10 Best Cat Toys for Exercising Your Cat in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

If your cat seems to have way too much energy or needs to lose a bit of weight, then choosing a few toys to help them exercise is a great idea. Some cat breeds are particularly active and love to exercise as much as possible. They need plenty of toys to keep them entertained! Another issue is an overweight cat that needs more encouragement to exercise and stay fit and healthy.

There are so many toys out there to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones are going to suit your cat best. The good news is that our reviews are designed to answer that exact question! We checked out the most popular toys, along with feedback from users, to round up the top 10 for you to choose from.

A Quick Glance at Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Cat Toys for Exercising Your Cat

1. Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher – Best Overall

The Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is our pick for the best toy for exercising your cat! This toy takes a multifaceted approach to keeping your feline friend, active, engaged, and happy. The Hi-Lo combines a sleek, modern design with functionality that caters to a cat’s instincts.

The 3 varied levels allow cats to alternate between climbing, scratching, stretching, and lounging, promoting physical activity and relaxation. The unique half-moon shape and B-flute cardboard scratch area not only provide an irresistible surface for your cat to claw but also helps maintain their nails. The cardboard may have to be replaced occasionally but replacement parts can easily be purchased and swapped out when needed.

The Hi-Lo will also distract your cat from using your furniture at a scratcher, which is a huge plus. It only comes in one but was crafted beautifully with all natural materials.

Its stylish design, durability, and versatility make it our top choice for cat owners looking to encourage more physical activity for their cats.

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2.  Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy – Budget Buy

As our budget buy for the best exercise cat toy, the Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy combines the perfect balance of quality and affordability. Offering endless hours of entertainment, you can’t get a better toy at a more affordable price.

A catnip-infused interior and an enticing shape are sure to activate your cat’s hunting instincts, promoting exercise, and mental stimulation. You know the toy will be durable because it is made of bite-proof materials.

The kicker is long enough for full body engagement – ears and tail for chewing and length great for grappling and kicking. While the catnip scent will fade with time, the internal bell dinging at every bat will be enough to keep your cat locked in for many play sessions to come.

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3. PetFusion Interactive Electronic Toy

While it’s great to play with your cat, if you need to spend time working or cooking, you might need a toy to keep your active cat entertained. The PetFusion Ambush Interactive Electronic Cat Toy stimulates your cat’s natural desire to pounce by offering a moving feather target that pops out of six different holes.

This toy also has an LED light to attract and capture your cat’s attention and a replacement feather if your cat gets a little too rough! This uses four AA batteries, which are included, so you can use this straight out of the box. There’s an auto-shutoff feature after 8 minutes, which helps extend battery life but also stops your cat from getting overstimulated.

If a premium option is what you’re after, we think this is the top of the pop best cat toy for exercising your cat.

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4. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Motion Toy

The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy is a great choice if you have an active and energetic cat that loves to chase things. This interactive and electronic toy has a fabric circle that covers up LED lights and a concealed wand with a toy attachment. You can choose from two different toys and two different speeds to keep your cat interested and engaged.

The LED lights attract your cat, while the motion keeps your cat well exercised! This toy is tested to child safety standards, so you can be sure that your cat will be safe too. The only thing we don’t like about this toy is that the battery life is pretty short at only 1 hour, so make sure you turn it off after a few minutes of playtime!

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5. Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser

Laser toys are a great way to encourage your cat to exercise, since they will chase the light around your house! This toy includes batteries, so you can get started enjoying playing with it right away. As a bonus, this has a white light that you can use as a flashlight.

One problem with laser toys is that they can encourage frustration, as your cat never actually ends up “catching” their prey. To avoid this situation, make sure you finish a session by either shining the laser on a real toy that your cat can catch or throw them a toy as you turn the laser off.

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6. Frisco Scratch & Roll Cat Toy

The Frisco Scratch & Roll Cat Toy combines two of most cats’ favorite things: catnip and balls! The outside of this circular toy holds one ball that your cat can bat to their heart’s content. Inside, there is a corrugated cardboard scratcher for them to sink their claws into.

This toy also includes a sachet of catnip that you can sprinkle onto the cardboard to encourage your cat to play even more. This top-rated toy is a winner with cats of all ages and can be safely used while you’re out of the house or doing something else. After a while, you’ll need to buy a replacement cardboard inner, however.

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7. SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy

If you’re looking for a toy to keep your cat occupied while you are away from home but don’t want to leave something with batteries on, then the SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy is a great choice. This touch-activated toy will start chirping as your cat catches it, encouraging them to play more and more.

Even better, it is filled with catnip, so it will quickly become one of your cat’s favorite toys. The battery of this bird toy is expected to last 10,000 activations, so your cat will get plenty of enjoyment from it! When not in use, it can be turned off to conserve the battery even more. Unfortunately, the batteries aren’t replaceable, so once it’s used up, that’s it!

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8. Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy

If your cat loves playing with balls but expects you to keep throwing them again and again, then the Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy is an excellent choice to keep them entertained. The motion-activated ball springs to life as your cat touches it, lighting up to catch and keep your cat’s attention.

The ball run has raised sections that add speed and unpredictability to the ball’s route and keep your cat captivated. The track can be expanded if you have multiple cats that all want to play at the same time. The hidden sections mean that the ball peeks out as it travels around the track, triggering your cat’s hunting instincts.

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9. SmartyKat Twirly Top Electronic Mini Motion Ball Cat Toy

No cat can resist the swirling and spinning of the SmartyKat Twirly Top Electronic Mini Motion Ball Cat Toy! This toy comes complete with two AAA batteries that power an erratic spinning that sets in motion the plastic ribbons on top of this ball. The expected battery life is 15 hours, but this toy does have an auto-shutoff feature that switches it off after 15 minutes.

Some cats can bite the ribbons on the top of this toy and may even bite through them if they are particularly keen. So, we recommend that you only use this toy under close supervision. It’s still a great way of getting your cat to exercise and play at the same time!

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 10. SereneLife Automatic Laser Cat Toy

If your cat loves playing with a laser but you need something that you don’t have to operate all the time, the SereneLife Automatic Laser Cat Toy is a great option. This toy can sit on a countertop or floor, and it has a rotating laser beam that your cat will have great fun chasing all over the place. The innovative angled design means you can sit this in different positions depending on if you want the laser to shine on the floor or the wall.

This toy is powered by three AAA batteries, and it can be placed anywhere around your house. It also has an off-timer setting to save power. As with any laser toy, we recommend offering your cat a toy to catch after they’ve finished playing with the laser because this can help them feel satisfied that they did their job and caught what they were chasing!

 

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Toys for Exercising Your Cat

Some cats, especially those that live indoors, can become overweight. This can lead to a whole range of health conditions, including diabetes, osteoarthritis, and heart problems. If you think that your cat is overweight, investing in toys to encourage them to exercise is a great idea.

First, make sure you get the all-clear from your vet. They may suggest including dietary changes and gentle exercise to start with, as your cat loses those initial pounds. If you’re looking for the best toys to encourage your cat to exercise, here are our top tips:

If your cat needs a great toy to get the playing started, we recommend our Hepper Catnip Stick Toy. These sturdy, dual-layer sticks are hand-made in the USA and filled with 100% organic catnip. Choose from a fun range of pastel colors and give your cat hours of playtime!

Conclusion

As the best overall cat toy for exercising your cat, the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is a high-quality and top-rated play gym that is guaranteed to provide hours of fun for kittens and older cats alike.

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, our Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy is our favorite toy that offers great value. Your cat will love grappling this compact catnip-infused kicker, and you’ll love watching them get their exercise!

Cats need plenty of mental and physical exercise to stay healthy and happy, so making sure you have plenty of toys to encourage your cat to exercise is the best way to keep them on top form.

• See also: 7 Types of Cat Toys (And How to Play with Each of Them!)

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Featured Image Credit: schlyx, Shutterstock