9 Best Cat Laser Pointers & Laser Toys – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Laser pointers are one of the most popular toys for cats, and for good reason! Many cats’ natural hunting and stalking instincts are immediately ignited when they spot the little red light that constantly evades them. Laser toys can be essential items in the cat amusement arsenal.

The latest laser cat toys go well past the simple red dot, handheld laser pointer. The range of laser-based toys on the market is incredible. There are the humble handheld lasers, the automatic robotic gadgets, and many that have multiple fun functions for cats above and beyond just a laser.

To make things easier for you, we have compiled a collection of our favorite cat laser pointers and laser toys. We’ve done all the research into them, so you don’t have to. Great reviews from real customers back each product on this list.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2024 Update)

The 9 Best Cat Laser Pointers & Laser Toys

1. SereneLife Automatic Laser Cat Toy – Best Overall

The SereneLife Automatic Laser toy will change the way you think about laser cat toys. Completely automatic; all you need to do is position the toy and press a single button to turn it on. There’s no stress on your hand to manually operate this toy, nor do you even need to be present. It also features an automatic shut-off to be set and left; no need to worry about burning out the batteries.

The unique geometric design allows it to be rotated and placed in many different positions. This means it can be placed on the floor or elevated on a shelf or table. Then it can be adjusted to set the lasers to track anywhere in the room. In addition, the laser has adjustable tracks to keep things varied for your cat, holding their attention for longer. It also features variable speeds to cater to cats of all ages and abilities.

These awesome features make this our best overall choice for cat laser toys. Past customers praise it highly in their reviews. The only prevailing negative is that it seems to quickly suck the life out of batteries. We advise getting rechargeable batteries to support the energy needs of this product.

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2. Spot Spin About Cat Toy – Best Value

This neat contraption is a multifunction Spot Spin About Cat laser toy. Its rounded design has a built-in laser that will erratically sweep around the room with rolling movements, making the laser tract unpredictable and irresistible to cats. In addition, it also features an extended arm with attached feathers and a treat dispenser!

All these functions in a single product are why we reviewed this particular product as the best cat laser toy for the money. Not only is it affordable, but it utilizes all the tricks to engage a cat’s natural instincts.

While it is highly reviewed, some negative experiences include highly active cats quickly breaking the feather portions of the toy. On the other hand, the laser and treat dispensing parts are highly durable. They seem to handle the most aggressive activity from high-energy cats.

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3. Ethical Pet Dolphin Laser Wand Cat Toy – Premium Choice

This Dolphin Laser Wand toy from Ethical Pet is not only an irresistible laser, but comes with a fun, interactive feather toy too. It also has a fun bell to entice your feline to play more. The toy comes with a simple push button to activate the laser, giving you multiple ways to interact and bond with your cat. 

The feathers on the wand are attached to a 27-inch cord, and it comes with three LR44 batteries included that should last a fairly long time, even with regular play. The downside is that cats who tend to play a bit rough may break the feather toy pretty quickly, and the short cord means you’ll need to bend over fairly low to allow it to reach your cat. 

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4. SmartyKat Loco Laser Cat Toy

While there are certainly a lot of different automatic laser pointers on the market, the use of a simple manual laser pointer also comes with many bonuses. Using a manual laser pointer like this one from SmartyKat Loco Laser Cat Toy be interactive and fun for both your cat and you.

This product is highly rated for its ergonomic design. Meaning it fits comfortably in most hands. The button is easy to press, causing little stress on the hand or fingers for prolonged use.

This product does take batteries, but the batteries are LR44, which are more expensive than the usual AA or AAA-type batteries. Batteries are only diminished during use, though, and since this toy is manual, use is directed totally by you.

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5. Valonii Automatic Cat Laser Toy 

This automatic cat toy from Valonii is a great option for cats that spend a fair amount of time at home alone. The toy is automatic, meaning your cat can play with the toy without you there. The toy has a dual motor that gives it both vertical and horizontal rotation, which will keep your kitty guessing. The toy turns off automatically after 15 minutes, and will then turn on again after 3 hours. It also has 3-speed modes to engage cats of different ages, and a built-in 1200mAh rechargeable battery that lasts for around 2 days and charges in just 2.5 hours. 

The only downside to this toy is that large, rough felines can easily knock it over if it’s in an accessible area. 

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6. PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser

This PetSafe Bolt interactive laser toy is similar to other automatic products in many ways. It has typical features like adjustable speeds and automatic shut-off. But what we really like about this product is the erratic tracks of the laser. Many other products have lasers that follow a set path that can become predictable over time. This product stands out because of the random and dynamic movement of the laser.

This movement provides a lot more organic and unpredictable activity of the red dot around the room, making it able to hold your cat’s attention for longer than a set track laser. The design of this product is also a suitable size and shape to be used handheld. This way, it can be used as a regular laser pointer in that you can be involved in your cat’s activity with manual usage.

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7. KONG Laser

Kong Laser is a brand whose name is well-known among pet owners. Their pet toys are known to be durable and fit for purpose. This laser pointer is no exception. The shape of this product fits comfortably in most hands, making it easy to hold for longer play sessions. The button is simple to push, but that needs to be held down continuously to keep the laser going, rather than a slide that can be kept on.

Past customers have spoken positively about this laser pointer, mainly saying that the battery life is good. However, negative reviewers say that the battery compartment is difficult to open.

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8. Pet Fit For Life Wand & LED Laser Combo

Pet Fit For Life Wand & LED Laser Combo is another 2-for-1 cat toy. The ergonomic handle has an extendable wand on one end with interchangeable attachments. The other end of the handle is a laser pointer. This design does mean the wand and the laser can’t be used at the same time, but you can easily turn the toy around to quickly change styles of play and keep the cat engaged.

In addition, it has a button on the side that activates the speaker and sends out chirping bird noises. This will help pique your cat’s interest when playing but can also be used to call your cat from afar. This added benefit can help enlighten your cat’s hunting interests.

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9. SmartyKat Feline Flash Laser Pointer

This simple SmartyKat Feline Flash Laser Pointer will suit you and your cat just fine if you are looking for a manual laser pointer and not much more. While you won’t get anything fancy in this product, the laser light is still good quality for a very affordable price.

This pointer differs from some basic laser pointers as the operational button is very large. This makes it a breeze to press and accessible for all members of your family to use with ease. In addition to the curved handle, this pointer is easier for everyone to use over small, thin lasers.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Cat Laser Pointer & Laser Toy

After browsing through our favorite picks of cat laser toys, you may have since come to realize that there is a lot more range than you first thought! So, how to pick which one you want to try at home with your cat?

While no one choice will suit every cat, there are a few different things you should consider when choosing a product that is best for the cats and kittens in your household.

Why Do Cats Love Lasers?

Cats love lasers because they are naturally drawn to erratically moving objects. The small red dot of a laser flittering around the room resembles their natural prey. The sight of this small moving thing triggers their natural hunting instincts and drives them to chase it.

A laser may take precedence over some of the other toys in the home simply for the unique qualities of light they possess that are great at attracting your cat. 99% of cat laser toys have a red-colored light, but in fact, cats cannot see the color red very well.

The use of a red laser is attractive to cats despite not recognizing the red color as the laser’s beam is seen as a sharp contrast of light compared to the ambient light around it. This will seem like the natural flash of passing prey in the eyes of a cat, so this laser beam may be chosen over a cartoon-like, catnip-stuffed toy.

The Benefits of Laser Play for Cats

Domestic cats of these modern times still enjoy hunting small animals to satisfy their natural urges rather than to provide themselves with a meal. As owners, we try to reduce the amount of hunting they do. We want to protect the native wildlife as well as keep our cats safe at home. Laser pointers are just one of many toys that can help fulfill that natural need your cat has to chase, hunt, stalk, and pounce.

Laser play is just one of many ways to express play behavior with your cat. These play behaviors will encourage both mental and physical health and wellness. The activity of play will keep your cat active and provide exercise, helping avoid the risk of them becoming overweight (and associated health risks that come with obesity)

This is particularly beneficial for indoor cats. While keeping your cat indoors can keep them safe from many dangers, it also means that they have higher care requirements and need to stay active and stimulated.

Conclusion

As cat owners and lovers ourselves, we can understand how difficult it can be to pick products for our beloved pets. There is an insane amount of range on the market, making that choice almost impossible. Luckily, we delved deep, read all the reviews, and did all the research to help you pick out a fun new toy for your furry friend.

Our top pick overall for a great cat laser toy is SereneLife Automatic Laser. This spectacular product has all the fun benefits of an automatic laser while still being incredibly adaptable with a simple and quiet design. For the best value, we chose Spot Spin About Cat Toy for its unique 3-in-1 design that gives a range of different play options in just one product. Lastly, our premium choice is the  Dolphin Laser Wand toy from Ethical Pet toy from Ethical Pet due to its multiple uses.

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Featured Image Credit: Lemalisa, Shutterstock