8 Best Toys for Active Cats in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Cats are known for being a bit feisty, mischievous, and even lazy at times. Considering how they go through such a wide range of emotions and actions, it’s difficult to determine whether the cat you bring home will be high-energy or one that prefers to lounge around and be left alone. If an active cat is now your best friend, keeping them occupied becomes your top priority. When a cat gets bored they get into things. They can even take it out on you and that’s the last thing you want to experience. That’s why having the best toys for an active cat can be so helpful. In this review, we’ll take a look at a few toys we feel you should consider for your rambunctious kitty. Hopefully, they will help keep your feline friend out of trouble and occupied for at least a few minutes.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 8 Best Toys for Active Cats

1. Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy  – Best Overall

 

 

The Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy is one of the best toys you can get to foster your cat’s high-energy. The large shape offers plenty of room for cats who like to bite and bunny-kick their toys. The catnip-infused interior will turn your cat into a ball of energy ready to pounce on this toy whenever it’s in sight. It was made with durability at the forefront so you know that this giant mouse kicker will last your cat many vigorous play sessions!

The Hepper Mouse Kicker features a bell making it an well-rounded multisensory toy, appealing to the senses of touch, sight, smell, and sound!

The best part might be that it is reasonably priced. Its truly the best of both worlds, catering to the most active of cats and its easy on the wallets of cat owners.

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2. Hepper Flax Mice Toy Set— Budget Buy

The best budget-friendly cat toy for active cats is the Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy which is a prey-mimicing toy designed to keep your feline excited and engaged with catnip and a hidden interior bell. What sets this toy apart from others is that your cat will remain happily occupied while you are away or busy but also doubles as an interactive and fun way to play with your feline with fetch or by dangling it along by the tail. The textured material will stand up to the roughest of play sessions which is a huge bonus.

This set of two makes it a great choice – who doesn’t love a two-for-one? The two sizes can be introduced at different times to extend the life of the set or can be shared in a multi-cat home.

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3. Trixie Activity Fun Board 5-in-1 Game for Cats

Active cats don’t need just physical stimulation. They also need to keep their minds active. This is where the Trixie Activity Fun Board comes into play. While many cats would simply walk away from this puzzle feeder, a cat that enjoys a bit of fun will have a great time. What we like about this puzzle toy is that it includes 5 different activities for your cat to enjoy. Yes, they will get treats, but your cat must stay focused and engaged to win the prize.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Trixie, the puzzles are mostly mind games. You won’t see your cat exerting themselves or getting exercise with this toy.

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4. Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy – Best for Kittens

If you want the perfect toy for your active kitten, look no further than the Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy. There is a lot to love when it comes to this toy. First off, you can allow multiple cats to play with it at once. If you have several kittens in the home, they can enjoy it together. Another thing we like is the expandable track. If your cat loves this toy, it can easily grow with them even into adulthood. The lighted ball is a great way of grabbing your kitten’s attention and keeping it while the openings are sized to be safe for cats of all ages.

Our only issue with this cat toy is the space it requires. It isn’t suited for small areas as the track needs room to provide your kittens with the play and stimulation they need.

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5. Frisco Peek-a-Boo Cat Tunnel

This cat toy is great for enticing active cats to play. Inside the tunnel are dangling toys to tease your kitty into rushing inside. When they are in the chute, running, rolling, and diving will become commonplace. This toy is great for cats of all ages and can even be used in multi-cat homes to provide each kitty with fun and great interaction. You can even pack it away when they are done to avoid the space it takes up.

The only issue we found with the Frisco Cat Tunnel is that the middle area of the tunnel feels a bit unsteady. While that may not be a huge issue, it could potentially fall on your cat and give it a bit of a scare.

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6. SnugglyCat Ripple Rug

A rug isn’t typically the type of toy you’d buy your cat, but if you’ve seen your kitty play with blankets, try to nest, or even simulate chasing things under the sheets, the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug could be the perfect gift for them. This toy encourages independent play, giving pet owners a bit of a break. If your kitty is brave enough to approach the rug, you’ll get to sit back and watch hours of hiding and playing. Once it’s all over, they can even curl up and nap on this toy.

This toy may be best for active cats with a bit of bravado to them. More fearful cats may not play with it. You should also ensure you’re supervising your cat when they are playing with the mat to ensure their safety.

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7. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Cat Toy

If your cat loves to hunt toys or even your hand, the SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Cat Toy is something they will love. Cats can chase after the attachments and try to catch them. This can provide your kitty with hours of fun. The toy even lights up to provide more interaction and get the attention of your cat.

This toy is considered automatic but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to help from time to time. The arms can get caught, requiring you to fix them. You’ll also find that the motion isn’t very fast. Active kitties with a little speed to them can easily catch the attachments.

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8. Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze and Puzzle Toy

The Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze and Puzzle Toy is another fun way to stimulate your active cat’s thinking skills. You’ll also find that this toy can be used to initiate play from cats that prefer to lounge around as treats are the reward for playing. You’ll also find that this toy is 100% recyclable. When your kitty has worn it out, you can easily recycle and choose another toy.

The biggest issue we’ve seen with this toy, while it’s quite durable considering it’s made from cardboard, is that highly rambunctious cats or those who like to chew and tear can easily destroy it. Before you purchase this toy, take note of how rough your kitty is on toys or it may not last long around your home.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Toys for Active Cats

Now that we’ve shared our favorite toys for active cats with you, let’s take a look at some of the criteria we used to compile this review. This will help you better determine which toys are best suited for your kitty so you can easily choose the right one.

Cost and Value

Yes, like with anything else in life, the cost is a factor when choosing a toy for your active cat. Whether we want to admit it or not, all of us have a spending budget. Luckily, you’ll find that many of the items on this list are low-cost. The question is, does being low-cost make them a good value?  In most cases, cost and value don’t go hand-in-hand. In our review, however, we wanted to ensure the lower-priced toys we included would last. You don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on a cat toy that won’t last a week. Neither do we. Keep that in mind while you browse our review.

Materials

The materials cat toys are made from should be kept in the front of your mind when you’re making a choice. Toys featuring fabrics should be soft and of no danger to your kitty. The same can be said of stand-up toys or other items your cat plays with. As you can see from our reviews, many cat toys are made from polyester, synthetic fibers, and plastic. Most of these materials are safe for your kitty. However, if you have a highly destructive cat that likes to chew, you should provide them with lots of supervision while they are playing with these toys.

Are They Fun?

When choosing a toy for an active cat, the most important question to ask yourself is, are the toys fun? While each cat has its own personality, we tried our best to include toys we thought all cats would enjoy. Is it possible that you’ll choose a toy that your cat will hate? Yes, it is. It’s also possible that one cat in your house will love certain toys while others don’t. Our goal was to choose fun toys that will keep your cat stimulated and help use up all that energy. As the cat parent, you’ll have a better understanding of what your cat will like and dislike. Keep that in mind when you choose.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a cat toy for your active cat, our top is the Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy. This toy allows independent play and uses the always-popular catnip to keep your cat engaged. Our choice when it comes to the best value in cat toys for active cats is the Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy. This toy is inexpensive and features rolling balls that will keep your kitty on its toes for hours. Either of these options is a great pick for an active cat. You can also consider the other toys in our review to provide your kitty with an arsenal of toys for its increased energy levels.

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Featured Image Credit to: PxHere