As a cat parent, you would love to see your cats cheerfully playing. These fur babies need the best cat toys to fully charge their happiness batteries. Many cats enjoy the beauty of outdoor settings for many reasons. The open outdoor setting gives them enough space to play so it keeps them healthy and active. However, if your cat prefers staying indoors, you can keep them busy with various playful activities.
Cats love playing; therefore, it is said that cats occupied with interactive toys experience effective mental and physical stimulation. So, to date – if you haven’t introduced your pet to any interactive toy yet, then you need to consider some replacements to observe the energy boost your cat gets every time playing with those cool toys.
Interactive Vs. Individual: What’s Best for Your Kitty?
There are days when you are extremely busy with your tiring work hours. You get stuck with a cycle of demanding schedules, and thus, you aren’t able to interact deeply with your cats.
Most of the time, your kitty awaits at the doormat and expects to see you at every ring of the doorbell. This leaves your kitty disappointed, creating a gap in your bond., To avoid such situations, you can find the best solo toys for your cat’s daily hours. These solo cat toys will help to keep the kitty actively fit!
Solo-playing means keeping oneself engaged. For your cat’s solo engagement, pet parents bring and introduce lots of toys and activities that help their cats stay engaged and stimulated.
Although it doesn’t work as a one-to-one interaction (cat parent to cat interaction), it benefits your feline’s well-being by keeping them physically active and fulfilling their urge to play. Toys, like treat balls or battery-operated feather wands, are on this list.
Similarly, automatic laser toys work as a mental and physical stimulator that provokes their instincts of hunting and chasing.
Solo engagement is best for cats who are more independent or get annoyed with the company easily. At the same time, it helps the cat parent to eliminate boredom-related behaviors, like destructive chewing from their cats.
Now, let’s discuss the concept of interactive play. Interactive play is about the direct engagement you have with your pet animal. It includes your cats, you, and a toy to build deep connections, boost physical activity, and enhance mental stimulation. There are many interactive toys like wand toys, laser pointers, climbing games, electronic toys, etc.
To know which category of toy works best for you, you must track your cats’ preferences, likes, and personalities. Some cats wait for the golden moment of interaction with you, while many cats understand your rigid routine. You can incorporate both interactive and solo playing toys into your cat’s routine. It will benefit you by intensifying your kitty’s mental and physical strength.
Top 5 Picks for Best Interactive Cat Toys in 2024
1. UFO Cat Toy
It is an automatic cat toy with a built-in motion sensor. It works for 5 minutes straight and then goes into the standby mode for 30 minutes to save the battery. You can reactivate it by touching it for another 5 minutes.
It comes with a high-capacity rechargeable battery that has a USB port for easy charging.
The automatic UFO cat toy package includes one cat toy, one butterfly, two feathers, three silicon rods, and three acrylic balls. It is perfect for your cat and helps avoid anxiety, boredom, obesity, and laziness. It offers two-speed options for fast and slow rotations, with feathers and an acrylic ball attached so that no cat can resist this interactive toy.
2. Laser Pointer Keychain
With a hunting instinct, the cat loves playing chasing games. So, this keychain is a perfect addition to interactive games for cats and helps them avoid boredom.
This laser pointer has a keychain hoop that makes it convenient to carry everywhere. But, before bringing it to practicality, make sure to learn how to play with a laser pointer. You do not need to point it directly at the eyes of your kitty or aim it at areas where your cat can get hurt. You are free to use it in both outdoors or indoors whenever you feel it is the quick playtime for your cat! Your cat would never say no to this game.
3. Cat Treadmill
This exercise wheel is crafted with durable wood for unrestricted movement. This is an exceptional way to reduce cat obesity and maintain good health.
Its bottom shaft has silent pulleys attached that make the running quieter and more comfortable. So, even if you have a busy day at work, you can still get along with your fur baby at night and spend time making unforgettable memories. Just use a wand toy or a cat trapper like fish or chicken to entice your cat to move!
4. Fuzzy Balls Launcher
Who doesn’t love fuzzy balls? No one. Whether it be children or adults, it makes everyone burst with giggles. Having a fuzzy ball launcher for your feline is a win-win idea! This launcher is 14 cm in width and 9 cm in length, with 3 cm balls that will make your cat love you for introducing it. These colorful balls are enough within themselves to attract any cat that’s lost in non-stop episodes of boredom.
Fuzzy Balls Launcher is an admirable game for interactive sessions with your cats. Even if your cats chew these balls, you do not need to worry about it. These areIt is made with fine-quality plastic material that’s safe for kitties.
5. Sushi Treat Dispensing Puzzle
This dispensing puzzle is one of the best cat toys you can find online. It helps in promoting the use of mental abilities to the full extent. Through this fun-filled interactive activity, you can motivate your cat to eat healthy food by staying alert.
Your cat will indulge in this game to try finding sushi treats while drooling. These treats will be perfect to reward your kitty for brilliantly using its cognitive abilities!
Last, you can easily wash the “OurPets sushi treat dispensing puzzle” using mild soap and water to leave no food residue.
Things to Consider Before Choosing Toys for Your Cat
Toys leave a prominent impact on cats. That’s why we have mentioned some things that you need to keep in mind before selecting any toy for your partner-in-crime!
Toys for Mental Stimulation for Your Kitties
You are choosing toys for your cats, and it is best to research them beforehand to know which toys help best in terms of mental stimulation. Assertive stimulation focuses on physical and mental health and well-being; therefore, your cat will stay at peace.
We are aware that kitties have natural hunting instincts. The toys that call for an active chase are nothing but pure treasures for them.
For example, a catnip fish or mouse will excite the cat in no time while stimulating them mentally and physically. Experts have noticed various behavioral patterns in cats when exposed to catnip toys, such as relaxation, affection, and superb comfort.
In some cases, cats have a playful reaction towards these toys, while in other instances, they get triggered and become aggressive.
Laser toys are categorized as the best cat toy that focuses on a cat’s physical and mental activity for mental stimulation. These toys come in various forms, such as automatic and interactive lasers. If you are away from home for seven to eight hours or more, you can invest in an automatic laser toy to keep your cat playful.
Your best pal deserves your love and attention and investing in automatic laser toys is the perfect proof of it. However, one-on-one sessions with your cats using interactive laser toys will lead to a lively connection with your furry pet.
Impact of Toy Rotation on Your Cats
Toy rotation is key to opening the gates of a better mood and a healthy lifestyle. The trick is simple, all you have to do is invest in some of the best eye-catching cat toys.
Now, form a strategy that doesn’t miss its goal by improving your cat’s well-being positively. It is possible if you know how to rotate your cat’s toys regularly.
This toy rotation will prevent your cats from getting bored and turning lazy. It works by replacing the older toys with the new ones. After a week, replace the new toys with the older ones again. You can also look for cat owners around you and make a deal of rotating cat toys with them every 15 days to a month. This rotation will enhance your cat’s interest in the toy collection while also improving the connection between the owner and the pet.
Employing these toys while having a solid interactive session will make your cat familiar with the toys. The next time you play with a similar toy, it will bring good memories to your cat.
Conclusion
Finding the best cat toys that work like a solid mood-changer is a blessing for your kitties! Technological advancements have made the toy industry boom with a new variety of toys this year. The main goal is to keep cats busy with a healthy, interactive environment.
Among these interactive toys, we have listed the best cat toys for your marvelous buddies, including a UFO cat toy, Laser pointer keychain, cat treadmill, fuzzy ball launcher, and sushi treat dispensing puzzle! Let us know which worked best for your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
We have listed everything you need to know about the best cat toys. To have a quick go-through, here are brief answers for any confusion clouding your thoughts:
Cats have a huge curiosity to look for new things. Whether it be playing with new toys or sniffing a unique scent. But after playing for days with the same toy, the toy loses its charm for cats. And thus, they want something new.
The coolest toys you brought them a few days back, your cat wouldn’t even like to look towards it after some time! What you can do is, start rotating these toys. You can thrift some best cat toys or exchange them with your cat community. The tried and tested antidote is to discard the worn-out toys and add fresh toys to your cat’s toy collection every two months!
Knowing how to introduce new toys to your cat is crucial. Your cat is a living being that will take its due time to open up to the “new addition.” Give it time to inspect the toy alone without keeping your eyes on it. It will get awkward for the cat to go near the toy when you are roaming around.
The right amount of time and space lets a cat get closer to the toy and comfortably interact with it. Another tip is to clear any noise polluting the environment, as it will be a significant hurdle in getting your kitty’s attention toward the toy. In case your cat doesn’t go near the toy – keep the toy away for the moment.
Take it out after a few hours and repeat the cycle twice, thrice, or as required. It’ll soon become familiar with the new toy with the repetitive sessions. Once done, don’t forget to reward the cat with treats!
Selecting the appropriate toys based on your cat’s breed, age, and personality is essential. If your kitten is between 0-6 months, it is full of energy so look for plush toys, small balls, or feather wands that will keep them healthy and active. When it comes to cats between 6 months to 8 years, more physical and mental stimulation is required. Here you can introduce toys like laser toys or puzzle feeders. Once the cat crosses 8 years, it’ll prefer to play with gentler toys that do not need extra physical effort and are age-friendly!
However, we would suggest introducing a large variety of toys that cats of every age, personality, and breed can play with. For example, cats of every breed and age would love to chase a ball or get warm snuggles with plush toys. Just get a little creative to think about the right toy for your fur buddy!
There are various ways to clean your cats’ toys. If you are considering the simple handwash method, you must soak the toys in warm, soapy water for 15 to 30 minutes. Once the toy is well-soaked, scrub away the dirt using a sponge and let it dry.
Another authentic method to clean toys from stubborn germs is to dip the toys in a mild bleach solution for 5-10 minutes. Then, wash it with gentle soap and hot water. Let it air-dry, and there you go!
