses when jumped on
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:
- Toys that are fun for both of you — Playing with your cat is more enjoyable than leaving your cat to play on their own. It increases bonding time, and cats tend to be more engaged in activities that involve their favorite person. You and your cat can look forward to playtime every day.
- Durability — Getting your money’s worth is important. Some toys aren’t made of high-quality materials that will stand up to long-term use. This can be particularly true for eco-friendly toys, but it doesn’t have to be. Look for toys that can be batted around and pounced on by your cat.
- Stimulation — The key to play sessions for cats is to get them active. Toys should trigger your pet’s natural hunting instincts and promote your cat being a cat.
- Noise — Cat toys that make noise, even if it’s just a crinkly sound, are more likely to get played with than toys that are silent.
- Safety — Cats like to chew, bite, and scratch their toys. To prevent an injury, avoid toys that have small parts that could be swallowed, and check toys regularly for wear and tear. When they start to fall apart, it’s time to toss and replace them.
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!
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 our budget buy pick. 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.
Featured Image Credit: winni-design, Shutterstock
Contents Overview
- A Quick Look at Our Winners in 2023
- The 9 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys
- 1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy — Best Overall
- 2. Planet Pleasure Bouncy Ball With Catnip — Budget Buy
- 3. Imperial Cat Dachshund Cat Scratching Board
- 4. Ethical Pet Kitty Fun Tubes
- 5. SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat
- 6. Frisco Spaceship Cardboard Cat House
- 7. Fuzzu Sweet Baby Mice Sweetie Mouse With Organic Catnip
- 8. Earthtone Solutions Sisal Wand Mouse Teaser Cat Toy
- 9. K&H Pet Products Stretch n’ Scratch Cat Scratcher Toy
- Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys
- Final Verdict
