12 Best Toys For Active Cats in 2023 – Reviews And Top Picks

When some of us think of pet cats, we picture an overweight feline lounging in the sun for hours on end, waking just in time for regular meals. And that may be the case for many, but what if you happen to have a cat who seems determined to live life in perpetual motion? Is your cat so energetic you find yourself regularly checking their food bag to see if rocket fuel is the main ingredient?

If you find yourself awake at all hours while your tireless feline wreaks havoc on your house, maybe it’s time to invest in some toys to help your cat burn off energy. To help you decide which of the countless cat toy options are the best for active cats like yours, we’ve collected reviews of what we think are the top choices. Here are our picks of the 12 best toys for active cats this year.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

The 12 Best Toys For Active Cats

1. Potoroma Electric Flopping Fish – Best Overall

Our choice of the best overall toy for active cats is this—admittedly a little bit strange—interactive fish toy. While you might find it odd to have what looks like a real fish flopping around your house, most cats seem to find this toy irresistible. You might enjoy playing with your cat, but if you’re dealing with a truly hyper feline, chances are you’ll get tired before they do! With this interactive toy, your cat can entertain themselves for hours, batting, chasing, and kicking the automatically flopping fish. Sturdy enough to withstand the abuse of active kitties of all ages, this fish is battery-powered but fully rechargeable. Some more timid cats may be scared by the size and motion of this toy.

2. Frisco Basic Plush Mice – Best Value

Our pick for the best toy for active cats for the money are these simple, but versatile plush mice. Bells and whistles and robot toys may get the attention, but sometimes all a hyper cat needs to wear themselves out is a soft little mouse they can chase, pounce on, and bat around for hours on end. If you want to get in on the fun, grab some of these little mice up and start tossing them for your cat. Maybe they’ll even learn how to bring them back eventually! These mice are infused with catnip rather than filled with it, and the scent may not be strong enough to attract really catnip-crazy cats. Also, watch out if your cat is a chewer that they don’t detach and swallow the tails of these mice.

3. Catit Senses 2.0 Circuit – Premium Choice

The Catit Senses 2.0 might cost you a little more money but wearing out your hyper cat with this toy won’t cost you any effort either. You won’t even have to worry about constantly retrieving the toy ball from underneath furniture, thanks to the mostly enclosed track with peekaboo cutouts for kitty paws to poke inside. This toy features both curved and straight sections that can be connected in over 100 different configurations to keep your cat from getting bored as they poke and prod the rolling ball from one end to another. Active cats of all ages will enjoy this toy, although larger cats may have difficulty getting their paws into the holes easily. Be warned that if your cat finds this toy so addictive that they play deep into the night, the sound of the ball rolling back and forth can become a bit annoying.

4. Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher – Best for Kittens

For the hyper young cat in your life, consider the Bergan Turbo Scratcher, a combination toy that both keeps your kitten entertained and saves your furniture from destruction. The motion-activated ball spins around and around and brings your cat along for the ride. Hyped-up cats often get the sudden urge to scratch, and they won’t have to go far to satisfy that need with this toy. Both the scratchpad and the ball are replaceable too, a good thing because one complaint about this toy is that the ball jumps the track fairly easily. If your cat or kitten is a catnip fiend, this toy has that need covered as well!

• You Might Also Be Interested In: 12 Best Kitten Toys

5. Serenelife Automatic Cat Laser

An upgrade on the standard laser pointer toy, this automatic laser does the work for you, allowing you to relax while your hyper cat chases that pesky red dot. This toy can be placed anywhere and moved around, making any room of your house into a kitty playground. Four different play modes and an unpredictable rotating pattern keep your cat engaged and active. It is battery-operated and not rechargeable. The automatic shutoff after 30 minutes helps prolong battery life. Some cats may figure out the preset patterns more quickly than others and lose interest. Reportedly, the lasers may not last as long as you might expect, especially with heavy use.

6. Frisco Foldable Crinkle Play Tunnel

If your household has not one but multiple active cats, this play tunnel is ideal for wearing everyone out at the same time. Chasing, hiding, and pouncing (hopefully not on you) are all activities your cats can enjoy with this tunnel. The crinkly noise of the tunnel may not be your favorite, but it seems to encourage even more active play from cats. Once your cats wear themselves out, this tunnel can serve as a cozy nap spot too. This toy takes up a decent amount of space, although it folds up easily for storage. The crinkles might scare some cats, especially kittens.

7. Electric Rotating Butterfly And Ball

For those cats who go crazy for teaser toys but whose owners just need a break, try this electric rotating teaser toy that’s two playthings in one. The butterfly teasers are battery-operated and they can be used together with the rotating balls or separated for different fun. This toy has no automatic shutoff, so you may be replacing the batteries a lot if your cat ends up loving it. The butterflies may move too fast for some cats, especially kittens, and scare them. Cats who play rough can also be hard on this toy, so monitor them carefully if they start detaching and shredding the butterflies.

8. YoFun Smart Self-rotating Ball

All you have to do is press a button to turn on the YoFun Smart Ball and the toy takes it from there, luring your cat with unpredictable motions into a wild game of chase. This ball is designed to automatically avoid obstacles, like furniture and tight corners. It’s battery-powered but rechargeable and turns itself off after 15 minutes to help conserve battery life. This toy works best on non-carpeted floors, which may limit its use if you have a lot of carpet in your house. Not all cats are interested in this toy, and it may intimidate or scare others. Those that do enjoy it can expect about 4 hours of play before you’ll need to plug it in for them.

9. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit

This battery-powered toy won’t lead your cat on a chase through the house, but it stimulates hunting behavior and provides an outlet for energy nonetheless. The hidden wand moves unpredictably, tempting your cat to catch it if they can! The toy comes with two different speeds, which is nice because many similar automated toys move too fast for some cats. The batteries aren’t rechargeable, and if your cat plays with it every day, you’ll go through quite a few. The other issue with this toy is durability as it won’t stand up well to more aggressive play. It’s a little bit expensive to be replacing those often, too.

10. Kong Active Feather Teaser

You’ll need to do your part to help wear out your active cat with the Kong Active Feather Teaser but think of it as a way to bond with a pet who usually won’t slow down long enough. Feather teasers are not a complicated toy, but their appeal to all ages and sizes of cats is undeniable. You can have your cat chasing, jumping, pouncing, and burning off all their energy. Even toddlers can enjoy kitty playtime with this toy, a bonus to both cat and child parents. Durability can be an issue with this toy. You’ll also need to supervise your cat during play to ensure they don’t chew up the string or ingest parts of the toy as it wears out.

11. PetSafe FunKitty Egg-cersizer

For the active cat who also needs to shed a pound or two, try the Kitty Egg-cersizer. Load your cat’s daily kibble into this ball and make them work for their dinner. This toy is also ideal for cats who can’t slow down enough to eat without it coming right back up the wrong way. The Egg-cersizer forces them to eat slower but still lets them burn off energy batting it around. The advantage of this treat ball compared to some others is it works for all ages of cats and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The size of the holes is adjustable, but reportedly even the smallest hole sometimes dispenses its contents too quickly, depending on how large the treats or kibble are.

12. Kong Laser Cat Toy

Lasers are one of the most popular cat toys for a reason. A minimum effort from you provides your hyper cat with a fantastic workout, easily repeated day after day. There are endless affordable laser toys on the market, but we like this one because the shape is comfortable to hold and the battery is replaceable. Never shine the laser in your cat’s eyes or anyone else’s either. Some cats may get frustrated over not being able to “catch” the sneaky red dot, so you may need to limit the time you use the laser toy with them. Reportedly the battery compartment can be tricky to open.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Toys For Active Cats

As you prepare to shop for toys that will give your hyper cat something to do besides run wildly through the house and harass all the inhabitants, here are a few things to keep in mind. Not every toy will tickle the fancy of every cat, and you may need to offer your cat multiple options before you figure out what works best for both of you.

Safety Of The Toy

Of course, you always want your cat’s toys to be safe, but it’s even more of a concern when you’re buying for an active cat. These cats are likely to put more wear and tear on toys simply because they use them much more frequently. Many hyper cats are also rough and tumble players and could test the durability of some toys. You should supervise your cat when playing with most toys and check the play items frequently to ensure they aren’t wearing out and breaking down.

Age Of Your Cat

Most kittens are naturally more active than adult cats, and you’re likely to need plenty of toys for them as they work off their youthful exuberance. However, not every toy we reviewed works well for tiny kittens. Consider both the size and weight of a toy before picking it for your kitten. Automatic toys are less work for you but might scare an impressionable baby cat.

Number Of Cats In The House

If you have more than one active cat in the house, you’ll want toys that entertain them all while also minimizing any squabbles over favorites. For cats who don’t play well together, you might need to buy multiple versions of the same toy to avoid fights. Housemates who enjoy playing with each other will appreciate something like a play tunnel to enhance their games.

Cost Of The Toy

Few things are as frustrating to cat owners as spending money on a flashy, well-reviewed cat toy only to find their cat ignores the toy itself in favor of hours spent playing with the box it came in! If your active cat is also picky about their toys, think hard about how much you’re willing to spend on a toy that might end up gathering dust on a shelf.

Conclusion

As our best overall cat toy for active cats, the Potoroma Electric Flopping Fish is a durable, enticing, unique plaything to keep your cat entertained for hours. Our best cat toy for active cats for the money, the Frisco Basic Plush Mice, are nothing fancy but appeal to all ages and play styles, allowing your cat to use their natural hunting instincts as they burn off energy. With a dizzying assortment of cat toys available to choose from, hopefully, these 12 picks and reviews will help you make a more informed choice as you try to keep your hyper cat entertained.

Related read: 

• Polypropylene Glycol and Cats: Vet-Reviewed Facts & Safety Advice

Featured Image Credit: Dora Zett, Shutterstock